Harry Nilsson was born on Father’s Day, June 15th, 1941. There’s a haunting symmetry in that, especially when you hear him sing the aching words of “1941”
“Well, in 1941, a happy father had a son
And by 1944, the father walked right out the door
And in '45 the mom and son were still alive
But who could tell in '46 if the two were to survive?”
Only Harry could write something so tender, so bruised, and still find a way to make it sing.
More than any other artist I’ve ever known, Harry Nilsson captures the full, aching, complicated spectrum of the human spirit: its joys, its absurdities, its heartbreaks, and its wonder. So it made perfect sense that when my friend Rudy Fischmann, host of our Discograffiti Patreon only podcast on Perfect Songs, was going through a major life shift, he turned to Harry.
How could you not?
If you’re in pain, listen to Harry.
If you’re in love, listen to Harry.
If you just need to laugh, guess what, Harry again.
It’s this emotional range, this beautiful chaos of joy and sorrow, that led us to name our child after Nilsson. Before we ever knew the birth date, we’d already picked the name. And then one of life’s most surreal, poetic coincidences occurred: our son was born on January 15th, the anniversary of Harry’s death.
Harry wasn’t perfect. He had his demons, his missteps, his heartbreaks. But in his final years, he turned his heart toward fatherhood with a devotion that moved me deeply. That idea, that it’s never too late to become a better human, a more present parent, a truer friend, is one of the many lessons one can learn from Harry Nilsson.
Now, every time I play his songs for my son, who not only shares his name but the same wild blond hair, I’m reminded how deeply art can shape a life. Harry’s life and songs teach me how to feel more fully, how to show up more honestly, how to be the best dad I can be, and well.. how to write better songs.
He was smart. Sentimental. Whimsical. Profound.
And no one, and I mean no one, can tear your soul open quite like Harry's voice can.
I love being a dad. It’s the best gig I’ve ever had. And I love all of it.. The hard stuff is easy if you love all of it.
I could name forty perfect Nilsson songs, easily. But on today’s episode, we just scratch the surface.
Today, on what would have been his birthday, we celebrate Harry Nilsson — father, dreamer, heartbreaker, and one of the most truly honest human songwriters and song interpreters to ever live.
Happy B-day Harry, and Happy Father's Day to all.
Listen to the Podcast Here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/211a-d-fiti-of-131480347?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=web_share
Big thanks Discograffiti & Dave Gebroe for creating the best Music Podcast there is..
Written By : Patrick Tape Fleming