Thanksgiving
A Thanksgiving Feast of Reflections and Family Bonds
Lyrics
Lord every year we gather here
Expressing the annual tradition of coming together.
To eat around this table
Referencing the communal act of eating around a table.
Give us the strength to stomach as much
Seeking strength to consume food quickly.
As fast as we are able
Acknowledging the pace of eating and its challenges.
Bless this food to our use
Asking for a blessing on the food despite communication difficulties.
Though communication's useless
Recognizing the limitations of effective communication.
Don't let me drink too much wine
Expressing concern about potential excessive drinking.
Lord you know how I get ruthless
Acknowledging personal tendencies towards aggression under the influence.
Let us somehow get through this meal
Asking for strength to navigate the meal without negative emotions.
Without that bad old feeling
Desiring a positive experience during the gathering.
With history and memory
Linking the meal to memories, history, and home cooking.
And home cooking we're dealing
Highlighting the challenges of dealing with familial history.
Remind us that we are all grown up
Acknowledging the transition to adulthood.
Adults, no longer children
Noting the shift from being children to having children.
Now it's our kids that spill the milk
Observing the generational cycle of parenting.
And our turn to want to kill them
Expressing the frustration and challenges of parenting.
I look around and recognize
Recognizing family members, a sister, and a brother.
A sister and a brother
Reflecting on the diminished presence of parents.
We rarely see our parents now
Highlighting the rarity of family gatherings.
We hardly see each other
Emphasizing the lack of regular interactions among family members.
On this auspicious occasion
Referring to the special nature of the family dinner.
This special family dinner
Expressing a desire for success in family arguments.
If I argue with a loved one, Lord
Seeking victory in disagreements with loved ones.
Please make me... The winner
Noting the appeal of the presented food.
All this food looks and smells so good
Acknowledging challenges in fully enjoying the meal.
But I can hardly taste it
Expressing a sense of loss or emptiness.
The sense of something has been lost
Highlighting the irreplaceable nature of something missing.
There's no way to replace it
Turning attention to post-meal activities, such as watching a game.
After the meal, switch on the game
Describing exhaustion and the need for rest.
There's just a few more seconds
Indicating a short timeframe remaining in a game.
But I'm so tired, I need a nap
Expressing fatigue and a desire for a nap.
The guest bedroom bed beckons
Referring to the temptation of the guest bedroom bed.
I fall asleep, I have a dream
Describing a dream experienced during a nap.
In it is the family
Portraying a positive family scene in the dream.
Nothing bad has happened yet
Emphasizing the happiness and lack of problems in the dream.
And everyone is happy
Reflecting on the idealized family moment in the dream.
Mother and Father, both still young
Depicting parents as still young and loving.
And naturally they love us
Expressing familial love and harmony in the dream.
We're all lying on a lawn at night
Imagining a peaceful night under the stars with family.
Watching the stars above us
Concluding the dream and returning to the present.
Lord every year we gather here
Restating the annual tradition of family gatherings.
To eat around this table
Reiterating the communal act of eating together.
Give us the strength to stomach as much
Reaffirming the request for strength in consuming food quickly.
As fast as we are able
Echoing the theme of rapid consumption during the meal.
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