I had a wonderful visit having coffee with a loved one this morning. We were talking about my wedding blogging and the subject came up about breaking out of the traditional stuff and doing what makes you happy.
Linda’s story was about her first wedding when she was just a young woman at 20 years old. Everything about her wedding was traditional. It was the early 70’s and it was not kosher then to break tradition, especially for a devoted Catholic. That was all well and fine, EXCEPT for the father/daughter dance. Back then, she said that everyone danced with their father to “Daddy’s Little Girl” which according to Wikipedia “is a classic song typically played at white weddings while a bride dances with her father”. Damn, now that is a tradition. Linda was “Daddy’s Little Girl” being the baby of the family.
Well, she chose “Mack the Knife” by Bobby Darin. She said that was just her Daddy’s “signature song”. She explained that her father taught her Rock and Roll and she wanted to honor that. So they came out on the dance floor and shocked the guests twisting and twirling to “Mack the Knife”, rocking the reception hall. She is now in her 60’s and her father has since passed and as she was telling me this story, I could just see the sentiment and joy on her face. We then played it on Alexa and she was dancing in her seat. I had to write about it. I had a similar personal choice for my dance with my Dad, but that’s another post, “A Very Special Song Choice”. I just wanted to share this special story.
Mack the Knife lyrics:
Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear
And it shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe
And he keeps it, ah, out of sight
Ya know when that shark bites with his teeth, babe
Scarlet billows start to spread Fancy gloves, oh,
wears old MacHeath, babe
So there’s never, never a trace of red
Now on the sidewalk, huh, huh, whoo sunny morning, un huh
Lies a body just oozin’ life, eek
And someone’s sneakin’ ’round the corner
Could that someone be Mack the Knife?
There’s a tugboat, huh, huh, down by the river don’tcha know
Where a cement bag’s just a’drooppin’ on down
Oh, that cement is for, just for the weight,
dear Five’ll get ya ten old Macky’s back in town
Now d’ja hear ’bout Louie Miller? He disappeared, babe
After drawin’ out all his hard-earned cash
And now MacHeath spends just like a sailor
Could it be our boy’s done somethin’ rash?
Now Jenny Diver, ho, ho, yeah, Sukey Tawdry
Ooh, Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown
Oh, that line forms on the right, babe
Now that Macky’s back in town I said Jenny Diver, whoa, Sukey Tawdry Look out to Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown
Yes, that line forms on the right, babe
Now that Macky’s back in town Look out, old Macky’s back
