He has not drowned yet

When I first heard this track from the latest LYP album, I knew that its catchy tune would be stuck in my head for a long time. I also became aware of the title, wondering exactly what it referred to. Did it mean provisions for those unable to literally indulge in swimming or did it pertain to a spiritual level for water and swimming, more symbolic?

Taking the former assumption, made me focus on my son; taking the latter, on a friend of mine whom I was assisting with the uncovering of the spiritual aspects of life. The title alone split my thoughts into these two pathways, before I drew myself out from the sounds of the music and paid attention to the actual lyrics!

My son had refused to take swimming lessons, either from myself or from a proper tutor. I had offered these several times, from the age of four through to the age of fourteen. He flatly refused, insisting that if needs be it would be an automatic action of survival; lessons were simply not required. For much of his childhood, I worried about his lack of swimming ability. He spent much time near the water, at the harbor, wetlands reserves, and at various beaches. He did not enjoy immersing himself in water, but has assured me that should he have an accident, he will be able to save himself through natural reaction. I am uncertain about this, but he is now too old to 'force' into compulsory lessons. This song therefore inspires thought relating to a 'halfway there' understanding, such as my son assumes. It is as though he understands the water, but does not choose to indulge in the rigmarole of instructional classes to learnt o swim. He is seventeen, but has not yet drowned!