I was wandering around the house humming this morning, as I often do, and the song that I was humming was “Button Up Your Overcoat.” This is nothing new. I’ve been humming it for the last two weeks. But it was only today that I had time to figure out why. Duh. It’s the pandemic, stupid.
For those who aren’t familiar with this chestnut, here’s what I was humming:
“Button up your over coat.
Get to bed by 3.
Take good care of yourself,
You belong to me.”
…Over and over. But despite the fact that the lyrics are a little jumbled, they’re close enough. Mystery solved. Life for me has become about taking good care of myself, and hoping my family and friends do too. “Stay safe” is now an accepted and sincere parting phrase.
Still, humming the same song for two weeks gets old. Mostly, I just got hung up on how corny it was (leaving aside the fact that it’s anything but). 50 somethings may remember that this was the song that drove John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga over the edge in The Sure Thing. To wit, a few days ago I happened to share a link to local radio show Recycled Radio, because it was a tribute to lyricist Lorenz Hart. My sophisticate brother wrote back: “They’re all so earnest. Sing, sing, SING.”
Is singing, in and of itself, corny?
Modern people don’t seem to sing anymore, or at least I imagine that we don’t. I know singing is something I rarely do, and when I do, I usually wait until I’m alone to really air it out. Today, my victim was “When The Red-Red-Robin Comes Bob-Bob-Bobbing Along,” popularized in the day by celebrated baritone Bing Crosby. This is a great song to to sing out loud, and almost a tongue twister when you get to the chorus. I strongly suggest you try it, or if not with the Bing selection, then some song of your choosing.
Because truly, what better time to test out your pipes than now during a time of social isolation? No one will hear you, and even if they do, so what? Plus, it feels good. I wouldn’t even be surprised if it has health benefits.
As a postscript, the reason I’ve been humming about the robin is because we have a mother robin nesting in a shrub outside our east-facing dining room window. Even with the cold and wind, she sits, wings spread over her three little eggs waiting for warmer weather. Her devotion is impressive and well-timed. given that it’s Mother’s Day. Isn’t there something of mother Robin in all mothers?
So in light of this coincidence, happy Mother’s Day, all, and don’t forget to sing a song, not necessarily to your mother, but maybe with your mother, or your loved one, or your kids. If nothing else, whistle a happy tune with a song in your heart…
