Turn on those sad songs

There we were in the middle of Aunt Jodi's Afternoon Dance Party (not be confused with Aunt Jodi's Early-Morning Dance Party). Nolan was happily pogoing to the Violent Femmes' cover of "Eep Opp Ork Ah Ah" and proclaiming how even though he was sweaty he was going to continue dancing. Liam requested "Batman" and after a rousing rendition of the theme song as covered by Paul Westerberg, he started to demand the sad song.

Since I had no idea what in the heck he was talking about, I started rifling through my iTunes randomly picking slow, sad songs. He didn't want any of my Ben Folds, none of my Dolorean, and by this time Nolan too had started to join in on the demands for the sad song.

"You know," Nolan said. "Where he cries."

The lightbulb went off. Of course. They wanted to hear Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt."

The song starts and the two tiny Tibbles huddle up near the computer's speakers. Liam, who is not quite 3, is offering a running commentary on the lyrics.

"Him sad," Liam says. "Him hurt himself today."
"I like boys," Nolan says. "I like Johnny Cash." (I am pretty sure this is in reference to my attempt at choosing Joni Mitchell as the sad song)
"Him sad," Liam says. "Why is him sad?"
"Because he is old and has regrets," I say.
"Where did him friends go?" Liam asks, his face a mask of concern.
"They went away in the end," I say.
"That's so sad," he says.