Mankind is so blessed to have the gift of music. The world would be a much sadder place without music, and I believe Walter Savage Landor was spot on when he wrote, ‘Music is God’s gift to man.’

Thanks to my parents (Dads4Kids founders Warwick & Alison Marsh), my siblings and I were all very blessed to be exposed to, and learn via private tuition, music from a young age. While I came of age musically in the 1990s, my taste in music is certainly eclectic, and I’ve recently been rediscovering songs from the 1980s.

One such song is Sowing the Seeds of Love by Tears For Fears, the English pop-rock band formed in Bath, in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. I’m no expert on ’80s New Wave music – in the ’90s, I wasn’t really listening to synth-pop — though I was intrigued by Crowded House, another fantastic New Wave band founded in 1985, closer to home in Melbourne.

As I’ve recently discovered though, Tears For Fears have released some absolute bangers over the years. Everybody Wants to Rule the World is another classic. Like many of the greatest songs, it’s particularly poignant, almost a prayer, and this version by American musical duo Pomplamoose is simply outstanding.

While I don’t agree with all Tears For Fears’ sentiments, it is truly amazing that ‘Sowing the Seeds of Love’ rings true so many years later. A sign of great art, perhaps? Some of the YouTube comments speak volumes:

‘These songs don’t age, they echo in time.’ – @luizcarvalho5913

‘This song was ahead of its time – so meaningful for today’s world’ – @MrJuneasp

‘This is not a song… This is a timeless masterpiece’ – @Robin_Hood054

@tracylutz888 takes the cake with, ‘This song speaks volumes in today’s world of politics and division. Speaks from the heart right now. Sow seeds of love, see beyond the illusion.’

And that, my friends, is the challenge. To see beyond the illusion of the corrupted, material world around us. To see beyond the day-to-day and realise there’s more to this life than just existing. To rise to the challenge, lead by example, and sow those much-needed seeds of love.

Lovework

Listen to Tears For Fears’ masterpiece Sowing the Seeds of Love. As Curt Smith sings, we all need some encouragement to ‘swallow our pride’ and ‘open our eyes’ from time to time, especially us dads. More importantly, keep sowing seeds of love in your family and community. As Galatians 6:7 says, ‘For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.’

Yours for Sowing Seeds of Love,
Nathaniel Marsh

P.S. As you read this, the Dads4Kids team will be wrapping up the 2023 Men’s Leadership Summit (MLS), a wonderful weekend of Iron Sharpening Iron. If you missed out this year, planning is well underway for MLS next year, happening 9-11 August 2024. Please save the date — More details coming soon!

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Photo by Fadime Erbass.