Sunday, December 6, 2009

That's What it's all About!

I learned today that a couple days before Thanksgiving the 'real' composer of The Hokey Pokey died. I say 'real' because apparently there is a great deal of controversy over who actually wrote it. I don't really think that's important enough for controversy but I guess the people who said they wrote it (are all dead now but...) were quite proud of it.

Can you imagine though if that was your life's legacy?! And at your funeral people want to do that to honor/make fun of you? I hope I'm remembered for other things than a song that mercilessly gets stuck in your head. I can't even imagine the funeral of the guy who wrote "This is the song that never ends...." Don't get me wrong, I've done the Hokey Pokey many times and have some really fun memories of it, but really. I could have survived without it.

Another fun fact, this guy, Robert Degen, who wrote the song, is from Scranton, PA. Too bad Scranton is no longer famous for the Hokey Pokey, but The Office. And who doesn't love the Office. I didn't even know there was a Scranton before the Office. Maybe this is the life lesson: like Robert Degen and Scranton, you take what you're given. (Insert commercial break - You Will Take What We Give You!) Everyone want's to be remembered for something so even if it's small, like the Hokey Pokey or the Office, you take it because it's recognition of your life.... huh. That just got a little more existential than I was planning. I apologize...

You put your right foot in
You pull your right foot out
You put your right foot in
And you shake it all about
You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself about
That's what it's all about

And I'm done.

3 comments:

Amy said...

I don't know, I kind of like the idea of everyone dancing the hokey pokey at his funeral. Everyone would be having a blast, and they'd still be honoring his memory. Still, I hope he has other legacies for people to remember during the serious part of the service before they all break in to the hokey pokey :)

Abbey said...

You Will Take What We Give You!!=Still the funniest commercial ever. And it's application in real life is funny as well, even though I missed it.

Heidi said...

Well it's good you missed it otherwise Ben would have killed me. Hahah my life was in danger for just spouting the commercial.