Music Review: Cinderella (Steven Curtis Chapman)

I was listening to the lyrics of this song by Steven Curtis Chapman and found it very touching. It's a father's song to a daughter on her growing up, whereby he cherishes every moment with his daughter as she will grow up and marry. It reminds me of "Butterfly kisses" by Bob Carlise, which is also one of my favourites.

Picture of the Chapmans

A little background of the song: Chapman wrote this song for his daughters in 2007; not knowing that in 2008, a tragic accident would have taken his 5-year-old little girl's life. Here is an excerpt about it:

'Cinderella' was written about Chapman's daughters, to remind him to appreciate each moment he had with his girls before they grew up. After the accident, he thought he would never be able to sing it again, but the words have now taken on even more meaning for the singer/songwriter.

"I thought, you know what, I've got to sing this song," Chapman told GMA's Robin Roberts. "I have to sing it because I have to continue. These chapters that are still being written with my two little girls, Shaohannah and Stevey Joy, and my older daughter Emily, who is getting ready to be married ... I need to be dancing with my Cinderellas."


Hence, to all parents out there, remember to kiss your children and tell them you love them every night. Cherish every moment you have with your loved ones for life is short. So don't forget to give extra kisses and hugs every night! ;) Enjoy the song as I have! Click on the title to link to the youtube video.

Cinderella

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you

There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

She will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Courtship = Flying a kite

I can't recall if I read this analogy somewhere but I was using the analogy of "flying a kite" to describe a courtship to my friend. She asked me to elaborate here.

Why "flying a kite"?

Well, lets look at how you fly a kite vs a courtship.

To fly a kite           : Hold the kite in both hands and toss it lightly into the wind until the wind catches it.
To start a courtship: You put yourself and your heart out in the world and try your luck making contact/chemistry with strangers.

To fly a kite           : Let out a small length of kite string and, holding the string in your hand, run with the kite behind you until the wind lifts it.
During a courtship: Slowly build trust by getting to know the other person and hope the chemistry will build into something.

Keeping a kite in the air: Begin letting out the string until the kite reaches a height with which you are comfortable.
Keeping the relationship : To show trust, you have to give the other person space to do their own things. (let go of the string)

Keeping a kite in the air: Keep an eye on your kite; if it dips, run or pull in the string a bit to give it some lift.
Keeping the relationship : Occasionally to keep the fire alive, you need to pursue your partner by buying gifts and giving he/her a treat (pull the string)

Conclusion
Hence, to me, to maintain a relationship, you need to pull and release the string occasionally to keep the relationship flying high and on. :)

However, if... you really need to end a relationship

To bring down the kite: Bring the kite down by slowly and reach out to grab the kite before it hits the ground
To end a relationship   : Slowly bring the relationship by discussing it frankly with the other person. Don't just cut off the string and let if fly away or fall suddenly on the ground.


Hence, treat your relationship like how you would fly a kite! :)