This song brings into focus a Living Young Boy(son), The Widowed Mom & The Immortal Dad, dead only to the outside world! It gloriously reflects the emotional undercurrents that run in the heart of the widowed Mom.
This song is a shining example of what the Country Music can do to us. As we know, Country Music is nothing but poignant moments of life caught beautifully & presented musically making an indelible & unshakable impression in our heart / soul. It is a joyous delightful experience.
Reba Nell McEntire, one of the most successful new Country vocalists & considered by many as The Queen of Country Music, is the star performer of this musical video. Her powerful but still twangy, rough & rural voice sends the listeners to rapturous heights.
Though this song-sequence look deceptively and outwardly simple, it is charged with emotional intensity of classical country music.
What does this song try to pass on / transmit to the listeners & how effective is it in its purpose? What message it has? What's its theme?
The following would help us understand & appreciate the song better:
The Song-Situation: The mother looks at her son aged about 8, & takes pride at every aspect of the boy viz. look(appearance), touch, breath, smile, movement &, words & glances & whispers & actions both expressed & implied(may be not visible to a father's / a male's eyes). She takes him by a car to her dead Husband's Cemetery. On the way, she lives the poignant moments of life looking at her darling son juxtaposing what he got from her & what from his father. The boy is a happy blend of all good aspects & enjoyable defects in both the father & mother.
Perhaps, the Theme / message of the Song is:
1.'Oh Death, be not proud!
You can't divide a Happy Family!'
2.'Thou art not born for death,
Immortal dad!'(Keatsonian echo)
Songlines would be of help: Here is the Emotionally charged song with proud and nostalgic, contemplative expressions in the mother's face and the enchanting love, natural affability, real concern & irresistible charms of the boy. I would like to share this song-scene with you all by re-living it. This is Simple & Grand, not to be told but to be self-invented, experienced & Celebrated.
He Gets That From Me: Reba McEntire
THE SONG:
Genre / Category: Country Music.
1.What the Boy Takes after his Mom: attitude
' His early mornin' attitude:
You have to drag him out of bed.
Only frosted flakes will do,
He gets that from me:
Yeah, he gets that from me.
- What the Boy gets from his Mom: Looks, Grace & habit:
' His curly hair and his knobbly knees:
The way the sun brings those freckles out.
Talk and talk, never miss a beat,
Yeah, he gets that from me:
He gets that from me.
3. What The Boy Takes After his Dad: Captivating Control & winning smile:
' He looks at me with those big brown eyes:
He's got me in the palm of his hands,
And I swear sometimes it's just like you're here again.
He smiles that little crooked smile:
There's no denying he's your child.
Without him I don't know what I'd do:
He gets that from you:
Oh, he gets that from you.
- What the boy inherits from his Dad:
Musical Talent, his love & Sense-of-humor.
' How he loves your old guitar:
Yeah, he's taught himself to play.
He melts my heart: tells me he loves me every day.
And cracks jokes at the perfect time,
Makes me laugh when I want to cry.
That boy is everything to me:
He gets that from you:
He gets that from you.
- For Real Concern, DNA from mom is the reason:
' Last night, I heard him pray:
Lord, help me and mama make it through.
An' tell Daddy we'll be okay:
He said he sure misses you:
He sure misses you.
He really misses you:
He gets that from me.'
This music video will certainly inspire us take interest in Reba McEntire's other recent musical videos such as,
You Lie(1990), 'I'll Be'( 1999) &'Somebody'(2004) as well
Why not you too view the music video & share with us what impact it has on you?
