Mental Health & Wellbeing Weekly

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Inheritance Tracks

Looking back on cherished memories and thinking about the future through our favourite songs enhances our wellbeing, creating deeper connections with loved ones and enriching our emotional lives.

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Inheritance Tracks on BBC Radio 4 is a delightful way to explore the power of music in our lives. In this lovely segment of Saturday Morning, with the brilliant Richard Coles, celebrities share two songs that hold special meaning for them: one that was passed down through their family and another they’d love to pass on to their own loved ones.

This simple act of sharing music does wonders for our wellbeing. It invites us to reminisce about the past, celebrating cherished memories that bring us closer to family and friends. At the same time, choosing a song for future generations fills us with hope and excitement, creating a bridge between what was and what could be.

As we dive into these personal stories and heartfelt melodies, it engages us in a lovely mix of nostalgia and aspiration, a beautiful reminder of how music can connect us across time, enriching our lives and nurturing our emotional health.

I will kick off with mine.

Firstly the track I have inherited from my late dad, is the great ‘Bridge over Troubled Waters’ by Simon & Garfunkel.

Many trips in my dads car were spent listening to this album, of which this is the title track, on a bolted on cassette player with a vast array of 4 cassettes chucked carelessly into the Ford Escort glovebox. Driving along singing together under our breath, we were not a showy family.

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Secondly, this was harder, because I wanted to be all profound, but it can only be one track ‘Baggy Trousers’ by Madness. This was an amazing time, hearing this music that was so different to anything in the charts. Two Tone was bouncing but Madness were always my band, reflecting on life and filling the Lepton Parish Hall Friday Disco, whenever it was played. I had a proud dad moment a few weeks ago when Rafe, my youngest son, announced he was performing Baggy Trousers for his Music GCSE. I was beside myself with joy, and my work here is done.

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