song for theme #18A: Passionately Impulsive

“Oh My Darling Cheryl Ann” by Stephen P. Cook

to be sung to the tune of “Oh My Darling Clementine” (traditional)

Burbank for ‘ya, California

In this conservative land

Dwelt a minor¹ sixty-niner²

And his sweetheart Cheryl Ann

Oh my Darling, Oh my Darling

Oh my Darling Cheryl Ann

You are lost and gone forever

Dreadful sorry, Cheryl Ann

Horny she was, it was scary

Making baby—no way, man!

He’d kiss her and resist her

So sorry, Cheryl Ann

Job she got: baby-sitting

Next door to where he dwelt

With sneaky, bed creaky

They could do the things they felt

One night he saw her signal

Gave in and jumped the wall

Naked in the master bedroom

They with passion had it all

Unexpected, clothes collected

Parents got back and he ran

Jumped the wall half naked

She faced them, Cheryl Ann

Job she lost: baby-sitting

Off to college was their lot

They were lusting and trusting

Soon to tie the marriage knot

She blew it, as a pre-med

Wayward passion killed their plan

She did it with an orderly

Too impulsive³ Cheryl Ann

She got married to another

And the years how they passed

But she still needed baby

Or her marriage wouldn’t last

In childbirth, a nightmare

Her husband held her hand

That sad day’s grim toll did show

Baby lived, not Cheryl Ann⁴

Oh my Darling, Oh my Darling

Oh my Darling Cheryl Ann

You are lost and gone forever

Dreadful sorry, Cheryl Ann

SONG—NOTES / COMMENTS     (this song is part of the author’s personal story)

1—An underage young adult

2—The author of this autobiographical song graduated from high school in 1969.

3—Many people do things impulsively: on a whim, without thinking or taking any time at all to consider the consequences.      

      Typically youth are more prone to this type of behavior. Adults with a serious problem in this regard may suffer from Impulse

      Control Disorder. This condition is characterized by being unable to rein in impulses or resist temptation to engage in behavior

      known to be personally risky or harmful.

4—She died in 1986 at the age of thirty-five. Cheryl Ann lives on in the memories of those who loved her.

Comment: The impulsive unthinking actions this theme is associated with can cause pain è emotional baggage (note 3). But sometimes they can bring joy, even ecstasy. Note the high emotional volatility index!