Songs of "Generations Changing Hands"

“There is nothing more sad or glorious than generations changing hands.” - John Mellencamp

A thread for songs that deal with what John Mellencamp described as "Generations changing hands". A generation about to depart shares its wisdom, experiences, hopes or wishes with those who come next, either directly or indirectly.

As a for instance:

Cassidy Law (a catch colt) checks in. Neil Cassady (and lyricist's John Perry Barlow's father) check out (in a coffin cart). "There he goes, here she starts."



"Faring thee well now, let your life proceed by its own design.
Nothing to tell now, let the words be yours I'm done with mine."

 

One from Mellencamp. Advice from an old man during a bus ride.

 

Perfect!

 

The Doors - Five to One.

 

Dying words from a father, and a promise from a son

 

Excellent choice. To quote Lou Reed, "In the name of family values, we must ask 'Whose family?"

 

Another excellent choice.

 

He really told those lumberjacks where it was at.

 

'Kite' by U2
A song written by Bono about his own father's death, and for his children on the occasion of his death. One of my favorites.

I want you to know
That you don't need me anymore

 

Not exactly strainin' my brain with this one, but what about "My Generation"?

 

Awesome choice. A song about "letting go" in two different contexts.

 

I don't see much of generations "changing hands" in that one as much as generation gap and lack of mutual understanding. But that's just my two cents.

 

I haven't heard that song in years and never understood what it was about until this moment. It gave me goosebumps!

 

Mike Reid - A Man with a Hammer.



Sage advice...

 

Still Fighting It by Ben Folds, from Rockin’ The Suburbs.



As a dad, it gets me right in the feels, as the youth would say.

 

That one made me think of this one:

 

Along with misplaced life priorities and parental neglect, it’s one of the main themes of this old warhorse...

 

Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands

She'd say, "Matty don' you whip that boy
What you want to spank him for?
He didn't drop no apple core"
But I don't have Grandma anymore
If I get to heaven I'll look for
Grandma's hands

 

Another song that covers the transmission of "knowledge" of a negative type from one generation to another, through actions more than words.