Be Born

Be Born
Written by	Rob Cantor
Appears on	The Pingry EP, Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum
Sung by	Rob Cantor
Genre	Rock
Language	English
Links:	Youtube Spotify Bandcamp Demo (Youtube)

Be Born is a song by Rob Cantor.

History

Be Born is one of few songs on Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum that weren't on Complete Demos or their two previous EPs. Its first appearance would be on 2005's The Pingry EP as a minimal acoustic version, with just vocals and an acoustic guitar.

This track and others were recorded in a Music School classroom with friend and band mascot Bora Karaca. In the same year, Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum would be released with a full studio recording of Be Born.

Inspiration

The song was inspired by Rob's father, David Cantor, who shared some musical interests with Rob.

Recording

Jeremy Kittel provided violin for the track.

Song Interpretations

Some will look at this two-dimensionally and see it as talking about a baby in the womb about to be born. Others interpret this as a metaphor for trying to take the hand of a misguided and lost friend; one who's in a place they've been before, and show them what they're missing in life and how to overcome the darkness they've surrounded themselves with.

When asked about the song by Suzanne Chessler, Rob said "Be Born sounds like a simple love song but it's actually about coaxing a baby from the womb." He also stated, "My dad loves what he does, and I thought it would be an interesting idea for a song. I thought it worked really well with a hidden meaning."

Trivia

• in March of 2008, an alternate version of the first verse was used in a performance of the song, saying "I suppose you're quite content in your living room" rather than "in your swimming pool"

Lyrics

I suppose you're quite content in your swimming pool
All you pink-skinned babes are the same
And you can't stay forever young
So get out here and see the sun
You're only six inches away from becoming one

I was in your shoes before, or lack thereof
And things worked out for me
There's a dozen people here
And they're waiting for you
It's your party; you can cry if you want to

What if I told you I could show you something?
What if I told you I could make you live?
Follow my instruction, swim in the direction
Of my voice, hear my voice
Of my voice, hear my voice

(Alright)
You think that you've seen it all in your little ball
But man you're wrong and she's been waiting
Long and hard to kiss your head and hold your hands
And hold you while you fall asleep, and

What if I told you I could show you something?
What if I told you I could make you live?
Follow my instruction, swim in the direction
Of my voice, hear my voice
Of my voice, hear my voice

Bah Bah Da Bah, Bah Bah Da Bah, Baheyah, Bah Bah Da Bah, Bah Bah Da Bah, Baheyah

What if I told you I could show you something?
What if I told you I could make you live?
Follow my instruction, swim in the direction
Of my voice, hear my voice
Of my voice, hear my voice

Tabs/Chords

G G7 C Cm G Em D7
G                G7       C           Cm        G
I suppose you're quite content in your swimming pool
        Em           D7
All you pink-skinned babes are the same
    G                 G7   C
And you can't stay forever young
           Cm               G
So get out here and see the sun
            Em         D7                 G
You're only six inches away from becoming one

G             G7      C     Cm           G
I was in your shoes before (or lack thereof)
Em                        D7
And things worked out for me
G               G7     C
There's a dozen people here
           Cm           G
And they're waiting for you
          Em             D7              G
It's your party; you can cry if you want to

C         G        D7              G
What if I told you I could show you something?
C         G        D7              G
What if I told you I could make you live?
C            G         D7            G
Follow my instruction, swim in the direction
Em       Bm  C       G
Of my voice, hear my voice
Em       Bm  C       G
Of my voice, hear my voice

G G7 C Cm G Em D7   G G7 C Cm G Em D7 G

G                     G7      C           Cm     G
You think that you've seen it all in your little ball
        Em              D7
But man you're wrong and she's been waiting
G                G7        C       Cm         G
Long and hard to kiss your head and hold your hands
Em                 D7                  G
And hold you while you fall asleep, and

C         G          D7             G
What if I told you I could show you something?
C         G          D7             G
What if I told you I could make you live?
C         G            D7          G
Follow my instruction, swim in the direction
Em    Bm     C       G
Of my voice, hear my voice
Em    Bm     C       G
Of my voice, hear my voice
D          C    Cm         G    D        D          C    Cm         G    D      D7
Bah Bah Da Bah, Bah Bah Da Bah, Baheyah, Bah Bah Da Bah, Bah Bah Da Bah, Baheyah

C         G        D7               G
What if I told you I could show you something?
C         G        D7               G
What if I told you I could make you live?
C             G        D7            G
Follow my instruction, swim in the direction
Em    Bm     C       G
Of my voice, hear my voice
Em    Bm     C       G
Of my voice, hear my voice
Em Bm C G

Personnel

Music & Lyrics: Rob Cantor

Studio Version

Vocals: Rob Cantor
Additional Vocals: Joe Hawley, Zubin Sedghi
Acoustic Guitar: Rob Cantor
Drum Kit & Percussion: Ross Federman
Banjo: Jim Roll
Violin: Jeremy Kittel
Upright Bass: Keith Reed

The Pingry EP Version

Vocals: Rob Cantor
Additional Vocals: Joe Hawley, Zubin Sedghi
Acoustic Guitar: Rob Cantor
Melodica: Joe Hawley

References

The Pingry EP
	1. The Bidding 2. Taken For A Ride (acoustic) 3. Be Born (acoustic) 4. The Whole World And You (acoustic) 5. All Of My Friends (acoustic) 6. Good Day (Mitch Albom excerpt) 7. Yearbook (demo) 8. Just a Friend (live) 9. Cell Phone Call (hidden track)

Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum

1. Good Day 2. Greener 3. Welcome To Tally Hall 4. Taken For A Ride 5. The Bidding 6. Be Born 7. Banana Man 8. Just Apathy 9. Spring And A Storm 10. Two Wuv 11. Haiku 12. The Whole World And You 13. 13 14. Ruler of Everything 15. Hidden In The Sand (hidden track) 16. Mucka Blucka* (bonus track) 17. Dream* (bonus track) 18. Just a Friend** (bonus track) Good Day (Simlish) (pre-gap bonus track, CD/digital only) * indicates tracks only available with 2008 digital downloads, a download code or with the 2021 non-vinyl releases ** indicates tracks only available with a download code or on the 2021 non-vinyl releases