So, one of my all-time favourite songs is Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers”, which I carefully put on my carefully-planned birthing playlist that I never remembered to turn on because I was, you know, giving birth. But I always wanted my babies to hear it as they entered this strange and often terrible world, to know about beauty and also the idea of lovers and friends who would want you to be free, in whatever sense that means to you:
And my friend James introduced me to this beautiful Cree language cover of it (the entire album is beautiful, and I strongly recommend it):
Here it is again, covered by Larkin Poe:
And by Miley:
And a slightly different, but very good Miley and Billy Ray cover:
And here is the Wailin’ Jennys, with a basically perfect take:
But I also love this completely different song, also called “Wildflowers”, written by Dolly Parton:
And here covered by JEMS:
And here, by Laura Lewis:
So, today I am listening to songs about wildflowers, please feel free to join me.
I also just...I'm still missing Tom Petty. We shouldn't have lost him.
I forgot to say I love you today. I love you.