The Unborn Child (1973) Seals & Crofts

Perhaps I am the only one surprised by the fact that Seals & Crofts was concerned about the life of the unborn. I would have taken the now unfair guess they would be like so many on the side of abortion rights. The album Unborn Child (Art Direction – Ed Thrasher; Design – Lockart; Illustration – Margo Zafer Nahas) was no doubt a timely response to the January 1973 passing of Roe-vs-Wade.

I often stop at Goodwill on the way home from work for a chance to clear my head, and for an opportunity to experience that therapeutic "no one is expecting something creative of me this very moment" that is so infrequent of late. In so doing, I go through the LPs looking for covers designed by master designers like Colin Forbes, Milton Glaser, George Tscherny, George Salter, Paul Rand, Seymour Schwast, S. Neil Fujita, George Giusti, Paul Davis, Lawrence Ratzkin, Andrew P. Zutis, Charles Beck and others. Due to the frequency of my visits, I have struck up some casual friendships. As I was pouring through the LPs the other day, one such employee stopped with a welcomed smile and greeting, and we spoke briefly about his family, how his second job was fairing, etc. As the conversation grew to a close, I looked down and I believe with providence, the album "The Unborn Child" by Seals & Crofts was in both my hands. It took me by surprise, so I immediately turned it over and read the words to the song which I have posted below.

Sometimes I notice these providences and brushes with grace, but most of the time I find myself in despair and yearning as I and my wife are still without children after so many years. It strikes me as ironic how I am impassioned for children, and they with me at times, and yet we have none of our own. It amazes me even more than women would see an unborn child as an inconvenience and "choose" to kill this promise inside them, especially considering all my wife and I have been through emotionally, physically and financially in our 8 year desire to be parents.

All that said, I thank God today for giving me a glimpse into his greatness, as he sparks my desire to save the unborn, with what little I have in me to do so.

Unborn Child (1973) Seals & Crofts

Oh, little baby, you’ll never cry,
Nor will you hear a sweet lullaby.

Oh, unborn child, if you only knew
Just what your momma is plannin’ to do.
You’re still a clingin’ to the tree of life
But soon you’ll be cut off before you get ripe.

Oh, unborn child, beginning to grow,
Inside your momma, but you’ll never know
Oh, tiny bud that grows in the womb
Only to crushed before you can bloom.

Momma, stop! Turn around, go back, think it over,
Stop! Turn around, go back, think it over.
Stop! Turn around, go back, think it over.

Oh, no, momma, just let it be
You’ll never regret it, just wait and see
Think of all the great ones who gave everything
That we may have life here
So please bear the pain.

Momma, stop! Turn around, go back, think it over,
Stop! Turn around, go back, think it over.
Stop! Turn around, go back, think it over.

To truly appreciate the The Unborn Child album, buy it from iTunes. I did and will say it is full of courage, power and emotion.