don't take life so serious, son; it ain't nohow permanent.

[spatch]

LINES UPON A TRANQUIL BROW Have you ever, while pondering the ways of the morn Thought to save just a bit, just a drop in the horn To pour in the evening, or late afternoon, Or during the night, when we're shining the moon? Have you ever cried out, while counting the snow, Or watching the Tom-Tit warble "hello": Break out the cigars! This life is for squirrels! We're off to the drugstore to whistle at girls. Walt Kelly (1913-1973)

Comments

[spinooti.livejournal.com]

In sixth grade english, we had to bring in a poem to read aloud, and I chose this one.

[chadnfrood.livejournal.com]

When I spent a year out in Colorado learning ancient Greek, my friends and I had an old, old collection of Pogo comics on our shelf. I read every damn one stoned out of my mind. I highly recommend this diversion.

[toonhead-npl.livejournal.com]

Grundoon! :)

[spatch]

Wow! That's awesome, and an interesting philosophy to present to the sixth grade collective. How'd your teacher take it?

(I always opted for Ogden Nash, but since the rule always seemed to be you had to read more than just a quatrain, I'd find one of his longer poems where he completely ignores meter and rambles on and on and on for a line or two every now and then; I thought it Zen.)

We had Pogo books in my elementary school library, home for wayward and castoff books as it was. I distinctly remember an illustrated Alice in Wonderland as well as several strip collections with storylines involving Grundoon and a ladybug who, while cleaning house, kept singing "Oh, Mamie minded Mama 'til one day in Singapore / A sailor man from Turkistan came knocking on her door..." I figured it was one of Those Songs (I didn't know many at the time, but I could darn well recognize one) which Mr. Kelly had thoughtfully chosen to cut off before it veered into the unprintable.

A few years back I actually found full lyrics to the song, and was happy to be edified, but slightly disappointed in the full, finished, printable product.

[mmcirvin.livejournal.com]

They Might Be Giants once recorded a brief musical version of that as a Dial-A-Song selection.

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I needed that.

I have the Pogo Songbook somewhere...if I can find it, and do so without breaking the book's back I'll scan in the music for this.

[spatch]

Walt Kelly himself sung it on an album along with the anthem "I Go Pogo". He starts the song in full-on airy poetic Old Philosopher mode with peaceful music and all, and when he gets to "Break out the cigars!" the band bursts out into Dixieland swing.

I still like singing I Go Pogo and, of course, Deck Us All With Boston Charlie.

[spatch]

Grundoon is the most adorable, and iffen I recall, the groun'chile only learnt one word an that word was "Bye."

[spatch]

That would be so sweet! I am sure some of us can put together an arrangement or five.

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

Turns out it's at robertdfeinman's house -- I asked him to send it on up. So there may be a slight delay.

[spatch]

Pogo with a clear head is interesting enough. How'd the dialogue feel under the Influence?

[pushupstairs.livejournal.com]

I believe I recall seeing TMBG at... the Hatch shell(?) a decade or so ago and the Johns opened with "Lines Upon a Tranquil Brow" whilst the rest of the band made way to their noisemaking implements.

[chadnfrood.livejournal.com]

The dialogue was enhanced, I think. My mind automatically put a distinct voice to each character, like watching a cartoon.

[djsunkid.livejournal.com]

:) Love Pogo.

Deck us all with Boston Charlie
Walla Walla Wash and Kalamazoo!

:)

I made an observation about a year ago that the BizCazFri series of puppet films on homestarrunner.com are very pogo-esque. The way I see it, BizCasFri is to Dilbert kinda like some of the old pogo is to Doonsbury.

[sanspoof.livejournal.com]

Ah, thank you! I was wondering why I had an auditory version of this in my head.

[spatch]

P.T. Bridgeport's EXTREMELY -> FANCIFUL! <- captions must've been a real treat, too.

[chadnfrood.livejournal.com]

Yeah...all told, it's a very pleasant memory.

Say, do you know if Pogo has started his '08 campaign up? I hope he throws his hat in the ring before Thompson and Bloomberg.

[spatch]

Say, do you know if Pogo has started his '08 campaign up?

Which begs the oft-repeated question: If Pogo's for President, who's for Vice?

[chadnfrood.livejournal.com]

That's probably my favorite campaign slogan of all time, beating out "Ma, ma, where is pa?" by a slim margin and "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" coming in third.

[spatch]

(goin' to the white house, ha! ha! ha!)