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It was a different world indeed
By NAN BROWN
As published Nov. 21, 2007
I’m a big fan of country music. Having been born in West Virginia, I’m a “hillbilly” at heart and grew up listening to country.
Country music has evolved a great deal since I was brought up on it in the “old days” when stars like Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and Hank Williams, Jr. were popular. My favorites now are Keith Urban, Sugarland, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, and Kellie Pickler.
Lately it seems like up and coming young country stars are a dime a dozen. One young man who has caught my ear, however, is Bucky Covington and his song, “A Different World.” Bucky, like Carrie and Kellie, is a product of American Idol. Jack and I are both big “Idol” fans, so we’re always pleased when a finalist launches a successful music career.
Bucky’s song “A Different World” is a nostalgic look at what our young lives were like “back in the day.”
You’ll see what I mean as I take you on a journey reminiscent of other times through “A Different World.” Here goes:
We were born to mothers who smoked and drank.
Our cribs were covered in lead based paint.
Actually I can’t really identify with the first line because my mother neither smoked nor drank while she was pregnant with me, but I’m sure my crib probably fit this description.
No childproof lids, no seatbelts in cars.
Rode bikes with no helmets and still here we are – still here we are.
Surprise! – we did survive despite the lack of kid proof lids and seatbelts. As for helmets, I don’t think riding bikes would have been the same without feeling the wind blowing through my hair as I sped down the hills in my neighborhood to the neat sounds made by the card clothes-pinned to the spoke of my wheel.
We got daddy’s belt when we misbehaved.
Had three TV channels you got up to change.
I remember the belt well. My dad was a police officer and had a thick belt that was part of his uniform. It was his means of discipline for a little girl who had misbehaved; yet I survived, and probably the better for it. As for TV, there was no such thing as a remote, and I was the official channel changer, usually at my parents’ request.
No video games and no satellite.
All we had were friends and they were outside - playin’ outside.
Having no such thing as video games and satellites was a blessing in disguise. Instead, our imaginations ran wild, and so did we. In the summer we played outside practically from dawn til’ dusk filling our days with activities like playing Barbies on the porch, softball in the back yard, kickball in the road, touch football in the vacant lot next door, hopscotch, Four Squares, and hide and seek. Then after dark we caught lightning bugs and scanned the skies for UFOs. Childhood obesity wasn’t even heard of back then, and no wonder as active as we were.
(Chorus)
It was a different life when we were boys and girls.
Not just a different time, it was a different world.
The chorus says it all, doesn’t it?
School always started the same everyday.
The Pledge of Allegiance then someone would pray.
I remember the loudspeaker sputtering to life every morning as the principal’s voice came on leading us all in the Pledge which we recited proudly while standing with our right hands over our hearts. As for prayer, I think the world would be a better place if it was still allowed in schools.
Not every kid made the team when they tried.
We got disappointed and that was alright – We turned out alright.
I didn’t go out for any school teams, but there were times I was among those chosen last for sides for other teams, and I didn’t turn to a life of crime as a result. We did turn out alright despite disappointments.
(Repeat chorus)
No bottled water, we’d drink from a garden hose.
And every Sunday all the stores were closed.
This is probably my favorite verse of all. I remember nothing was better than having a good, long drink of that cold, refreshing water from the hose. Of course, if it was a hot day, you had to let it run a little while first. Running through the sprinkler was great, too – what a treat!
Back then you might as well forget about going to the store or getting gas in the car on Sunday – it just wasn’t going to happen because businesses weren’t open, but the world didn’t end, did it?
(End with chorus)
It was indeed a different life and, in my opinion, a much, much better world. Good work Bucky!
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