If Happy Little Bluebirds Fly
Something's been troubling me for years - perhaps for about 45 years or so, to be more precise.
This hasn't been something that's kept me awake, night-after-night, for countless nights; it's been something of a persistent earworm - a bee that occasionally buzzes around the sunflower of my mind.
If you are of a certain age you'll know of the BBC TV sitcom, The Good Life. You may then also recall an annoying character trait inserted into the on-screen persona of Tom Good, played by Richard Briers. That trait was a smug little whistle that was blown to indicate Tom's happiness at being immersed in said good life.
If you've now recalled that Tom Good whistle then I hope you don't hate me too much for inserting this particular worm into your inner ear.
Now then, back to what's been troubling me these past 45 years or more - what the tune was that Tom Good was actually whistling. You see, Richard Briers had done such a good job with this portrayal that the notes whistled seemed so familiar, yet, much like the Good Life itself, tantalisingly just out of reach.
Well. The other day, my grey matter came-up with the Goods (pun intended) as it had figured-out what Tom Good's been whistling in my ears all these years.
He's whistling lines from Somewhere Over The Rainbow - specifically, the notes for the following lines:
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
Away above the chimney tops…
May your earworms move swiftly-on and not take up squatters rights. This is The Avenue, after all.
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