Saturday 9: Sixteen Tons (1955)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
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2) The singer describes himself as having "a mind that's weak and a back that's strong." Think about yourself. Which feels more powerful today, your body or your brain? Definitely, at my age...my mind is a tad stronger than my body. Actually it is about equal. I am not as strong at anything, important, now days.
3) The poor chap in this song has money troubles. Are you good at sticking to your budget? Better than most, not as good as some.
4) Tennessee Ernie Ford snapped his fingers as he recorded this song. It's been said that while it's possible to snap your fingers of both hands, the noise is louder with your "dominant hand." (So if you're a rightie, the finger snap will be louder with your right hand.) Try it yourself. Did you find this to be true? It makes sense.....as I mentioned before not much of me is strong any more. Plus my arthritis....Strong it is!
5) Mr. Ford appeared as "Cousin Ernie" in three episodes of I Love Lucy. What's your all-time favorite sitcom? Along the vein of Cousin Ernie, I will stop to watch the Andy Griffith Show any time I am switching channels. When I was in Roanoke, a few years ago, traveling for the bank, one weekend, I visited Mt Airy, North Carolina, Andy's home town and the inspiration for Mayberry. It was very nostalgic. I remember watching the Tennessee Ernie Ford Show. as a family, every week when I was a kid. He was very funny!
6) Tennessee Ernie took the money he made from his performing career and invested in a California cattle ranch. Think back to the last beef your ate. How was it prepared? I still have a real hamburger every once in a while. Sometime, if I am out for dinner I will have beef....since we eat only fish or chicken at home.
7) Mr. Ford passed away at age 72 in 1991. That year, Dr. Seuss also died. What's your favorite Dr. Seuss book? Oh, the Places You'll Go. It is a favorite graduation gift....with a check tucked inside.
8) Gene Roddenberry also died that year. Mr. Roddenberry is best known as the creator of Star Trek. Who is your favorite Star Trek character? I am a bit of a Star Trek fan. If you search my labels, you will find a number of posts all about the shows. We just watched a show on Roku, on PBS all about how prescient the creators of the show, were about the science fiction that is now or will be science fiction. Plus I loved the future of the 23rd Century. I liked Jean Luc Picard, he is my favorite character.