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For Albert Clarke, the Rise of 'Goodnight Moon' Is No Storybook Romance (2000)

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Re: For Albert Clarke, the Rise of 'Goodnight Moon' Is No Storybook Romance (2000)

#11

Post by mcphage »

IntronExon wrote: post #5
hawktheslayer wrote: post #3

For the love of god can anyone explain the "good night nobody" line to me? I read this book to my kids and that part has been eating me.

It’s the man who wasn’t there? Yesterday, upon the stair, I met a man who wasn’t there He wasn’t there again today I wish, I wish he’d go away... When I came home last night at three The man was waiting there for me But when I looked around the hall I couldn’t see him there at all! Go away, go away, don’t you come back any more! Go away, go away, and please don’t slam the door... (slam!) Last night I saw upon the sta…

That reads like Shel Silverstein mixed with Nightmare Fuel

Re: For Albert Clarke, the Rise of 'Goodnight Moon' Is No Storybook Romance (2000)

#14

Post by IntronExon »

mcphage wrote: post #11
IntronExon wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s the man who wasn’t there? Yesterday, upon the stair, I met a man who wasn’t there He wasn’t there again today I wish, I wish he’d go away... When I came home last night at three The man was waiting there for me But when I looked around the hall I couldn’t see him there at all! Go away, go away, don’t you come back any more! Go away, go away, and please don’t slam the door... (slam!) Last night I saw upon the sta…

That reads like Shel Silverstein mixed with Nightmare Fuel

That’s a great way of putting it! Of course old Shel had some creeeepy stuff too, remember the Yipiyuk?

In the swamplands long ago,

Where the weeds and mudglumps grow,

A Yipiyuk bit on my toe…

Exactly why I do not know.

I kicked and cried

And hollered “Oh”—

The Yipiyuk would not let go.

I whispered to him soft and low—

The Yipiyuk would not let go. I shouted “Stop,” “Desist” and “Whoa”—

The Yipiyuk would not let go.

Yes, it was sixteen years ago,

The Yipiyuk still won’t let go.

The snow may fall,

The winds may blow—

The Yipiyuk will not let go.

The snow may melt,

The grass may grow—

The Yipiyuk will not let go.

I drag him ‘round each place I go.

This Yipiyuk that won’t let go.

And now my child at last you know

Exactly why I walk so slow.

He had a few creepy ones, but they were all memorable and excellent. Thanks for reminding me of Shel Silverstein.

Re: For Albert Clarke, the Rise of 'Goodnight Moon' Is No Storybook Romance (2000)

#15

Post by eli »

hawktheslayer wrote: post #3

For the love of god can anyone explain the "good night nobody" line to me? I read this book to my kids and that part has been eating me.

I like that line! It's whimsical. It makes me think of a child listing all the things they can think of and mistakenly including "nothing" in that list.

Not everything has to be perfectly logical. The part that confused my kid was that the "little old lady" was clearly a rabbit.

Re: For Albert Clarke, the Rise of 'Goodnight Moon' Is No Storybook Romance (2000)

#18

Post by jpfed »

hawktheslayer wrote: post #3

For the love of god can anyone explain the "good night nobody" line to me? I read this book to my kids and that part has been eating me.

I interpreted it to refer to the sort of momentary lapse in mental coherence that might occur as you fall asleep. You're listing all this stuff you're saying "goodnight" to and then your mind blanks for a second- no one else is in the room with you in that moment. After a moment you remember the mush and the old lady saying "hush".

Re: For Albert Clarke, the Rise of 'Goodnight Moon' Is No Storybook Romance (2000)

#19

Post by downrightmike »

PhantomGremlin wrote: post #8

A somewhat different bedtime story is, of course, Go the Fuck to Sleep . Most entertaining is when it is read by Samuel L Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udj-o2m39NA This book came too late for me and my kids ... maybe someday I'll get a chance to read it to my grandchildren?

You could just have a secret attic or Canadian family. /s

Re: For Albert Clarke, the Rise of 'Goodnight Moon' Is No Storybook Romance (2000)

#20

Post by mcphage »

IntronExon wrote: post #14
mcphage wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That reads like Shel Silverstein mixed with Nightmare Fuel

That’s a great way of putting it! Of course old Shel had some creeeepy stuff too, remember the Yipiyuk? In the swamplands long ago, Where the weeds and mudglumps grow, A Yipiyuk bit on my toe… Exactly why I do not know. I kicked and cried And hollered “Oh”— The Yipiyuk would not let go. I whispered to him soft and low— The Yipiyuk would not let go. I shouted “Stop,” “Desist” and “Whoa”— The Yipiyuk would not let go.…

You're welcome :-) Here's another creepy one of his I like:

Joey Joey took a stone

And knocked

Down

The

Sun!

And whoosh! it swizzled

Down so hard,

And bloomp! it bounced

In his backyard,

And glunk! it landed

On his toe!

And the world was dark,

And the corn wouldn't grow,

And the wind wouldn't blow,

And the cock wouldn't crow,

And it always was Night,

Night,

Night.

All because

Of a stone

And Joe.

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