Eddy Arnold, 1918-2008
You wouldn't really think the death of the old country and gospel singer would mean that much to me, especially. He was nearly ninety years old, after all, and as far as I'm concerned there's a special kind of hell reserved just for the propagators of country music. It makes my ears bleed. Interestingly, though, I am able to hum the tune and recite the lyrics to nearly all of the best known Eddy Arnold songs, such as:
I'm sending you a big bouquet of roses
One for every time you broke my heart
And as the door of love between us closes
Tears will fall like petals when we part
and:
How many arms have held you and hated to let you go
How many how many I wonder but I really don't want to know
How many lips have kissed you and set your soul aglow
How many how many I wonder but I really don't want to know
as well as:
Make the world go away and get it off my shoulder
Say the things you used to say and make the world go away
Why is that, you ask? Well, because my father was a huge Eddy Arnold fan, and I grew up on Eddy's LP's playing nearly day and night on the old turntable in the living room. So, I mourn the death of Eddy today-even though the music may make me cringe, it still brings a smile of remembrance and nostalgia and makes me think of Dad.
RIP, Mr. Arnold. And be sure to look up Gordon when you get to where you're going next. He was a big fan of yours.
My memory of Dad & music is him going around the house singing:
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
What shall we do with a drunkem sailor?
What shall we do with a drunken sailor
early in the morning?
I found a version of that on Limewire, and downloaded it, for that very reason.
Posted by: Lori | May 10, 2008 at 05:42 AM
Heh. Also, Jim Reeves...Burl Ives...
"He was just a hundred yards from Mariaaaaaaannnne...."
Posted by: Lisa K. | May 11, 2008 at 05:40 AM