Last night I watched one of my favorite old movies. Sometimes they have some of the best music that catches my ear. Then I will endlessly hum that tune. Of the million times I have seen this film this particular song hammered me.
The movie, ‘Follow the Fleet’ is a lovable romance and don’t forget the men in their sailor uniforms. There is nothing that looks more amazing than a man in uniform. My grandfathers looked very striking in their uniforms. I don’t know if this is simply patriotic fervor or purely American pride. I do enjoy seeing our uniformed military at their best in a snapshot. Plus I must admit there’s a bit of family pride.
The title is literally my prayer from Matthew 16:23. Following the scripture verse, it is also my prayer for our troops, especially since the movie’s story-line uses the United States Navy. Although the song is primarily a love song, the title makes me think of safety purposes. Today, they are dealing with more sophisticated technological warfare than the world has ever seen. I would want our troops to be in shape mentally and physically to deal with the battles they face for us. I don’t want the devil to be working them over on top of those normal hazardous duties.
In the movie and the song, getting the sailor’s attention worked, and for a second I think that idea scared her. However, the sailor did look good in his Navy uniform, but his thoughts on settling down hadn’t matured as of yet. I wonder, was Papaw like that as well, not ready to settle down. Did he want to follow the Navy life a while longer? Grandpa Freddy, also a Navy sailor, comes to mind when watching this show. He is the reason why his grand-kids like music in general, but especially jazz.
Watching and hearing Ginger Rodgers and Fred Astaire never gets old. I also really love her first song of the show wearing her naval cap. Another one of my Grandma Rosie’s favorite actresses was also in this movie. A very young Lucille Ball gives Connie the singer of the song, her makeover. Another fun fact is that this movie came out in 1936 the year Grandma was born. According to IMDB Irving Berlin created a version of ‘Get Thee Behind Me, Satan’ for another movie a year earlier in Top Hat 1935. It was meant I suppose as a duet for Ginger and Fred, but got thrown out of that movie.
While listening to Connie in the film version of this song or the solo by Ella Fitzgerald, the band accompaniment is beautiful. As a pianist, the finger-work is very well executed. I love to find the different sounds I hear and name them. I don’t remember hearing the clarinet unfortunately, another instrument I played with, but the strings were in force. Ella especially had a beautiful voice for this song and was dubbed, ‘The First Lady of Song.” If you like jazz listen to her sing this song.
Song lyrics mean so much more to me than they did as a younger girl. The melodies can really hang in your head all too easily. There are many songs I hear my niece singing now that I don’t sing anymore, because of those horribly worded and misguided thoughts. She reminds me of myself though, singing all the time. I would get caught singing the highest, loudest note of the song by family walking in. I would be washing dishes, really getting into the song, and bam… there they were right in front of me out of nowhere.
Do songs take you places or bring up memories?
Jewells of Thought 
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