Whenever my dad sings “Fire and Rain” around the campfire he always adds and lightning to the chorus, winking at either my brother or me. I hate it. My brother loves it and always mouths the words with him. It’s their thing. And lightning.
I can’t hear that song without those extra two words, without seeing the two smirks of the guys who think they’re improving a classic.
And they’re not being ironic. It’s something my dad has done since my brother and I were kids. Camping was always so much fun until it took that strange turn when Dad started singing James Taylor.
At some point I finally said to them both, “This song doesn’t need anything. Plus lightning is fire. You might as well be singing fire and rain and water.
They looked at me like I didn’t get it. Like I was taking it too seriously.
Now I just throw in my own words when we do sing-a-longs, and I mix it up every time.
Bye, bye, Miss [South] American Pie.
