Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Monday, October 27, 2014

Pantie Pansies

Okay, yes, I’m on a ‘panty’ kick.

But yesterday’s post reminded me of something . . .

For four years, I had the assignment to lead the music in the children’s organization in our church.
My dream job.
Every Sunday, I got up in front of a group of children, age three to eleven and sang with them.
Have you ever heard a group of three-year-olds singing “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam”?
If you can do it without tears, you are super . . . person.
There is nothing cuter in the world.
And I got to do this every Sunday!
For four years!
Sigh.
Inevitably, there were extra perks.
Because what dream job doesn't come with unexpected bonuses?
Each week, we invited the child or children who was/were celebrating a birthday, to come to the front so the rest of the group could wish them well.
Musically.
Everyone enjoyed it.
The singers.
And the sing-ee.
Afterwards, I always asked the birthday child what their favourite song was.
And then all of us would sing it.
Normally, this was fairly routine.
They would pick a current favourite.
The pianist would launch in.
The children would follow.
Occasionally, we would encounter a hitch.
Perhaps a song that was a current favourite.
But somewhere other than the church . . .
Let’s face it, launching into ‘Stairway to Heaven’, though it sounds appropriate, would be anything but.
Ahem . . .
Sometimes, they merely got the name wrong.
Case in point:
We invited little Emily to the front of the room.
Everyone wished her a happy fourth birthday.
At the top of their voices.
She was smiling broadly by the end.
I leaned down. “Emily, what is your favourite song?”
She looked up at me. “Little Purple Panties!” she said excitedly.
“Oh, I said. “Umm . . . yes.” I looked at the pianist, who was staring back, wide-eyed.
“I think what she means is “Little Purple Pansies,” I said.
The woman’s face cleared. “Ah!” She nodded in relief.
We made it through.
Though I must confess that the temptation to sing the wrong words was very strong indeed.
And who knows, maybe a song, ‘Little Purple Panties’ is just what is needed when things get a bit . . . boring . . . in church.

The real words:
Little purple pansies touched with yellow gold,
Growing on one corner of the garden old.
We are very tiny, but must try, try, try,
Just one spot to gladden, you and I.

20 comments:

  1. What a little sweetie...I hope she enjoyed her song....I certainly did.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She smiled through the whole thing! The subtleties missed her totally . . .

      Delete
  2. Better than "little green panties", no?

    Sweet song - I haven't heard that one before.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This brought back a host of memories!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Out of the mouth of babes for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have never laughed so hard in all of my life than I have at some of the things that have come out of the mouths of little children.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Makes me remember some of our kids' misheard or misremembered songs...such a sweet post, Diane!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mouths of babes! Church attendance might've doubled.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh dear.... I will *never* be able to hear that song now without thinking "panties" LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Gotta love a kid who can bring the house down!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Little Purple Panties! *~*
    I've never heard of Little Purple Pansies and don't even remember Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cute, cute songs, both. Especially with 'creative' lyrics!

      Delete

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