Big wheel keep on turning – of parents, Larkin and clear water

Two particular Cultural Artefacts bumped together in my head just now, and I realised they are the same thing.

Item the first – “This be the verse” by Philip Larkin. It’s the one that begins “They fuck you up, your mum and dad”. Get beyond that, and there’s dark despairing wisdom (my favourite kind, obvs).

Item the second – one of my favourite Creedence Clearwater Revival songs .

April, September, I’m here to tell you now, each and every mother’s son, somebody never comes.

Other songs about fatherhood worthy of a mention

Cat’s in the Cradle by Harry Chapin

I got a name by Jim Croce.