【Mister, Do It With Me, Not With Mom】
Birdsong
Our Daily Correspondent
In the past week, I’ve downloaded a guided meditation app, bought a new album I’d been looking forward to, and let several worthy podcasts pile up in my queue. And yet, the only thing I find myself listening to is “Skylark,” the 1942 standard brought to prominence by Glenn Miller. Do you ever get in these obsessive ruts—these experiences where suddenly, a song you’ve heard a hundred times speaks to you in a new, urgent way? And nothing else feels like the sound track of that moment?
According to most sources, Johnny Mercer’s melancholy lyrics were inspired by his ill-fated affair with the young Judy Garland. But Hoagy Carmichael’s wistful melody is evocative in the many instrumental versions, too. And yes, I’ve listened to plenty of those, because, as we all know, when you’re in an obsessive musical rut the only variation permitted is in renditions of the chosen song. I find I return to the 1942 Dinah Shore recording most often; she sounds genuinely sad.
Maybe it’s something about the primer-like quality of the verses—the speaker asking questions of a bird like some kind of Big Band–era William Blake—that contributes to its poignancy. Or the sneaky, slinky, key-happy bridge. Or just the fact that it’s something to listen to right now besides the constant drone of voices speculating about geopolitical uncertainties. No matter the version, the notes always rise up hopefully in the end. That’s not nothing.
Sadie Stein is contributing editor of The Paris Review, and the Daily’s correspondent.
Search
Categories
Latest Posts
NYT mini crossword answers for May 12, 2025
2025-06-26 05:48Boomers killed the Facebook status
2025-06-26 05:40Best IPL deal: Save $80 on Braun IPL Silk·Expert
2025-06-26 03:45Popular Posts
Is it 'Thunderbolts*' or *The New Avengers'?
2025-06-26 05:54'Quordle' today: See each 'Quordle' answer and hints for February 8
2025-06-26 05:34How cute cookware helped me finally feel welcome in my own kitchen
2025-06-26 04:48The 10 Most Anticipated PC Games of 2016
2025-06-26 03:51Featured Posts
A worthless juicer and a Gipper-branded server
2025-06-26 05:56Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for February 9
2025-06-26 05:43Students with disabilities aren't represented in SEL
2025-06-26 05:29Google Bard: Can you sign up to try the AI search tool?
2025-06-26 04:58The State of PC Gaming in 2016
2025-06-26 03:32Popular Articles
Outdoor speaker deal: Save $20 on the Soundcore Boom 2
2025-06-26 05:23Super Bowl LVII: All the best commercials from 2023's big game
2025-06-26 05:16How cute cookware helped me finally feel welcome in my own kitchen
2025-06-26 04:28Outdoor speaker deal: Save $20 on the Soundcore Boom 2
2025-06-26 03:25Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates.
Comments (736)
Music Information Network
Ireland fines TikTok $600 million for sharing user data with China
2025-06-26 06:09Miracle Information Network
Tinder reveals the politicians users talk about most — and, yes, AOC tops the list
2025-06-26 05:41Unique Information Network
Trudeau, Johnson, and other NATO leaders caught on video apparently gossiping about Trump
2025-06-26 05:17Dynamic Information Network
New Google Doodle honors the legacy of model Mama Cax
2025-06-26 05:09Wisdom Information Network
Today's Hurdle hints and answers for May 9, 2025
2025-06-26 03:27