I was listening to the music shuffle on Google Play Music when this most amazing song came on, “Airplanes” by the Local Natives. I was instantly thinking of my grandma. My grandma Klassen an amazing woman who loved God and her family. She passed away earlier this summer at the age of 99 and joined my grandpa in Heaven. I miss my grandparents. I miss going to their place every Sunday for faspa (Mennonite Sunday supper that is just buns, deli meat, cheese and an assortment of food that is easily prepared). I miss the conversations about God and Christianity. I miss their stories about when they were young.
I couldn’t figure out why these memories came about from this song. Sure the song does talk about wanting back someone who they lost. But they could easily be talking about a girl friend they broke up with. So I went on an internet search to find out the meaning of the song. It turns out that the songs writer, Kelcey Ayer, wrote Airplanes about their grandpa who died when Kelcey was young. The only things that he knows about his grandpa is stories from his dad. And he laments that he did not get to know his grandpa. An interesting side note is his grandpa was a preacher and Christian missionary in the South Pacific. He also worked for Boeing on airplanes, hence the name of the song.
This got me thinking of the few who have died in my family. I knew my grandparents on the Klassen side very well. And my grandma Patzer is still around. But like Kelcey, I did not get to know my grandpa Patzer. He died when my mom was young. And my grandma talks very little of him. I would have like to get to know him. What was he like?
Also, I want my cousin, Todd, back. Todd died in a car accident traveling between events at a sports camp near Tri-Cities. He was the captain of the Tri-Cities American hockey team. I barely knew him. His was 7 years older than me and lived far enough away that I didn’t get to see him a lot. As Kelcey laments that he didn’t get to know his grandpa, I lament that I didn’t get to know my cousin. Me being older now, I know there would be a lot that we could talk about.
Lastly, I want my cousin’s daughter Kadie back. She was born a twin with her brother Sammy. She would be 3 years old now (less than 3 months younger than my son). I know they would have gotten along great together. I feel for my cousin and his wife. I want to comfort them but the words I want to say to them seem too small and insignificant.
It is amazing how music can trigger such memories and emotions in us. This is why I love music. And not just Christian music but secular music also. As far as I know Local Natives is not a Christian band (even though some of the members have Christian roots). When music can bring up such good emotion and memories like Airplanes did for me, I believe that music glorifies God. It doesn’t matter who sang the song.
There is a line at the end of the song that talks about Kelcey meeting his grandpa again in Heaven. He says the wait will be worth it. I cannot wait to see the family I lost in Heaven. But I know the wait will be worth it.
Words to Airplanes by the Local Natives
The desk where you sit inside of a frame made of
Made of, of wood
I keep those chopsticks you had from when you taught abroad
Taught abroad in Japan
I love it all
So much I call
I want you back, back, back
You back
I did not know you as well as my father
Father knew you
Every question you took the time to sit and look it up
Look it up in the encyclopedia
I love it all
So much I call
I want you back, back, back
You back
I love it all
So much I call
I want you back, back, back
You back, yeah
It sounds like we would’ve had a great deal to say
To say to each other
I bet when I leave my body for the sky the wait
The wait will be worth it
I love it all
So much I call
I want you back, back, back
You back
I love it all
So much I call
I want you back, back, back
You back