Weary at heart, back where you started from . . .

The "New Normal" restrictions on our mobility have led to a certain amount discovery.  Confined to places and things overly familiar are suddenly re-discovered -- an old box of things we packed away in the back of our closet, some things in our computer that we started writing years ago -- things we never before had time for, and now time we have...

Perhaps not everything is "out there".  Plenty of things we can discover and develop, both in ourselves, and in those close to us. Entire undiscovered continents in some cases.

So, here's a song about that sort of thing from 1928 made popular by Al Jolson, and recorded by others as well, including Vera Lynn, Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, and countless others.

There's no place like home . . . there's no place like home . ..

They'll Be Happy to Know That as You Saw Me Go . . .

Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn?
Remember how she said that
We would meet again
Some sunny day?        - Pink Floyd

Vera Lynn was the voice of home to the soldiers in the British Armed Forces.  Hers was the voice singing the songs in their frightened hearts as, even though they suspected otherwise, they bravely told the folks at home, "Don't worry about me while I'm gone; I'll be back soon."  Vera was the mother, the sister, the girl you left behind when you went to war. British soldiers won the war for Vera Lynn! Her voice was a constant on the British airwaves' broadcasts to the troops at war. Hers was the voice of the soul of the free world.  Her song "We'll Meet Again" was the best known of the many songs that describes what is worth fighting and dying for.

Vera Lynn left us quietly this past week, on June 18, 2020, at the age of 103. But thanks to her music, she will be with us always.

Special guest on today's video, my friend since first grade, Norm Lorenz.  We performed together under many different circumstances, from bars and dance halls in a polka band, to old folks homes as the Pay As You Go band.  And now, two old codgers are trying to figure out the technology of how we can both sing together even though we can't be together.  We don't have no steenking Zoom. Lookin' good, Norm!

   

Beneath the Coptic Skies

Back in the 1920s, a great discovery in Egypt captured the imaginations of people around the world.  The tomb of Tutankhamen was discovered undisturbed, and gave us a glimpse of the lives of the rich and famous in the ancient world of the Pharoahs. The world was gilded in all things Tut, from the newsreels to the entertainment and art world.  Here's a song that captures some of the excitement as it was experienced on the vaudeville stage.

The hat was discovered back in the old Theatre costume vault.  Writings on the labels and the inside of the hat was Arabic.  I don't read Arabic, but I'm sure it says "This is a hat patterned after the wardrobe of Tutankamen."