Harold and Josie

by ComputerBob

June 25, 2000

I wrote this for my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary.

Harold and Josie have been married a long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long time. Times were different back when they got married. Life was simpler. Love was simpler. Kids back then were pure and innocent - not like today's jaded MTV generation. We can see that innocence by studying the lyrics of the popular songs of their day. For example, the song, Froggy Went A Courtin':

Froggy went a courtin' and he did ride. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Froggy went a courtin' and he did ride. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Froggy went a courtin' and he did ride, a sword and pistol by his side. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

Uh-huh. Just as it does with kids today, the popular music of the times back then taught Harold and Josie all about love. And, for some reason, love back then had a lot to do with the moon. In fact, back then, the moon went out of its way to bring lovers together, as we learn from the song, Blue Moon:

Blue Moon, you saw me standing alone, without a dream in my heart, without a love of my own. Blue Moon, you knew just what I was there for. You heard me saying a prayer for someone I really could care for. And then there suddenly appeared before me, the only one my arms will ever hold. I heard someone whisper, "Please adore me," and when I looked, the moon had turned to gold!

The moon's amazing power to unite lovers was confirmed in the song, Moonglow:

It must have been Moon-glow, way up in the blue. It must have been Moon-glow, that led me straight to you.

And, back then, even moonlight influenced lovers, as we can see from the song, I See The Moon:

I see the moon. The moon sees me, under the shade of the apple tree. Please make the moon that shines on me, shine on the one I love.

Unlike the noise that passes for music nowadays, songs back then were very romantic, like Three O'Clock In The Morning:

Its three o'clock in the morning. We've danced the whole night thru, and daylight soon will be dawning - just one more dance with you. That melody so entrancing seems to be made for us two. I could just keep right on dancing forever, dear, with you.

Yes, those sweet old songs taught newlyweds, Harold and Josie, about commitment to marriage, as evidenced by the song, I Walk the Line:

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine. I keep my eyes wide open all the time. I keep the ends out for the tie that binds. Because you're mine, I walk the line.

Struggling through life's hardships together was another theme of the songs of yesteryear like Side By Side:

Oh, we ain't got a barrel of money. Maybe were ragged and funny. But, we'll travel along, singin' a song, side by side.

Those old songs were also good sources of advice about love, like this line from The Glory of Love:

You've got to give a little, take a little, and let your poor heart break a little. That's the story of -- that's the glory of love.

Now that I think of it, though, not all of the songs back then were completely innocent. For example, the song, Last Night on the Back Porch, was a little risqu�

I love her in the morning and I love her in the night. I love her - yes, I love her, when the stars are shining bright. I love her in the spring-time and I love her in the fall. But last night on the back porch, I loved her best of all.

Hormonal imbalance seems to be the theme of I'm In the Mood For Love:

I'm in the mood for love, simply because you're near me. Funny, but when you're near me, I'm in the mood for love.

Strangers in the Night is clearly about an obsessive stalker:

Strangers in the night, exchanging glances. Wondering through the night - what were the chances, we'd be sharing love before the night was through? Something in your eyes was so inviting. Something in your smile was so exciting. Something in my heart told me I must have you.

And whoever wrote I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter must have been suffering from delusional fantasies:

I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter, and make believe it came from you. I'm gonna write words oh, so sweet, they're gonna knock me off my feet. A lot of kisses on the bottom -- I'll be glad I got 'em. I'm gonna smile and say, "I hope you're feeling better," and close "with love," the way you do. I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter, and make believe it came from you.

Dysfunction and co-dependence are clear themes in the old song, Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man:

Fish got to swim and birds got to fly. I got to love one man till I die. Can't help lovin' dat man of mine. Tell me he's lazy; tell me he's slow; tell me I'm crazy -- maybe, I know. Can't help lovin' dat man of mine.

You know, when I went to high school, the older kids had a really rude name for the kind of girl described in the old song, Cindy:

Oh, Cindy is a pretty girl. Cindy is a peach. She threw her arms around my neck and hung on like a leech. Get along home, Cindy, Cindy. Get along home, Cindy, Cindy. Get along home, Cindy, Cindy. I'll marry you some day.

In fact, the old classic, Ring of Fire, seems to be about the kind of medical problems faced by girls like Cindy:

Love is a burning thing, and it makes a fiery ring. Bound by wild desires, I fell into a burning ring of fire. I fell into a burning ring of fire. I went down, down, down and the flames went higher. And it burns, burns, burns. The ring of fire. The ring of fire.

I haven't figured out what this next song means, but I suspect that it has something to do with drug abuse:

This old man, he did one. He did nick-nack on his thumb. With a nick-nack, paddy whack, give the dog a bone. This old man came rolling home.

What kind of "medication" must someone have taken before they wrote the old song, Ja-Da?

Ja-da. Ja-da. Ja-da, Ja-da, jing, jing, jing. Ja-da. Ja-da. Ja-da. Ja-da, jing, jing, jing. That's a funny little bit of melody. It's so soothing and appealing to me. It goes Ja-da. Ja-da. Ja-da, Ja-da, jing, jing, jing. Ja-da. Ja-da. Ja-da, Ja-da, jing, jing, jing.

In fact, I can't imagine what, other than hallucinogenic drugs, could possibly have inspired this line in The Devil and The Farmers Wife:

Singing, fah de ing ding, dah de ing ding, di di um da de ing ding di di um da de ing ding di di um day.

Now that I think about it, it's a miracle that, despite the horrible influences of the drug abuse and promiscuity-laden popular songs of their time, Harold and Josie somehow managed to discover true love, true commitment, true happiness and true salvation. Their marriage of 50 years is a tremendous witness to God's love and faithfulness to all those around them. And the loving family that they raised and nurtured will continue their work and carry happy memories of them long after they are gone. All in all, I think the following old song lyric probably said it best:

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's Amore.