A Road Less Travelled

A few months ago I had an opportunity to go to an Andrew Peterson concert in St. Louis. For reasons that seems supremely reasonable at the time I declined going, but since I habitually kick myself for it I think I still qualify as a raving fanboy. Andrew Peterson is a skilled lyricist and while some people say his voice isn’t that great I think it sounds like a normal person’s voice and is thus endearing. Last year Andrew Peterson collaborated with Randall Goodgame to make an album of songs for children. I bought it for my niece Lily as birthday present, but then she wouldn’t lend it to me (Actually, I didn’t ask. 650 miles is along way to lend a CD for a week.) so I never got to hear it. Josh and Adiel, knowing my distress, bought the album for Noah for his birthday and so it would be in the house for me. Okay, maybe that last part wasn’t intended, but regardless Slugs and Bugs is now on the premises. And I am so happy.

The album starts out very silly. They sing about postmen, tractors, bears, playing ball inside, and piggy toes. They sing about bizarre parenting tasks like burping and making a child eat beans. The songs are goofy and clever and very singable. Andrew and Randy are obviously having a good time together. Their fun spills out in their songs and is infectious.

The last four songs are lullabies written to specific children. Randall Goodgame sings about his daughter Livi and tells her that her daddy loves her and thinks she is the most beautiful girl in the world. Andrew Peterson sings first to his eldest son Aedan. The song is a blessing and a prayer. Next he sings about his daughter, Skye and how she loves to dance. And then he sings to his son Jesse. This lullaby reminds me of when I used to have a nightmare and would go to my parent’s room. Andrew gives his son directions from his room to his parent’s, but then reminds him that God is watching over him and caring for him while he sleeps. In these lullabies you can hear the love these fathers have for their children. It feels almost like we’ve walked in on a private moment at bedtime.

In between the goofy songs and the lullabies is a song called “You Can Always Come Home”. This is the song where the skill of the songwriters shines. It’s a simple song of unconditional love sung to children that also speaks to any adults listening at the same time. The melody is sweet and simple; the words are simple and poignant.

I love you today and I love you tomorrow
I love you as deep as the sea
I love you in joy, and I love you in sorrow
You can always come home to me

There once was a man who found him a treasure
Buried out under a tree
He sold all he had just to own it forever
The treasure is you, you see

I love you today and I love you tomorrow
I love you as deep as the sea
I love you in joy and I love you in sorrow
You can always come home to me

There once were some sheep safe on the farm
And one little lamb got loose
The shepherd went out and carried it home
That little lamb is you

I love you today and I love you tomorrow
I love you as deep as the sea
I love you in joy and I love you in sorrow
You can always come home to me

I think what is charming about this album is that it is explicitly Christian while still being silly. Too often Christians assume that the only reason for media is to instruct and so often you have music or books or movies that are doctrinally sound, but overly serious and boring. Andrew Peterson and Randall Goodgame made an album of songs that are enjoyable, are fun, but never escape being Christian. Because they set out to make, first and foremost, fun music when the songs do get profound I am more likely to sit up and take notice.

Randall Goodgame says of Slug and Bugs that “Parents won’t want to stick a fork in their eye when they’ve heard it for the 10th time.” As someone who lives with five young children I applaud that goal and I believe that they succeeded. I was having a tired, cranky sort of morning today and I really wanted some peppy music. I put on Slugs and Bugs and Noah listened for maybe thirty seconds before he ran off. I, on the other hand, listened to the whole album at least twice. And I don’t think I’ll want to stick a fork in my eye even after eight more times.