What path do our parents set for us? Are we destined to follow in their footsteps, or can they show us the way around missteps and pitfalls? Those are the questions Ben Danaher poses on the poignant and arresting "Apple and the Tree," a song about how mothers and fathers can shape us while still allowing us to grow.
The song is from the perspective of a parent speaking to their child and encouraging them to dream even bigger than they did.
"Strong and stubborn, my roots run deep/ I never wondered where else I should be," Danaher sings. "There's a whole lot of blue skies I never got to see/ I hope the apple falls farther than the tree."
Danaher says the song, which he co-wrote with Olivia Rudeen, is a tribute to parents who want more for their children than they were allowed.
"This song is a realization that our parents wanted us to have every opportunity available in this world," Danaher tells Wide Open Country. "They lived great colorful lives but were able to show us ways around things that held them back. They were selfless. I hope to be that way with my children, should I be lucky enough to have any."
Listen to "Apple and the Tree" below.
Danaher released his debut full-length album Still Feel Lucky in 2018.
For more information on Ben Danaher, visit his official website.
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