Jun 16, 2008

Bells will ring.....

One of my earliest memories, I must have been all of 3 or 4, is being in the carport of the house next door. It was inhabited by two older girls (perhaps 9 or so), who seemed infinitely more worldly and sophisticated than I was, with their easy bake ovens and their Barbie dolls.

One hot summer day, I remember even still, the cicadas chirping frantically, the smell of freshly mown grass, the smell of chlorine in the sprinkler water...
the girls were atop the hood of their parents' car, angrily tossing their parents' collection of 45s on the concrete. I was sitting calmly below, watching the theatrics.

Their carport was littered with scratched 45s, shattered 45s...and a few nearly pristine ones. The younger girl didn't have that good of an aim, I guess.
I, never one to pass up free things, even as an infant, picked one up, a nearly pristine one. I brought it home. Somehow or another it was played.


It was from (New Orleans' own) Dixie Cups:



This song is still one of my very favorite songs ever.

I'm sure it set the stage early on for nothing but disappointment and misery in my life, but whatever...it's just a pure, perfectly beautiful song.

(Anyway, this is dedicated to Mr. P and all those folks out in CA today.)

9 comments:

Rachel said...

Hell. Yes. Girl groups are for everyone! Yet more evidence why I heart you.

JUSTIN said...

Crazy to think of how disposable 45's must have seemed back in the day, and now they are so coveted.

That being said, I don't think anyone 20 years from now would have paid top dollar for my old tapes that I junked...they sounded like shit.

Dave said...

I never realized what a hard song that is to dance to.

Silly Monkey said...

I took a photo of a chapel two weekends ago, and I've had this song in my head ever since! I'd just gotten it out. Thanks, Jason. I knew I liked you for a reason. ;)

I enjoyed the story though, as usual.

Silly Monkey said...

Oh, my favorite 45? Spoonful of Sugar. LOL. I guess you were a little more sophisticated than I when you were a kid.

Michael Guy said...

Yeah, sorta what DAVE said: Check out the early "VOGUE" moves from the background dancers.

Nonetheless: an awesome flippin' song. I recall this tune as well; we is old. And I think I am even older.

mrpeenee said...

Hon, how very sweet of you! I was singing this just this morning (I know all the words.)

mrpeenee said...

And lord, them is some UGLY girls. If they don't have St. Bernard writ large upon them, I don't know who does. They do have nice moves, though.

Frontier Psychiatrist said...

I love this song.

Also, leftover from my childhood love of this song, I always picture the same cartoon-y chapel when I hear this.