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| It does not take much to be happy - just ask these two. |
In 1967 singer/songwriter Terry Gilkyson wrote The Bare Necessities for a movie called The Jungle Book. When the first version of the movie was scrapped Gilkyson's song was the only thing that was kept. I am glad it made the cut.
I discovered the influence of these words as a lad of 7 or 8 years old. I was unused to big entertainments since my family did not own a TV, and we did not have money to take our 7 member brood out on the town very often.
I can't remember who took that younger version of me to the Paramount Theatre to see the movie, but I do remember being blown away by the whole spectacle.
The Bare Necessities scene was my favourite part at the time, and now when I revisit this song I think that the struggling songwriter must have known the simple life. When I read parts of the song it reads like a Zen poem rather than a mickey mouse made movie.
For me this song represents "Jungle Zen", and I do think that it must have steered me as a child towards more sensible ideas of consumption and expectations. Even then it appealed to me and made sense.
The Bare Necessities
...don't spend your time looking around
For something you want that can't be found.
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinking about it
I'll tell you something true -
The bare necessities of life will come to you.
- Terry Gilkyson
After reading your previous post, that song kept going through my head! It's always been a favorite of mine.
ReplyDeleteI have a similar memory of going to the movies to see The Jungle Book when it first came out. My older sister was allowed to take me on the bus downtown to see the movie. It was a big deal to not only see a movie, but ride the bus without an adult for the first time.
A theme song for my journey, that's for sure!