I am an unapologetic member of the Constant-Christmas-Music club starting at Thanksgiving and rolling into the start of the new year.
But the profanity in these old favorites is just too much.
I’m looking at you Brenda Lee.
It’s all wholesome goodness until their real feelings are revealed when the dessert is brought out:
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
Let the Christmas spirit ring
Later we’ll have some *u–kin pie
And we’ll do some caroling
I don’t know what happened between dinner and dessert, but the cheerful holiday dance party takes a dark turn in tone.
And Perry Como. You’re not off the hook here either.
I met a man who lives in Tennessee, and he
was headin’ for Pennsylvania and some
homemade *u–kin pie
(echo) some *u–kin’ pie
**I always picture a chorus of stereotypical Chicago “wise guys” singing back up for Perry here.**
Alright. I admit I *know* they *think* they are singing about pumpkin pie, but the word is spelled P-U-M-P-K-I-N. And unlike many of the words English ransacked from other languages and mangled, it’s pronounced just as it is spelled.
There’s an M and a second P (not that these singers are hitting the first P either…).
In my work with high school actors, we frequently spend time on the importance of articulation. A couple examples from this fall:
“Horror has two syllables.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance that we hear both syllables.”
“When you repeat ‘boar skin, boar skin’ it is vital that we hear that B very clearly.”
The actors usually think for a moment then gasp and laugh at themselves.
It’s hilarious but oh so important.
Am I articulating clearly?
Am I sending unintended messages?
Does how I spend my time align with my intentions?
Do the words I use reflect the person I want to be?
I often find myself lost in distraction and falling down rabbit holes.
Or responding out of anger or frustration in a way that’s out of character.
What am I communicating with my words and actions?
What are we articulating with our lives?
Something to ponder over PuMPkin pie.
Reflections & Connections 