His song Dark and Deep was selected for inclusion on Songs Inspired By Literature, Chapter One, a benefit CD to raise money for adult literacy campaigns. Other artists on that CD include Suzanne Vega, Aimee Mann, Grace Slick and Bruce Springsteen.
David has performed on the main stage of the internationally known Kerrville Folk Festival, and he was featured as the headline act at the 2004 Auckland Folk Festival. While there he was awarded lifetime membership in the Guitar Association of New Zealand, only the third international performer to be given that honor in the history of the organization.
David is the co-founder and director of Proyecto para las Escuelas Guatemaltecas, a non-profit organization that funds projects to improve schools in Guatemala. For more info, check the web site: www.pegpartners.org.
In the last year LaMotte has published a children's book based on his award-winning children's song S.S. Bathtub, a live concert DVD and a retrospective collection of Peace and Justice songs from his previous records, as well as his latest CD, Change, a collaborative project with cellist Stephanie Winters.
Deadline
David LaMotte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For dinner with his darling and his daughter on the way
He's fighting down the freeway, sewing up that dotted line
There's no time like the present and there's no present like time
The little one gets presents for a little consolation
He gives her her own telephone but not much conversation
She asks him for a moment like a beggar for a dime
Model student in her high school, does her homework every night
Sends her mortarboard flying with her future looking bright
Hangs the tassel from the mirror of the present parked outside
There's no time like the present and there's no present like time
Now there's a husband and a daughter and a lot of bills to pay
Everyone needs something from her and they all need it today
But she can't be omnipresent when she's working overtime
There's no time like the present and there's no present like time
Then the phone rings late at the office
Coming in on the private line
It's her husband
It's her father
Seems he finally made his deadline
Now she's furiously packing for a little time away
She's got a week's vacation and she's gonna make it pay
Her husband's turning bitter and her daughter just turned nine
There's no time like the present and there's no present like time
The song "Deadline" by David LaMotte talks about different characters who are struggling to balance their personal and professional lives while trying to make the most of the time they have. The first verse describes a man who has to rush to a meeting and cannot make it to dinner with his family. Despite his hectic schedule, he reminds himself that time is a precious gift and tries to use it wisely.
The second verse introduces a little girl who receives gifts from her father but craves his attention and time more than material things. The third verse talks about a young woman who is a model student and has a bright future ahead of her, but also faces the pressure of dealing with expectations and responsibilities. The final verse is about a woman who is juggling a career, a husband, and a daughter, and constantly feels pulled in different directions. Finally, there is a happy ending when the woman's father finishes a project he was working on, and the family is able to take a vacation together.
In essence, the song is about how time is a finite resource, and how we should try to make the most of it. The characters in the song are all struggling with different aspects of their lives but ultimately come to the realization that spending quality time with loved ones is the most important thing.
Line by Line Meaning
He's got a meeting at six-thirty, so he won't have time to stay
His schedule is tight, and he cannot spend the evening with his loved ones.
For dinner with his darling and his daughter on the way
He cannot have dinner with his wife and daughter before leaving for his meeting.
He's fighting down the freeway, sewing up that dotted line
He is driving towards his destination, trying to finish some work on the way.
There's no time like the present and there's no present like time
Time is precious, and the present moment is the best time to live and enjoy life.
The little one gets presents for a little consolation
The daughter receives gifts to compensate for the lack of quality time with her father.
He gives her her own telephone but not much conversation
He may provide material things, but he is not giving his daughter the attention and communication she needs.
She asks him for a moment like a beggar for a dime
The daughter desperately wants to spend time with her father, even if for just a moment.
Model student in her high school, does her homework every night
The daughter is a disciplined student, and she completes her homework daily.
Sends her mortarboard flying with her future looking bright
She graduates with high hopes for her future.
Hangs the tassel from the mirror of the present parked outside
She displays her graduation cap's tassel in her car, a reminder of her achievement.
Now there's a husband and a daughter and a lot of bills to pay
The woman has a family to support, and there are financial responsibilities to fulfill.
Everyone needs something from her and they all need it today
The woman is overwhelmed with demands from her family and work, and everyone expects immediate responses.
But she can't be omnipresent when she's working overtime
She cannot be everywhere at once, especially when she needs to put in extra hours at work.
Then the phone rings late at the office
She receives a call at work, disturbing her routine.
Coming in on the private line
The call is from a private, known number.
It's her husband
The call is from her spouse.
It's her father
The call is from her father.
Seems he finally made his deadline
Her father has completed a task, and it relieves her of some stress and anxiety.
Now she's furiously packing for a little time away
She is excitedly preparing for a vacation, happy to take a break from her demanding life.
She's got a week's vacation and she's gonna make it pay
She intends to utilize her vacation to the fullest and make the most of her time off.
Her husband's turning bitter and her daughter just turned nine
Her spouse is becoming resentful of her absence, and her daughter is growing up quickly without her.
There's no time like the present and there's no present like time
This repeated line emphasizes the importance of time, and how it must be cherished and used wisely for a fulfilling life.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind