I first saw Coldplay when they performed at the Grammys. I knew nothing about them, but I really liked their sound so the next day I went looking for their CD. When I found it I was shocked. On the packaging was a sticker saying 'Includes the hit 'The Scientist'". Who would write a song about a scientist and how could it possibly be a hit? I was very skeptical. Most people have no idea what scientists do. When I listened to it, though, my skepticism lasted about 5 seconds. What a truly beautiful song.
Two random pieces of information that are important to this tale. 1) My daughter had recently entered elementary school which was back when VH1 still played music videos on TV. While channel surfing, we had happened upon a music video. She asked what it was, and I told her that many songs tell a story. 2) She was of the age where things were getting harder like reading and writing and such. When she would complain about something being hard, I would simply tell her no one said it would be easy.
A few days later, I pick her up from after-school care and 'The Scientist' plays on the radio. For those that don't know, the lyrics of The Scientist include multiple uses of the phrase 'nobody said it was easy.' I will never forget the rest of this conversation.
"Daddy! That's what you tell me!"
"I know because it is true."
There is a long silence and then she asks, "Daddy, what is this song about?"
When my daughter was born I was writing my thesis. She would sleep for an hour or two allowing me to write and then wake up for an hour allowing me to take a break. I would often tell her about the current chapter. "This section is going well, but I'm having trouble explaining that result." That sort of thing which got me in the habit of communicating with my daughter like she was an equal.
I tried to answer her question.
"Well, it's about a guy who made a mistake and cannot figure out a way to correct it. So, he wants to start over. He wants to go back to the start."
Silence, and then suddenly she begins to weep.
"Hey, what's the matter?"
"Daddy, I don't want to grow up."
Now I'm crying. "I don't want you to either, but you will. It won't be easy, but it will be amazing."
Some 20 years later, Coldplay is giving a concert in Seoul. I last went to a concert by myself in college and vowed never to do that again. There is something about sharing the experience that makes it real. However, several months ago, my daughter had gone to see Billy Joel by herself. She sent me several videos. That inspired me to go last night. What an amazing experience. And of course I wasn't alone.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15toWRuRF6BNq6P7czBR6sW6coC48okUS/view?usp=drivesdk
