Connor and I were sitting watching “Come Dine with Me!”
At some point in the evening’s entertainment – on screen – someone put on “YMCA by the Village People” and the guests at the dinner were dancing, only as you can after way too much wine, when you forget your inhibitions and when someone puts on YMCA.
There is a universally accepted dance that includes hand movements, and no matter which era you were born in, and how “cool” you think you are, you will tend to do this particular dance.
I am sitting glazed over staring at the screen – it was about 15h40, and I was seriously wondering what the earliest is that I can get kids in to bed today.
Connor goes: “This is a song that gay people like!”
My brain starts to process what he is talking about …. so I frown and look over at him and he explains further: “Daddy says that this song is one that gay people really like. And gay people sing it. One is a builder, and one wears a policeman suit …. and …….. ”
The problem with these opportunities for a life lesson, is really some times you just cannot be arsed to have to go “Okay, okay, let’s back this truck up ….”
And like me, today, you frown, purse your lips together and make a mental note to have a discussion with your husband about the possible stereotyping of gay people and the connection with The Village People, and how your 11-year-old son is processing this information.
I will add to my list of things to discuss. But on another day. Today I am just too tired to broach anything.
On another subject, if you grew up the seventies and eighties you might be familiar with those round black sweetie balls you buy and suck, and suck and it finally dissolves in about three weeks time.
I bought a pack a few weeks back, and the phrase “nigger balls” came in to my head without me even thinking about it.
When I realised the term had just popped in to my head I blanched. But I could not get rid of the phrase. We have three small sweetie jars on top of the fridge filled with these black sweets, and I think of the phrase when ever I open the fridge door.
Cripes …. it is such an incredibly socially bad bad name, and we used it all the time when we were kids. That and the “petrol boy” —- triple cringe!
In case you are sitting with only one line of the lyrics, and all you have is ” …. ta da da …young man …..young man…” like me, then it might be better to be stuck with the full set of lyrics, so you can sing it to yourself as you go to the toilet, make yourself a cup of tea ….
But you will realise on browsing through the lyrices, that “young man” pretty much encompasses the entire thing. Possibly Connor’s snap judgement of the song was not that far off after all.
Young man, there’s no need to feel down.
I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground.
I said, young man, ’cause you’re in a new town
There’s no need to be unhappy.
Young man, there’s a place you can go.
I said, young man, when you’re short on your dough.
You can stay there, and I’m sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys …
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal,
You can do whatever you feel…
Young man, are you listening to me?
I said, young man, what do you want to be?
I said, young man, you can make real your dreams.
But you got to know this one thing!
No man does it all by himself.
I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf,
And just go there, to the Y.M.C.A.
I’m sure they can help you today.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys…
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal,
You can do whatever you feel …
Young man, I was once in your shoes.
I said, I was down and out with the blues.
I felt no man cared if I were alive.
I felt the whole world was so jive …
That’s when someone came up to me,
And said, young man, take a walk up the street.
There’s a place there called the Y.M.C.A.
They can start you back on your way.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys…
Y.M.C.A….you’ll find it at the Y.M.C.A.
Young man, young man, there’s no need to feel down.
Young man, young man, get yourself off the ground.
Y.M.C.A….you’ll find it at the Y.M.C.A.
Young man, young man, there’s no need to feel down.
Young man, young man, get yourself off the ground.
Y.M.C.A….just go to the Y.M.C.A.
Young man, young man, are you listening to me?
Young man, young man, what do you wanna be?
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