About the song
“Teach Your Children” as gracefully performed by Kathy Mattea, Alison Krauss, and Suzy Bogguss. This particular version, a standout from the 1994 compilation album Red Hot + Country (a benefit album for AIDS awareness), brought a fresh, country-tinged acoustic beauty to the song, originally a hit for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in 1970. While it didn’t chart as a single in the same way as its predecessor, this collaboration is revered for its purity and the way it elevates the song’s enduring message. It’s far more than just a cover; it’s a serene, thoughtful plea for empathy and mutual learning across the divides of age and experience.
The lyrics of “Teach Your Children,” penned by Graham Nash, offer a deeply insightful commentary on the relationship between generations. It’s a plea for both patience and openness, urging older generations to impart their wisdom and mistakes, while simultaneously asking younger generations to listen and understand the burdens of those who came before them. Phrases like “Teach your children well / Their father’s fault was not their own” and “And you, of tender years / Can’t know the fears that your elders grew upon” beautifully capture this dual perspective. The song speaks to the universal challenge of bridging the generational gap, acknowledging that both sides have valuable lessons to offer and unique perspectives shaped by their respective eras. It’s about the importance of communication, empathy, and the understanding that true progress comes from learning from the past without being bound by its failures, and respecting the future without dismissing its ideals. It’s a timeless call for compassion and continuity, underscoring that our collective wisdom is built on this intergenerational exchange.
The vocal performances by Kathy Mattea, Alison Krauss, and Suzy Bogguss on “Teach Your Children” are nothing short of sublime. Their voices, each distinct and celebrated in country and Americana circles, blend together with a breathtaking purity and warmth, creating harmonies that are both intricate and effortlessly beautiful. Alison Krauss’s ethereal soprano often floats above, while Mattea and Bogguss provide rich, grounded harmonies, giving the song a gentle, almost spiritual resonance. There’s a profound sense of sincerity and a shared understanding of the song’s message in their delivery, making every word feel deeply meaningful. Their collective brilliance lies in their ability to strip away any excess, letting the raw beauty of their voices and the song’s poignant message shine through with exquisite clarity. It’s a masterclass in vocal blending and understated emotional power.
The musical arrangement of “Teach Your Children” in this rendition is elegantly sparse and acoustic, allowing the stunning vocal harmonies to take center stage. It features gentle, melodic acoustic guitars, a soft mandolin (likely played by Krauss’s longtime collaborator, Jerry Douglas), and subtle, tasteful bass that provides a warm, organic foundation. The instrumentation is minimalist yet incredibly effective, creating an atmosphere that feels intimate, reflective, and deeply authentic. The production is pristine, ensuring that every nuance of their intertwined voices and delicate instrumentation is heard with remarkable clarity, enhancing the song’s timeless quality and its heartfelt plea.
“Teach Your Children” as performed by Kathy Mattea, Alison Krauss, and Suzy Bogguss resonated deeply with audiences because its themes of intergenerational understanding, empathy, and collective wisdom are universally understood and profoundly felt. It stands as a beautiful testament to the power of collaboration and the enduring relevance of a message delivered with such grace and harmony. It remains a timeless classic, a poignant reminder that to truly build a better future, we must all strive to “Teach Your Children” well, and also learn from them.
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Lyrics
You, who are on the road
Must have a code you try to live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a goodbye
Teach your children well
Their father’s hell did slowly go by
Feed them on your dreams
The one they pick’s the one you’ll know by
Don’t you ever ask them why
If they told you, you would cry
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you
And you, of tender years
Can’t know the fears your elders grew by
Help them with your youth
They seek the truth before they can die
Teach your parents well
Their children’s hell will slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they pick’s the one you’ll know by
Don’t you ever ask them why
If they told you, you would cry
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you
Don’t you ever ask them why
If they told you, you would cry
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you
Ooh, and know they love you
And know they love you, yeah
And know they love you
