Story Behind The Song

On past recordings, I have always included a ?hero? song that pays tribute to real people like Ruby Bridges, my dad, and Woody Guthrie, to name a few. The hero of this song, Fine Finkelstein, is not a real person, but he is heroic nonetheless because he is comfortable with who he is and accepts others and other ideas. A big hug to my Hannah for creating Fine Finkelstein?s beautiful name and inspiring his story.

Song Description

This song deals with every kind of discrimination; ehtnic and social. It is meant as a song to uplift everyone and show respect for all cultures and family circumstances.

Lyrics

Fine Finkelstein
My mother named me for the summer day that I was born
My father gave me his last name on that same August morn
The ?F? honors my grandpa who was gone before I came
And all the men in my family are ?Finkelstein? by name

I?m Fine Finkelstein and I?m fine about my name
I know that it sounds funny, but I like it just the same
We have lots of things that make us different from each other
But all of us were babies once... and that makes us like each other.

My best friend is from Bosnia and his folks called him John
Our mailman?s from South Africa and he goes by Nelson
My neighbor is from Vietnam and he is known as Tuan
And the crossing guard?s from Mexico and his first name is Juan.

My family goes to synagogue when we would like to pray
But others go to churches on Christian holidays
Still others pray in mosques or temples or under golden domes
And there are those whose holy place in nowhere else but home.

I have a friend who said that he was openly adopted
And when I asked, ?What do you mean?? he said he?s happily? co-opted?
Turns out my friend is luckier than others I have known
He?s got two moms and he?ll have two moms even after he is grown!