Her songwriting has been praised for its wit, and her technical guitar playing has also received praise (which she made light fun of in her feminist song, Not Bad for a Broad).
In 1990, she joined Christine Lavin, Megan McDonough, and Sally Fingerett to form the Four Bitchin' Babes, with whom she toured and recorded one album.
In 2005, Larkin produced La Guitara, a compilation of songs performed by female guitarists designed to answer the question, "Why are there no great female guitar players?" with the answer being that "There are–and here they are."
Children
Patty Larkin Lyrics
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I remember we weren't the kind to make an excuse
I remember thinking we would break all the rules
Where are those children now? Where are those children now?
I remember hellfire and brimstone be damned
I remember trembling at the touch of your hand
Crossing the desert to the California sand
I remember angels who lent us their wings
Cigarettes and paperback poetry kings
Kicking up dust like we didn't need a thing
Where are those children now? Where are those children now?
Now the curtain calls and fails to fill me
I wander down the halls that used to thrill me
I remember singing, "San Francisco Bay Blues"
I remember being happy just paying our dues
I remember thinking we had nothing to lose
Where are those children now? Where are those children now?
Where are those children now?
In Patty Larkin's song, "Children," the lyrics describe a nostalgic longing for the freedom and fearlessness of youth. The singer remembers walking with holes in their shoes, but not making excuses, and thinking they could break all the rules. This idea of carefree rebellion is juxtaposed with the fear and trembling at the touch of someone's hand, and the harsh realities of life, like crossing the desert for a better life. The singer also remembers the help and support they received, from angels and friends alike, and the feeling of being invincible.
However, as the song progresses, the singer becomes aware of their current disillusionment and disconnection from the past. The curtain calls and fails to fill them, and the halls that once thrilled them now leave them wandering aimlessly. The memories and experiences of the past are something to hold onto, but they now seem like a distant dream.
The repetition of "Where are those children now?" in the chorus emphasizes the longing for a simpler time and a desire to reconnect with the carefree nature of youth. Ultimately, the song speaks to the universal experience of feeling lost and disconnected from one's past, while also acknowledging the importance of holding onto the memories and people who helped shape us.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember walking with holes in our shoes
I remember a time when we were poor and had no money to buy good shoes.
I remember we weren't the kind to make an excuse
I remember a time when we were strong-willed and never made excuses for our shortcomings.
I remember thinking we would break all the rules
I remember when we were young and thought we were invincible and could break any rules.
Where are those children now? Where are those children now?
Where have all those carefree, rebellious children gone?
I remember hellfire and brimstone be damned
I remember when we defied religious conventions and didn't care about the consequences.
I remember trembling at the touch of your hand
I remember a time when I was weak and vulnerable, and your touch could make me tremble.
Crossing the desert to the California sand
I remember when we were adventurous and dared to cross the desert to reach California.
I remember angels who lent us their wings
I remember a time when we were helped by kind, generous people who acted like angels.
Cigarettes and paperback poetry kings
I remember a time when we were reckless, smoking cigarettes and reading poetry books.
Kicking up dust like we didn't need a thing
I remember when we were carefree and didn't worry about anything, just kicking up dust.
Now the curtain calls and fails to fill me
Nowadays, I feel empty and unfulfilled when the show ends.
I wander down the halls that used to thrill me
I roam around the halls that used to excite me, but now they're just empty and dull.
I remember singing, 'San Francisco Bay Blues'
I remember a time when we sang along to 'San Francisco Bay Blues', feeling alive and happy.
I remember being happy just paying our dues
I remember when paying our dues made us happy, and we felt accomplished.
I remember thinking we had nothing to lose
I remember when we had nothing to lose and were willing to take risks and do crazy things.
Where are those children now? Where are those children now?
Where have all those fearless, free-spirited children gone?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PATTY LARKIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind