SONGS OF THE HEART

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                 This time of year, our thoughts turn to love, and one way to express love is through songs.  This may not be what you expect in a blog about love songs, but these are songs my parents loved to sing.  Other than hymns at church, about the only song I remember my dad singing was Mockin’ Bird Hill. 

 

MOCKIN’ BIRD HILL

by Vaughn Horton

 

Chorus

Tra-la-la, tweedlee dee dee it gives me a thrill
To wake up in the morning to the mockin' bird's trill
Tra-la-la, tweedlee dee dee
There's peace and goodwill
You're welcome as the flowers on Mockin' bird Hill

 

When the sun in the mornin' peeps over the hill
And kisses the roses 'round my windowsill
Then my heart fills with gladness when I hear the trill
Of those birds in the treetops on Mockin' bird Hill

 

Chorus

 

When it's late in the evenin' I climb up the hill
And survey all my kingdom while everything's still
Only me and the sky and an old whippoorwill
Singing songs in the twilight on Mockin' bird Hill

 

Chorus

 

Here’s a version sung by Burl Ives

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op1twLCaWGg

 

                 My mom didn’t think she had a good singing voice.  She had a deep range, probably an alto or maybe even a tenor.  Sometimes after Sunday night church, mom, dad and I would go to a fast-food restaurant and get carry-out.  While Dad would be inside placing the order, and Mom and I would be waiting in the car, she would often sing one of these songs to me.  Here are the words as she sang them to me.

 

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

by Jimmie Davis / Charles Mitchell

 

Chorus

You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You'll never know, dear
How much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

 

The other night, dear
As I lay sleeping
I dreamt I held you in my arms
When I awoke, dear
I was mistaken
And I hung my head and I cried

 

Chorus

 

This version is sung by Gene Autry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AhpWZjqMLI

 

 

PLAYMATE

by

 

Playmate,
Come out and play with me
And bring your dollies three
Climb up my apple tree

Holler down my rain barrel
Slide down my cellar door
And we'll be jolly friends
Forevermore.

 

Playmate,
I cannot play with you
My dollie’s have the flu
Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

Can’t holler down your rain barrel
Or slide down your cellar door
But we'll be jolly friends
Forevermore.

 

Here’s a version by the Fontane Sisters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAMlTtxn-fU

 

I couldn’t find this song on YouTube, but my mom enjoyed singing this one, too. 

 

THE MAN IN THE MOON

If the man in the moon were to gossip

And to tell everything he knew

He’d tell the world, you’re my girl,

And I’m in love with you.

 

                 My mom enjoyed singing these songs to me, and I enjoyed singing them to my daughters, and now to my grandchildren.  After three granddaughters, I have to remember to sing “you’re my boy,” when I sing The Man in the Moon to my grandson, Matthias! 

 

 

NEXT:  Our Valentine . . . Vanhooser.


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