Is That You, Scooby?

So I'm on my way back to work over lunch and an old song comes on the radio, one I've heard countless times. You ever have it happen where you've heard a song for years, may even sing along to it, but never really pay attention to the lyrics? Well, this was one of those songs.

I was flipping through the stations when my ears stumbled upon "The Rain, The Park & Other Things" by the Cowsills. It was a hit back in 1967 and went to number 2 on the pop charts (said in my best Casey Kasem voice). You're probably thinking you don't know it but I'd bet you do. Perhaps when you read some of the lyrics it will come back to you.

Anyway, I'm listening to the song and these lyrics seem to catch my ear, for some reason it takes 30 years for me to realize the creepiness of the song. "But I knew / she could make me happy / Flowers in her hair / Flowers everywhere / I love the flower girl / Oh, I don't know just why / she simply caught my eye / I love the flower girl / She seemed so sweet and kind / She crept into my mind." "I knew I had to say hello / She smiled up at me / And she took my hand / And we walked through the park alone."

OK, so is this song about a grown man with yearnings for a flower girl? When I think of a flower girl I picture a child in a wedding, don't you? If that is the intent here that kinda creeps me out. Another explanation might be, and perhaps this is more plausible, is that considering the times when this song came out (1967) it could be she was a girl with flowers in her hair, or perhaps she sold flowers? Who knows. Either way, the song leaves a little too much to the imagination.

Speaking of Casey Kasem, did you know that he was the voice of Shaggy in the Scooby-Doo cartoons? Speaking of the Cowsills, they were a family pop group from Newport, Rhode Island. Made up of brothers Bill, Bob, Paul, Barry and John, with younger sister Susan and mother Barbara, they were the inspiration for TV's "The Partridge Family."

Short post. Off to dream land.