Annie

I'm not crazy about Annie the musical.  I think that if I have to listen to the "Tomorrow" song one more time I might lose it.

But I still love the origin of Annie which is James Whitcomb Riley's poem, "Little Orphan Annie." When I was a little girl in Indianapolis I had it memorized.  James Whitcomb Riley was called "The Hoosier Poet" or "The Children's Poet."  Everybody in Indiana knew his name.  My maiden name was Riley and, occasionally, a person would be in awe thinking we were related.  To my knowledge, we weren't.

But I loved his poems like "Little Orphan Annie" and "The Raggedy Man."

"Little Orphan Annie" morphed into a comic strip and became the most popular strip in the country in the 1930s.  Then it was a radio show.  Then came the musical that has been popular for decades.

Somewhere along the line Annie morphed into the crazy little redhead we know today. And she acquired eyeballs.

The poem was four stanzas.  The first explains who Annie was.  She was based on an orphan who actually came to live in the Riley household.  Can you imagine a child doing this kind of work today?  I think we'd call it human trafficking.

Little Orphan Annie's come to my house to stay. 

To wash the cups and saucers up and brush the crumbs away,

To shoo the chickens from the porch and dust the hearth and sweep, 

and make the fire and bake the bread to earn her board and keep. 

While all us other children, when the supper things is done,

we sit around the kitchen fire and has the mostest fun, 

a listening to the witch tales that Annie tells about

and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!

The next two stanzas are cautionary tales, first for a little boy, then a little girl.   If Annie were a nanny today she would be the one in trouble for terrorizing little kids.

Once there was a little boy who wouldn't say his prayers,

and when he went to bed at night away up stairs,

his mammy heard him holler and his daddy heard him bawl,

and when they turned the covers down,

he wasn't there at all!

They searched him in the attic room

and cubby hole and press

and even up the chimney flue and every wheres, I guess,

but all they ever found of him was just his pants and round-abouts

and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!

Once there was a little girl who always laughed and grinned

and made fun of everyone, of all her blood and kin, 

and once when there was company and old folks was there,

she mocked them and she shocked them and said she didn't care.

And just as she turned on her heels and to go and run and hide,

there was two great big black things a standing by her side.

They snatched her through the ceiling fore she knew what shes about,

and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!

And now, in this summation of Annie's cautionary tale, she gets a little plug in for orphans:

When the night is dark and scary,

and the moon is full and creatures are a flying and the wind goes Whoooooooooo,

you better mind your parents and your teachers fond and dear,

and cherish them that loves ya, and dry the orphans tears

and help the poor and needy ones that cluster all about,

or the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out.!

Who needs "Criminal Minds" when we have this poem?  I love it.  I think I'll memorize it again. 

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