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What's wrong with a sad song?

Updated: Oct 6, 2022

I remember as a kid being intrigued by the song "Oh, my darlin' Clementine."

Sure sounds like a sad story. Can't be! But it is fun to sing it exaggerating its tragic surface.


There is a young boy who comes here every week for ear-immersion, for want of a better description. This always includes singing - by far his favorite part. What song does he most love? Sweet Molly Malone. Apparently he sings it all the time at home.


Then last night I read a James Thurber piece in which he objects to the Andrews Sisters re-working of the song to have a happy ending. ... oh my, what a little humor can do.

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