the lovers, the dreamers and....me

in the early 1980's, the muppet movie came out.

this was enough of a big event for frugal blake to agree to take us kids to the cinema for a viewing.

i don't remember most of the movie. there was the fellow trying to make frog legs, chasing them across the country, the set that collapses at the end, meeting up with fozzie bear, miss piggy, the van...and there were enough guest appearances to keep frugal blake smiling.

however, what i remembered, for 25 odd years, was the opening scene from the movie, Kermit the Frog's "rainbow connection".

why are there so many songs about rainbows, and what's on the other side?

that song had me from "hello". i remember when jim henson died, LIFE magazine dedicated the cover to hensen, and the cover photo had kermit, sitting in hensen's director's chair, his arm gently slung over the back, looking over his shoulder into the camera. (http://usedmagazines.com/cgi-bin/otherjpg.cgi?full/LF199007.JPG) no wonder kids think their plush toys are real. kermit was, to me.

over the years, i occasionally heard rainbow connection. never enough to write down the words, never by kermit, and never enough to memorise them. but it always made me misty eyed.

what's so amazing that keeps us star gazing?

suddenly it was the internet era, and the lyrics were available. i scribbled them down, and kept them. not on my bedside table, but in a pile of papers that have poems, quotes, and other comments.

and the internet era marched down, and it was a wonderful day when i could download kermit's voice, singing the rainbow connection. the tears started dropping then. the simplicity of the song, of kermit's voice, the hope that we're not alone in dreaming.

the infertility era. most of that was pretty angry music. a lot of exercising and boxing. but after each iui or ivf, i rubbed my stomach and sang "the rainbow connection". personalised my dream.

it's something that i'm supposed to be

my friend youtube gave me a great gift the other day, and obviously not just me judging from the number of comments and hits it gets:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thEiXbovv98

call us children of the 80's, but there is no way you can tell me that justin timberlake or the dixie chicks or absolutely anyone sings this song better than wistful kermit. simple, unaffected kermit. it's not easy being green, or infertile, or lonely, or whatever your challenge is, but this song makes you feel you're not alone, and your dream is possible. it's not a song about power, it is a simple song about hope and encouragement.  a timeless song.

this is a song i would want played at my funeral. this is a song i want my kids to know.  this is a song i am teaching them.

dreams keep changing as we keep aging.

someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me.

Comments

[Lowa]

Wow! Thanks so much for this, Tess. Haven't been by your blog in ages. Will have to catch up soon.

I need to show this to my kids. I LOVE IT! I remember going to the movie also. One of the first I recall seeing in the theatre. I think we are the same age, so that makes sense. Did you live in Alberta at the time?? We were in St. Albert. Wait, no by then we were back in Saskatchewan. Ah well, great memories, eh??

[Coral]

That is the loveliest song.

I recall Kermit on a bike, that still cracks me up - those legs!!

[Boulder]

See! This is why I've missed you so.

Count me with the dreamers.

xoxo

[Isabel]

I clicked on the link and when the music started up my husband immediately identified it as Kermit...even sitting a few feet away and on his own computer. I don't recall seeing this movie, although I'm familiar with the Muppets. The song however, is gorgeous, and I was wiping away a tear or two!

Thanks Tess!

[Isabel]

I clicked on the link and when the music started up my husband immediately identified it as Kermit...even sitting a few feet away and on his own computer. I don't recall seeing this movie, although I'm familiar with the Muppets. The song however, is gorgeous, and I was wiping away a tear or two!

Thanks Tess!

[Tammy]

I love Kermie. I wish I could give him a big hug.

XOXO

[Charles]

I have the sheet music for this song... shall I learn to play it just like just like "Let It Be?"

[knobody]

what beautiful memories.

[suzanne]

I love this song and have been singing it to my 11 week old daughter in the past few weeks. I like Judy Collins' version but one of your fellow Canadians Sarah McLachlan has a great version too.

[joeinvegas]

Don't have a little green frog tattoo hidden somewhere now, do you?

[Tracy]

That song has so many memories from my childhood. My dad was a busdriver and I remember being his passenger once and when everyone was off the bus he let me have his microphone and I sang that song with my whole 9 year old heart. I remember the hug I got when I finished and I also remember it being one of the few times I've seen my own dad misty eyed. Thanks for that trip down memory lane.

I love your blog.

[Chorman]

I haven't been by in a while and was touched to find this little gem. I'm going to play it for my daughter -- who I know will love it.

[Luann]

Love love love it. Gave me chills when I read this post. We sang this in high school chorus. I don't suppose you are familiar with "Candle on the Water" from the disney movie Pete's Dragon?