On this date in history, a number of great artistic creators appeared or made their exits.
Born on this day were Johann Sebastian Bach (1685), Joseph Haydn (1732), Edward Fitzgerald (1809), and Nikolai Gogol (1809). Taking leave of this earthly plane on March 31 were John Donne (1631), John Constable (1837), and Charlotte Brontë (1855). We are all richer for their contributions.
But because it is also the birthday of William Orville “Lefty” Frizzell (1928) who penned “If You’ve Got the Money (I’ve Got the Time)” and “I Never Go Around Mirrors”, I wish to salute the lyricists of country music. They may lack the profundity of Donne and Bach but they are keen observers of the human condition and possess a sly wit. Consider the following genuine song titles:
She Got the Gold Mine (I Got the Shaft); I Gave Her The Ring, And She Gave Me The Finger; I May Be Used, But Baby I Ain’t Used Up; I’ve Got Hair Oil On My Ears And My Glasses Are Slipping Down, But Baby I Can See Thru You; If The Phone Don’t Ring, Baby, You’ll Know It’s Me; I’m Gonna Put A Bar In The Back Of My Car And Drive Myself To Drink; You Can’t Have Your Kate And Edith Too; and Run for the Roundhouse Nellie (He Can’t Corner You There).
And who could forget There Ain’t Enough Room In My Fruit Of The Looms To Hold All My Lovin’ For You; Thank God and Greyhound She’s Gone; Please Bypass This Heart; I Went Back To My Fourth Wife For The Third Time And Gave Her A Second Chance To Make A First Class Fool Out Of Me; and I Fell Into A Pile Of You And Got Love All Over Me?