Blog 441 – 10.21.2016

Many of us just try to make life so complicated. Music is a tried and true way to remember the simple and important lessons of life. As a writer I have great respect for the power of both the spoken and written word. But when even a simple lesson is put to music it becomes a powerful lesson that can by-pass both pretense and cynicism, pride and prejudice, judgement and jury tampering and goes straight to the heart of the matter.

Today in another wonderful song from the musical and movie Camelot I share the words which offer three simple techniques that simple folk use to live happier lives. Give it a look and a listen to see if you too can learn a trick or two or three about living a better and happier life.

What Do The Simple Folk Do?
by Frederick Loewe

“What do the simple folk do
To help them escape when their blue
The shepherd who is ailing
The milkmaid who is glum
The cobbler who is wailing
From nailing his thumb.

When they’re beset and besieged
The folk not noblessly obliged
However do they manage
To shed their weary lot?
Oh what do simple folk do
We do not?

I have been informed
By those that know them well,
They find relief in quite a clever way.
When they’re sorely pressed
They whistle for a spell
And whistling seems to brighten
Up their day.

And that’s what simple folk do
So they say.
They just whistle?
So they say.

What else do the simple folk do
To perk up the heart and get through?
The wee folk and the grown folk
Who wander to and fro
Have ways known to their own folk
We throne folk don’t know.

When all the doldrums begin
What keeps each of them in his skin
What ancient native custom
Provides the needed glow
Oh, what do simple folk do?
Do you know?

Once along the road
I came upon a lad
Singing in a voice three times his size
And when I asked him why
He told me he was sad
And singing always
Made his spirit rise.

So that’s what simple folk do
I surmise.

Arise my love, arise my love
Apollo’s lighting the skies my love
The meadows shine with columbine
And daffodils blossom away
Hear Venus call to one and all
Come taste delight while you may
The world is bright and all is right
And life is merry a gay.

What else do the simple folk do
They must have a system or two
They obviously outshine us
At turning tears to mirth
Have tricks a royal highness
Is minus from birth.

What, then, I wonder, do they
To chase all the goblins away?
They have some tribal sorcery
You haven’t mentioned yet
Oh, what do simple folk do
To forget?

Often I am told they dance a fiery dance
And whirl till they’re completely uncontrolled
Soon the mind is blank and all are in a trance
A violent trance astounding to behold
And that’s what simple folk do
So I’m told.

Really?
I have it on the highest authority.”

If you’d like to hear the song sung as I have heard it sung over a hundred times simply Google “richard harris what do the simple folk do” and watch and hear Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave sing it from the movie Camelot on You Tube.

In summary, in case you missed it: Simple folk do three things to lighten their load and brighten their way –

They whistle
They sing
They dance

Doctor Dave prescribes those three for what ails you. Add laughing, eating, drinking, sleeping, and sexing in liberal amounts and you will not only be a happier/healthier individual and a pleasure to yourself but you will be a treasure and pleasure to everyone else as well. Keep smiling, Simple Simon or Simone.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White