Long Lost Lyrics
While listening to EWTN Catholic radio on Sunday, I came across this unexpected little bit of Americana. There is a theme song, famous in my generation, that anyone with a black and white TV would have recognized, but no one would have known the lyrics, or even that it had lyrics.
Namely the theme to the ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, was called “The Fishing Hole”
The lyrics were composed by Everett Sloane.
Well now, take down your fishin’ pole
And meet me at the fishing hole
We may not get a bite all day
But don’t you rush away.
What a great place to rest your bones
And mighty fine for skipping stones
You’ll feel fresh as a lemonade
A-setting in the shade.
Whether it’s hot, whether it’s cool
Oh what a spot for whistling like a fool.
What a fine day to take a stroll
And wander by the fishin’ hole
I can’t think of a better way
To pass the time of day.
We’ll have no need to call the roll
When we get to the fishin’ hole
They’ll be you, me, and old dog, Trey
to do the time away.
If we don’t hook a perch or bass
We’ll cool our toes in dewy grass.
Or else pull up a weed to chaw
And maybe sit and jaw.
Hanging around, taking our ease
Watching that hound a-scratching at his fleas.
I’m gonna take down my fishin’ pole
And meet you at the fishin’ hole
I can’t think of a better way
To pass the time of day
Why was this on a Catholic radio show?
A Dominican priest was being interviewed on the Thomistic definition of the Christian virtue of hope, as distinguished from the merely human expression of desires touching future events. Being a Dominican, the father defined his terms: Hope is the undaunted confidence in the promises of Christ.
Hence, while I can hope some prayer of mine, for health or prosperity or so on, may be answered, no promise of Christ assures us of health and wealth in this life: this is hope the human expression of desire for future events. To have prayers go unanswered is part of the human condition: heaven wills what we do not will. Christ unambiguously promises salvation to those who have not and cannot earn it. To despair of that promise is sin.
The interviewer, being a wag, asked which character on the Andy Griffith show was a Dominican? Answer: “O.P.” (Ask your local Catholic to explain this outrageous pun.)
On a related note, these are the oft-unheard lyrics to the STAR TREK original series theme:
lyrics by allegedly Gene Roddenberry
Beyond the rim of the starlight
My love, he wanders in star flight
I know he’ll find in star clustered reaches
Love, strange love a star woman teaches
I know his journey ends never
His star trek will go on forever
But tell him while he wanders his starry sea
Remember, remember me
I say allegedly because, according to rumor, Roddenberry only wrote lyrics, never used, so that he could get half of the music royalties, thus defrauding Alexander Courage, who wrote the music. Other rumors say the lyrics were so bad that when Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) recorded it, she wrote and sang her own.
About John C Wright
John C. Wright is a practicing philosopher, a retired attorney, newspaperman, and newspaper editor, and a published author of science fiction. Once a Houyhnhnm, he was expelled from the august ranks of purely rational beings when he fell in love; but retains an honorary title.
