Nancy Magaud is a friend of mine and a retired educator living outside of Paris. Two years ago she suggested an idea for a parody song based on the old post WW1 song “How You Gonna Keep ’em Down on the Farm.” The parody would be essentially “How You Gonna’ Keep Their Nose in a Book, After They’ve Seen the Screen?” She and I had a long conversation about a concern that is clearly on many people’s minds – how the distraction of technology detracts from engagement in conversation, reading, community, and the outdoors. We threw some ideas around and here’s the result. She played piano in France, I added a vocal here and put together a video.
You can see the video here.
HOW YA’ GONNA KEEP EM ……..??
How ya’ gonna’ keep them out in the yard
After they’ve seen the screen?
How ya’ gonna keep ‘em away from Youtube.
Racking up views, that they didn’t choose ?
How ya’ gonna keep em away from harm
Till they’re at least a teen?
They’ll never want to wrestle, climb or hike,
All they’ll know is how to post and like,
How ya’ gonna keep ‘em out in the yard
After they’ve seen the screen.?
—————-
How ya’ gonna keep their nose in a book
After they Instagram?
How ya’ gonna have a conversation
With nothing but text, and autocorrect?
How ya’ gonna keep ‘em from video games
Once they all get hooked?
They’ll never stand for ever being bored,
They’ll have no patience for the out of doors,
How ya’ gonna keep em in the yard or the book,
After they’ve seen the screen ?
© Stuart Stotts and Nancy Magaud 2018
Brilliant as always!
Ah, Stuart. What a world we live in. I think of myself as a mindful adult, but often I’m documenting an event with my cellphone rather that being totally present. This is a song that applies to all ages.
So sadly true…but all is not lost. All 7 of my grandkids, some of whom are allowed screen time and some of whom are not…all of then love being out doors.