Margie and Stanley

Earlier, I mentioned that back over 30 years ago in 1986 I had written a 50th anniversary song for my much-older, wonderful relatives, Margie and Stanley Kohn, who lived on the Indiana Dunes.  I posted two lines from the song, written to the tune of an old 1920s song, "Margie," which I said got the biggest laugh of anything I've ever written, a line about not tracking in sand (which was Margie's huge bugaboo for every visitor).

Well, I tracked down the full song, and I thought I'd post the lyrics here -- along with a recording of the real song so that those of you so inclined could sing along.

As I noted, Stanley was a wonderful guy -- as soft-spoken and decent and gracious a man as you'd like to find, who loved to fish, especially for coho salmon in Lake Michigan.  Meanwhile his dear wife Margie was talkative, outgoing, and directly blunt -- and nurturing to everyone, and who took no guff from anyone. They remained active their whole lives, and late in their life they would take several round-the-world trips for several months on merchant ships.

(This above is the front of their anniversary invitation for the party in Crown Point, Indiana.  I scanned it as best I could, though it's not as crisp an image as ideal.)

The song was written with only one day's notice, when my brother John suggested it at the last minute.  But he'd been practicing his guitar part, so it was no skin off his nose...

I tried to find an instrumental version but couldn't.  So instead you'll have to forego my brother's guitar and sing along with Fats Domino who had a hit with the original song in the 1950s, and just overlap his joyful version.  The syncopation should match up reasonably well, but our rendition would not have made the Hit Parade.

Hit "Play" below and then scroll down to the lyrics underneath.  Yes, I know this is odd, but Stanley and Margie were wonderful and any chance I get to wander even far off the beaten path to them, I'll take it.

"Margie and Stanley"

Margie.

For one half century

With Margie,

You make it all adventury.

'Round the world or home at the lake.

Spirit's glowing,

Always growing.  All it takes is

Margie.

You've been an inspiration

All you're whole life through.

Now let's all strike up the band

And not track in any sand

For Margie.  Margie.  For you.

Stanley.

I'll keep this verse real quiet.

Stanley.

Oh, well, at least, I'll try it.

But, it's hard to keep my voice low

When I want 

The whole wide world around to know

That Stanley --

You're really something special

And it's time you knew.

Now you may not say too much,

But life has a brighter touch

With Stanley.  Stanley, it's true.

Margie

And Stanley, what a pleasure.

Margie

And Stanley, it's a treasure.

Living life its fullest.  And yet --

Doing more, 

Like raising Tony and Nanette.

That's Margie

And Stanley, getting praises

Up from high above.

And you know what life is for.

Now here's hoping 50 more

For Margie and Stanley with love.