>>I WAS WONDERING WHAT SONGS HAD BEEN SUNG, OR MENTIONED MOST OFTEN ON TAGS.<<< "COL HARVEY" JEFF
Jeff, I am going to take another angle on your topic, which is a good one. My favorite songs from TAGS are those songs in which someone was moved by the spirit of Mayberry to "Stop and sing along. There are at least two very memorable instances of that. A man who seemingly has everything, realizes that the thing he is missing cannot be purchased. He observes from a distance that he is missing the very simple human things that bring families and loved ones together at a special time of year. After futile attempts to awkwardly insert himself into the scene of love and celebration, he stands alone, on the outside, craning his neck and longing to be part of the warm community of love and good fellowship. If only he could be a part in some way. If only he could join the holiday celebration. They guitar chords begin tunefully, a male voice say "remember" and a sweet voice begins intoning the familiar carol "Away in a Manger no crib for a bed" Knowing the song since childhood, the lonely figure peers through the window and sings along. Just the appearance of his lips moving to the song through the symbolic bars of separation bring a tear to the viewers eye, just before his Christmas wish comes true. Another worldly man..another memorable scene. This man has no time for music, and no time for small town simplicity, but fate has stranded him in a very different environment than he has ever known. After a few futile attempts to solve his calamity and the unfamiliar practice of just kicking back and enjoying time rather than rushing through it, he stands away from the simplicity, his steady pacing still a symbol of a hurried world he is enslaved to. Then a simple song surrounds him, the busy world has finally relieved his mind, and for a moment he is drawn in by the simple things, the friendship, the fellowship the community..and he sings along "Come to the church by the wildwood Oh, come to the church in the vale. No spot is so dear to my childhood... As the little brown church in the vale" Another man owns an organ. He wants to sell it to build a barn. In the process, he meets some dear people who need an organ for their church. The organ does not bring him the joy of a new barn, but it brings him a different kind of joy, an Eagle -eye Annie kind of Joy. He is surrounded by new friends, perhaps a new life partner, but certainly an individual who gives and received more joy through the organ that he had ever known when it sat in his house. He also is compelled to sing along. (was it "Bringing in the Sheaves"?). He sings because he also feels like he belongs. A county sheriff seems more like a city feller to his strange county/mountain guests. They have little in common. He enforces the law..they sometime break it, even unknowingly. He eats like a king with his Aunt cooking. They eat..strange mountain foods. They don't talk alike. They don't dress alike. Then comes the great equalizer. They take out their musical instruments and begin playing music. The Sheriff picks up his and joins in. They sing together as one community, with the attitude "just jump in where you can and hang on" There is harmony. There is acceptance for as long as the music binds them. A lady can dance along and sing a solo, a Deputy can snap his fingers..the music reaches out to everyone. There is no judgment, no difference. So what can we learn from this?? The song doesn't matter. The type of music doesn't matter, but to enjoy true peace and community..we must all take time to "stop and sing along", The Untrained Voice-I don't sing on key but I move my lips real good (hopefully you will also read Tom Kessel's message about the actor who played Mr. Tucker. Reading that inspired me to write this) _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
