Family Songs

Over the course of years, there have been songs that bring us closer as we remember them.

One of the first I remember hearing is to the tune "Try a Little Tenderness." It goes like this:

She may get weary, women do get weary,

Wearing the same shabby dress.

When she gets weary,

Buy another shabby dress.

I'm sure that ditty was from a old stand-up comic, but there were some that were originals.

I do believe that Mary Fran came up with this:

I cantaloupe with you tonight

Though we're a peach of a pear.

I'm plum nuts about you

Go bananas when I kiss you,

But I cantaloupe with you.

My Aunt Rita also wrote a romantic song -- about a fly that was driving her crazy while she

tried to feed one of her kids:

He's gone again,

He flies away every time we meet.

But he'll come back again

And I'll knock him off his feet.

This next song, is really just a title, originated by, I think, Tennessee Ernie Ford:

If I Had a Nose Full of Nickels, I'd sneeze them all at you.

My favorite and most enduring family song was written by either my father or the father of Pogo, Walt Kelly. It is a Christmas Carol.

Do not tarry at the Wassail Bowl too long, Father Dear

Do not tarry at the Wassail Bowl too long.

Do not leave your home and fireside

For a blond that's strictly peroxide.

Do not tarry at the Wassail Bowl too long.

I am happy to say the activity of celebrating events with music has been passed to a new

generation, born in this century. Ezra and Sally sang this to our elderly cat before she made

her transition.

So long Snuggles,

You've had a long run.

So long Snuggles,

We've had lots of fun.

I hope your family has also been able to partake in musical memories as we have.

Since I wrote the original posting, I thought of a few others we liked to hear and repeat.

This one could be from The Dick Van Dyke show:

Be kind to your web-footed friends,

For that duck may be somebody's mother.

And here, a few from Graucho:

Lydia, oh Lydia, oh have you met Lydia,

Lydia the tattooed lady.

Hooray for Captain Spaulding,

The African explorer.

Did some one call me schnorer?

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!

Hello. I must be going. . .

I will add more as I remember them.