Interview: Singer-Songwriter Peter Himmelman - Page 3

Adult records worst part: not having the time or energy or motivation to take on the burden of finishing one.

 “My Father’s An Accountant” is one of the cutest, sweetest songs I’ve heard in months.

(My father’s an accountant and I used to think that he was boring
I’d tell my friends about his job and I could see them all start snoring
Maybe one day they’ll see what I see,
A man strong enough to be true
Dad I just want to tell you
I see the hero in you.) 

How did it come about and what does your dad think of it?

This is one song that came to me almost totally finished. It was written with my father in mind - though he was not an accountant. He died in 1983, the day after I turned 24. He was only 54 when he died and I know for sure that he wanted to accomplish so much more. One day when I was visiting him in the hospital, he told me he didn't necessarily think of himself as a success.

I think he was referring to himself as a business person. I told him at the time, that the pure unconditional love he gave my mother, my three other siblings, and me, was the greatest success anyone can achieve in a lifetime. I really meant it then and after having four kids of my own, I know for sure I was right. I suppose this song, (which incidentally, made me cry as I wrote it), is a simple innocent expression of all these thoughts.

What’s your favorite track on this album and why?

That's a hard question for me because each of these songs speaks to me in a special way. I suppose “My Father's an Accountant” seems like the most enduring piece to me.

What are you working on next?

I have a new adult (I hate the licentious connotations) CD called, The Pigeons Couldn't Sleep, which I'm trying to finish for an early summer release. I've also been touring with a spoken word show which I'm in the process of refining and finding a structure for, and in a few months I will be putting the finishing touches on a really exciting new kids CD as well.

Article Author: Scott Butki

Scott Butki was a newspaper reporter for more than 10 years before making a career change into education.

He is an in-house media critic, a recovering Tetris addict and a proud uncle.

Visit Scott Butki's author page — Scott Butki's Blog