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Where Do the Children Play?

by Cameron Smith

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A cover of Cat Stevens' song recorded last year in my old apartment, originally shared exclusively on Patreon.

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released July 18, 2022
***FROM THE OG PATREON POST****

JUL 18, 2022 - 12:45 PM

Some folks in a neighborhood group complaining about a skatepark being built had me thinking of this old Cat Stevens song the other afternoon. It's so good--it's like water, and while the vessel has changed this song still has so much covered. Cat probably did mean it as an indictment toward capitalist pursuits and grand excuses like "human progress" and the devastation they could (and have) cause(d) to the natural world. Perpetual exploitation. But did he know it would sing so sad and sweet in the scope of our modern reality, where all our tales for the future have become short stories and hope for a brighter tomorrow is in scarce supply?

I was first introduced to "Where Will the Children Play?" as a 12 or 13 year old watching the Shorty's skateboards' "Fulfill the Dream" vhs. It was one of the first skateboarding tapes I ever saw and it had a profound impact on me and the direction my life would take from there. Skateboarding was one of the most rewarding parts of my childhood and still brings me a lot of joy now at 33 years. The skateboarding community is built on creative, artistic, determined individuals. Folks who push themselves to face their fears and who have learned many lessons from the concrete, taking knock after knock just to defy themselves to achieve something beautiful. You can check out the clip from that video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoi4dip0PHA

Sometimes a question says more than any attempt at an answer ever could, and "Where Will the Children Play?" is a beautiful tune and a heartbreaking question that should never stopped being asked. So I got on my computer and recorded this quick little cover with a couple guitars, some harmonica, bowed saw, glockenspiel (with chapstick tubes as mallets), bass and a couple midi instruments like organ. Drums courtesy of artificial intelligence thanks to GarageBand.

Thank you for listening



xoxoxo

-Cameron

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Cameron Smith Fort Worth, Texas

Cameron Smith is a folk singer and songwriter from Fort Worth, TX

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