... and now for the muse

When I was about 10 we had a teacher at school who used to make us sing all the time ... and, man, I just can't sing. Ironically, from one of the worst teachers I've had (and one of the most-hated school activities) comes one of my fondest memories...

One particular song we over-killed beside the old classroom piano was called 'Little Boy Blue'. For some reason I loved this song - 'bout a kid who dies in his sleep.

Recently I started singing it to Case, poor girl - but she was lucky that I could only remember the first verse and chorus. She was unluckly that some words in the first couple of lines were lost from my memory so I'd fill the gaps with 'something, something, something' (roughly in rhythm - or beat - or whatever it is that people who can sing call that). Anyway, the gaps started to brass me off so I searched google using 'little toy dog' and was pleased to retrieve the real lyrics, and second verse. Bad luck Casey. Turns out the song is a poem by Eugen Field and the subject of the song was his son. Very sad ... try singing it a bit ... it's beautiful...it'll bring a tear.

Little Boy Blue

The little toy dog is covered with dust,

But sturdy and staunch he stands;

The little toy soldier is red with rust,

And his musket moulds in his hands.

Time was when the little toy dog was new,

And the soldier was passing fair;

And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue

Kissed them and put them there.

"Now don't you go till I come," he said,

"And don't you make any noise!"

So, toddling off to his trundle bed,

He dreamt of the pretty toys;

And, as he was dreaming, an angel song

Awakened our Little Boy Blue-

Oh! the years are many, the years are long,

But the little toy friends are true!

Aye, faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand,

Each in the same old place,

Awaiting the touch of a little hand,

The smile of a little face;

And they wonder, as waiting the long years through

In the dust of that little chair,

What has become of our Little Boy Blue,

Since he kissed them and put them there.

Labels: kids, memories, song