Music in the Car with my Parents
January 29, 2023
Author: Skylar Wallison
Editor: Haley Gagerman
“Can’t you hear me knockin’ on your window,” we all belted out. My father imitated the sharpness of Ronnie Wood’s guitar solo with a swoop of his non-driving hand. I thought to myself, “how cool will it be when I can drive?” This concept, indeed, felt extremely far off that day in the car. And I will admit, it took a while for me to get there. It was not until the summer of 2022, at the end of my senior year in high school, that I took the wheel.
You know those songs that remind you of childhood, simplicity, and comfort? The songs you would play on family road trips or in the kitchen on the Sonos? Those songs (hits from The Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, and Fleetwood Mac, among many others) make up the soundtrack of my upbringing.
As I got my license, I immediately reckoned with the idea of a “coming of age.” I was, terrifyingly, autonomous. I had the power to choose something other than classic rock on a long drive or to roll the windows down to feel the breeze on the highway. However, even with this newfound freedom, I ultimately found myself picking my father’s songs. I craved the rhythm of Rush’s Fly by Night, or Steely Dan’s Rikki Don’t Lose That Number. And so I played it.
Each and every song in my father’s iTunes sparks nostalgia for me. Whether it be giggling in the backseat with my siblings, or even our college-touring road trip in 2021, the same songs have played throughout every phase of my life. Music can trigger memories almost instantaneously. My parents have always labeled me as a “nostalgic,” tempted to reminisce constantly. With this, it is expected that I would revert to the music of my childhood to help inspire and appease me in the present. Nostalgia is a seemingly fleeting idea: wistful, temporary, and perhaps even excessive. Growing up is daunting. Even the simple act of learning to drive can seem like a clear separation between one and their childhood. However, in these “coming of age” moments, sometimes it is necessary to look back, even if everyone tells you to look forward.
These songs, tales of love, loss, and obviously Rock ‘n’ Roll — Willie Nelson’s melancholy or even Johnny Cash’s humor — have prepared me for any obstacles I may have as an adult.
There is nothing like the feeling of being on the road listening to your parents' favorite songs, knowing that your parents, or at least their music, will always be in your corner.
Image: Skylar Wallison
