more lighthearted tracks...or are they?

And now for more tracks. These will be from my childhood:

#2: A Bushel and A Peck

My mom used to sing this to me (us) all the time, but she would just sing the first part over and over again:

I love you a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck...

Here's a funny: I always thought that she made the song up. It wasn't until I was a senior in high school and got the role of Adelaide in our school's production of Guys & Dolls that I learned that this song is from that musical. I felt a bit betrayed...but more silly. It was a great surprise.

#3: Heard It In A Love Song (Marshall Tucker Band)

This song is from my dad. My dad had (has?) an incredible record collection. I used to love to look through the records. He played loud music a lot. I think from him is where I learned that listening to music itself is an activity; it can be on in the background, sure, but there are times when doing something else won't allow you to fully understand what you're listening to.

That being said, I hated this song.

Heard it in a love song,
Heard it in a love song,
Heard it in a love song...
Can't be wrong.

It was so annoying, and probably the song that my dad played the most frequently. I remember the little guitar interlude following the chorus, but I've blocked out most of it. The only other line that I remember, other than that blasted chorus, is:

I was born a wrangler and a rambler and I guess I always will.

Will what?

#4: Bette Davis Eyes (Kim Carnes)

Not from my parents, but from my Aunt Karen, who I affectionately called (call) Kuna. She's only 14 years older than me, and I was the first grandchild on that side of the family, so I was taken under Kuna's wing. How many 3-year-olds do YOU know that could sing this song?

And she'll tease you
She'll unease you
all the better just to please you
She's precocious
and she knows just
what it takes to make a pro blush
All the boys think she's a spy
She's got Bette Davis eyes

And the wonderful synthesizer/clapping combo. Ahhh...nice song.

#4: The Lonely Goatherd (The Sound Of Music Soundtrack)

Another from Kuna. I would beg her to put this one on, and she'd sing along and we'd have a grand old time. We'd sing and dance to almost all the songs (I think) but what stands out in my memory is:

High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo...

Hoo!

#5: Centerfold (J. Geils Band)

Ooohh...controversy. This was one of my very favorite pop songs as a child. Did I know what it was about? He-e-e-e-eyll no.

Does she walk? Does she talk?
Does she come complete?
My homeroom homeroom angel
Always pulled me from my seat
She was pure like snowflakes
No one could ever stain
The memory of my angel
Could never cause me pain

Years go by I'm lookin' through a girly magazine
And there's my homeroom angel on the pages in-between

I even saw the video, with the girls and the classroom, and I just wanted to dance to it all. I've talked with other people my age that are very familiar with this song and were at a young age and, like me, had NO idea what it all meant. And/or their parents never let them listen to it.

It's okay I understand
This ain't no never-never land
I hope that when this issue's gone
I'll see you when your clothes are on
Take you car, Yes we will
We'll take your car and drive it
We'll take it to a motel room
And take 'em off in private
A part of me has just been ripped
The pages from my mind are stripped
Oh no, I can't deny it
Oh yeah, I guess I gotta buy it!

I guess now I can see why all the adults around me found it so interesting that I knew and loved this song - "Ha ha ha, look at the little girl singing along about naked women!"

One more thing about this song, and I can't believe I'm going to post this because it's something that I was so embarrased about when I was a kid, is the made-up part I sang along. I put my own "words" in where there was just a little guitar riff, right before the last line of the repeated chorus. The words that I made up, which were rhythmically perfectly accurate for the music I might add, were: Bing-bong the rosing-hong. I know, I know. (Jen Galan, stop laughing.)

Here's how I fit my little line into the chorus - sing along quietly to yourself, if you must. You'll see how perfectly it fits into that little guitar part:

My blood runs cold
My memory has just been sold
My angel is the centerfold
Angel is the centerfold
My blood runs cold
My memory has just been sold
Bing-bong the rosing-hong
Angel is the centerfold

A young musical genius...