COVER TIME: Somebody's Baby by Jon Foreman - a song for the dignity of every precious person
This is one of the saddest songs I ever heard. I was so touched by it the first time I heard it - the perfect, human, poetic details that make the song and its tragic subject come fully to life. The line "Every now and again when she's sober she brushes her teeth"--the poet's insight into the desperate, tiny acts of hope that come out of the darkest places. I love how in a very painful way it highlights the dignity of each unique human person, no matter the circumstances.
I hope it touches you as well. Jon Foreman's original version is bar-none, however.
"Somebody's Baby" by Jon Foreman
She yells, "If you're homeless sure as hell you'd be drunk
Or high or trying to get there or begging for junk
When the people don't want you
They just throw you money for beer"
Her name was November
She went by Autumn or Fall
It was 7 long years since the autumn when
All of her nightmares grew fingers and
All of her dreams grew a tear
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
And she's somebody's baby still
She screams, "Well if you've never gone it alone
Well, then, go ahead you better throw the first stone
You got one lonely stoner
Waiting to bring to her knees"
She dreams about heaven, remembering hell
As the nightmare she visits and knows all too well
Every now and again, when she's sober, she brushes her teeth
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
And she's somebody's baby still
Today was her birthday, strangely enough
When the cops found her body at the foot of a bluff
The anonymous caller this morning tipped off the police
They got her ID from her dental remains
The same fillings intact, the same nicotine stains
The birth and the death were both over
With no one to grieve
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
She's somebody's baby
Somebody's baby girl
And she's somebody's baby still
She's somebody's baby still
xx,
Kay
P.S. If you're interested, here is more of my work: a cover of a Sixpence None the Richer song I loved recording the other night, or a recent original I wrote just for my Steemit audience.
Yes, that is a powerful song. And a very good message. All of us have dignity and worth, having been created by God. Sung with passion too. Great job!