Monday, October 20, 2008

You've Got to "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive

Eliminate the negative"
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Not to interrupt Mr. Johnny Mercer's lyrics, but that's been a goal for some years now; always trying to "stay positive" about things, be they my life, my hopes, my dreams, or the energy I try to give the Universe...
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"And latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium's
Liable to walk upon the scene"
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Perhaps like it has these last few weeks? These last few years?
Hmmmmmm...
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"To illustrate my last remark
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
What did they do just when everything looked so dark?

(Man, they said "We'd better accentuate the positive")
("Eliminate the negative")
("And latch on to the affirmative")
Don't mess with Mister In-Between (No!)
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

(Ya got to spread joy up to the maximum)

(Bring gloom down to the minimum)

(Have faith or pandemonium's)
(Liable to walk upon the scene)

You got to ac (yes, yes) -cent-tchu-ate the positive
Eliminate (yes, yes) the negative
And latch (yes, yes) on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
No, don't mess with Mister In-Between"
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I first heard this song as a child and just thought it was cute. I grew a little older and thought the lyrics were a nice outlook if you could achieve it. Life was contributing much to help my outlook at that point.

As I grew bitter and cynical in my early 40's I began trying to (though I couldn't have said it this way at the time) change my life by changing my outlook on life.

Here came those words again...

Never did I think of them as a manual for trying to get out of this life sane!

Finally hearing this over the weekend, I realized I've been trying to do just that for a long time now...too bad I wasn't smart enough to listen the first time I heard it!

I found a clip of one of the original versions; it also has some other "goodies" in it if you have time to stick around; some humor, a dedication... It's from something that was filmed "for the boys" 64 years ago.



We picked ourselves up by our bootstraps and put things back together then when no one really thought we ever could. We can do it this time, too!

May the week be kind to each of you!

alan

10 comments:

Kranki said...

I grew up listening to this as well. My folks are big BC fans.

Hope you have a great week too.

Jennifer said...

There it is again, "Don't fence me in!"

Did you ever watch the 1991 series, "Homefront?" I LOVED that show and was so disappointed it lasted only two seasons. The program's theme was a very nicely done rendition of Johnny Mercer's classic song.

You're one of the most consistently positive people I *know* :-)

Anji said...

I've always though of you as a positive person, seeing the best in every situation.
I'm always amazed at how some writers, poets, songwriters can sum up exactly what you need to know.

Shinigami Liz said...

Argh, my demoness side is horrified at how cheerful you always seem to be, but since she doesn't own the controlling percnt of stock and can't cast the deciding vote, I have to grudgingly admit that I enjoy your positive attitude. Thats hush-hush however, I don't want to hurt my 'doom and gloom' reputation, hee hee.

Lucie G said...

A positive note to go about with. Nice song as well.

Anonymous said...

You have a wonderful attitude to life. Congratulations on overcoming the "cynical forties".

Green tea said...

We need this now more then ever before,
love it...

Sassy said...

Niiiice.

I'm much more positive than I used to be. That's a good thing. Now if I could just eliminate the negative PEOPLE in my life...

hope all is kind to you!

Dr. Deb said...

Wow, that was just GREAT!

Debbie K said...

Bless you Alan
You send
(((((((positive beams)))))
all over the world.
Love
Debbie