In Massachusetts and Maine (once part of Massachusetts) Patriot’s Day is observed on the third Monday in April. Providing many with a three-day weekend, it commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the start of the American Revolution, which took place on 19 April 1775.
You’ll forgive my obvious bias, but though there was a British barrage on Lexington Green (its catalyst unknown) at around 5:00 a.m. resulting in the deaths of eight colonists, the actual shot immortalized by Emerson took place in Concord later that morning when (for the first time) colonial militiamen fought back, routing the King’s troops “…by the rude bridge that arched the flood, their flag to April’s breeze unfurled, here once the embattled farmers stood, and fired the shot heard round the world.”
Today, Patriots Day features reenactments of the call to arms by Paul Revere and William Dawes, along with an early morning parade and reenactment in Lexington and a (more traditional) parade and reenactment in Concord that starts at 09:00. At 11:00 the Red Sox throw the first pitch in a game at Fenway Park and (until recently) the Boston Marathon began at noon. As a matter of fact one year (1999) Giles and I caught the parade in Concord, made it to Fenway in time to watch the Sox beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and then managed to make it out to Kenmore Square in time to watch the winners of the Boston Marathon run down Commonwealth Avenue.
In our house Patriots Day also occurs at around the same time as Linda’s birthday (18 April) and Giles’ birthday (17 April). It seems like only a year or two ago that I made a CD of songs for Giles on his 15th birthday, that included today’s selection and the lines: I’m fifteen for a moment, caught between ten and twenty…etc.” Please highlight that “for a moment” reference.
Today’s song was written and recorded by John Ondrasik, aka Five for Fighting. Born in 1965 in Los Angeles, Ondrasik learned the piano as a child and later the guitar. As a teen he began to write music and, after graduating from UCLA with a degree in Applied Science and Mathematics adopted a stage name that’s familiar to every hockey fan, “five for fighting” i.e. the five-minute penalty a player receives for fighting.
Most famous for “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” which became an unofficial anthem after the September 11 attacks, today’s song, was included on Five for Fighting’s 2003 album, The Battle for Everything and held the Number One position on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks chart for 12 non-consecutive weeks in 2004.
It may feel like a year or two ago that Giles turned 15, but (“another blink of an eye?”) tomorrow he turns 21. To paraphrase Five for Fighting (fitting name for a Patriot’s Day), the sun certainly seems to be getting a little higher ‘round here…and like these “British Regulars” time itself sees to be moving on….
LISTEN TO TODAY’S SELECTION – Patriot’s Day 16 April
100 Years Lyrics
I’m fifteen for a moment
Caught in between ten and twenty
And I’m just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
I’m twenty two for a moment
She feels better than ever
And we’re on fire
Making our way back from Mars
Fifteen there’s still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
Fifteen, there’s never a wish better than this
When you only got hundred years to live
I’m thirty three for a moment
Still the man, but you see I’m of age
A kid on the way
A family on my mind
I’m forty five for a moment
The sea is high
And I’m heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life
Fifteen there’s still time for you
Time to buy, time to lose yourself
Within a morning star
Fifteen I’m all right with you
Fifteen, there’s never a wish better than this
When you only got hundred years to live
Half time goes by
Suddenly you’re wise
Another blink of an eye
Sixty seven is gone
The sun is getting high
We’re moving on
I’m ninety nine for a moment
Dying for just another moment
And I’m just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
Fifteen there’s still time for you
Twenty two I feel her too
Thirty three you’re on your way
Every day’s a new day
Fifteen there’s still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey fifteen, there’s never a wish better than this
When you only got hundred years to live
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