Painted On Canvas

If you haven’t heard of Gregory Porter and you love jazz music, check him out. And if you want to hear a beautiful song that sums up everything that matters about teaching and learning, take a listen to his song, “Painted On Canvas,” and read his lyrics below.

We are like children
We’re painted on canvases
Picking up shades as we go
We start off with gesso
brushed on by people we know
Watch your technique as you go
Step back and admire my view
Can I use the colors I choose?
Do I have some say what you use?
Can I get some greens and some blues?
We’re made by the pigment of paint that is put upon
Our stories are told by our hues
Like Motley and Bearden
These masters of peace and life
Layers of colors and time
Step back and admire my view
Can I use the colors I choose?
Do I have some say what you use?
Can I get some greens with my blues?

We’re just like children, like children, like children . . .