A song for my father

Seven years ago today, my father died while taking what was to have been a short nap. But this post isn't some three-hanky tribute or saccharine confession of how much I miss him and probably failed him or have some sort of unresolved filial issues.

He hated that sort of cheap sentimentality.

No, I'm going to honor his memory today by reprinting the lyrics here to his favorite song. I must've Googled every possible combination of appropriate words to find them, until I remembered one of my brothers had sent them via email a few years ago.

The song is from an old radio show in the early '30s, the CSI of its time, apparently. And I can say with great certainty that the lyrics exist nowhere else on the Internet but this site now, making this a fitting gift in his name and one he'd appreciate.

It's just a shame you can't hear him sing it.

Mr. Snoop and Mr. Peep

Whennnn ... a series of killings
by murderous villains
have all the cops perplexed;
With relatives groaning and shrieking and moaning,
And wondering who'll be next?
When Sherlock Holmes and Filo Vance
admit they're up a tree,
Then Mr. Snoop and Mr. Peep will solve the mystery.

While others are sleeping,
they're snooping and peeping
in closets and on shelves;
With sudden SURPRISES! and tricky disguises
they even fool themselves.
So if you wake up and find
that you've been muuuuurrrrrrdered in your sleep
Send for Mr. Snoop and Mr. Peep!

My father's official Yahrzeit is the eighth day of Chanukah, which I plan to commemorate by having an absolutely wonderful time with his namesake, my son.

Comments

[Dread Pirate Robert]

Just before my grandfather died, I remember visiting him as he lay in his bed with a pile of get well cards on the comforter. He started fiddling with them, poking through them all, and let out a big sigh. When we asked what the matter was, he said "I've opened every card here and you know what? Not one of them has any money."
He made us laugh, as always, and that's how he wanted us to remember him.
(Oh great, now I'm getting all weepy...)

[cruisin-mom]

Anne...your writing reflects the lighthearted spirit you obviously inherited from your dad. I'm sorry he is no longer with you, but glad you have memories to share with your little boy.
Randi

[Anne]

Many thanks both of you, and welcome to my blog!

My father and I did disagree on one major thing: he loved Bennie Hill, which drove me nuts. You know, the old, ugly British comedian who chased after buxom blondes at high speed. I don't think he missed a single episode.

Towards the end of his life, he lso became a big "Judge Judy" fan, and you couldn't convince him that wasn't comedy too.

[Jack]

That sounds like a nice tribute to his memory.

[Pearl]

"...which I plan to commemorate by having an absolutely wonderful time with his namesake, my son."

And so you should; that's one of the nicest tributes you could offer up for his yahrzeit!

[plosh]

I think your dad liked me because I enjoyed Bennie Hill, too.

[mcaryeh]

I think your yartzeit plans are lovely....Who is Filo Vance?

[Anne]

mcaryeh: Y'know, I have no idea. I got the lyrics from my brother and copied them as is. I tried googling his name, but this post comes in second, and all the others are for filo dough. Here's the one mention I found:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/essays/july-dec04/rosenblatt_8-23.html