Week 1 Storytelling: I'll Sing You a Song

I'll Sing you a Song 

“I'll sing you a song,

Though not very long,

Yet I think it as pretty as any.

Put your hand in your purse,

You'll never be worse,

And give the poor singer a penny.”

(Excerpt From: “The Nursery Rhyme Book.” iBooks.)

-------------------------------------------------

Ralph grew up in the outskirts of town under the roof of his very loving family of his parents and two other siblings. Father was a farmer who worked every day of his life and mother was a stay at home mom that would do anything for her children. She would even sing them a song when they all went to bed at night. For some reason, when Ralph grew up and grew older, he wished for a more exciting life than the one he had, unlike his other siblings. For years he dreamed about leaving the country, finding a new home, and never coming back. He talked about living life on his own and finding his own way of life. He wanted to leave the typical small town atmosphere and lifestyle like his family. 

When he was of age he left home against his parent's wishes and started his journey. 

Hometown (wikipedia)

For years his journey was exciting and full of life. He traveled near and far, met interesting people, and thought he was headed somewhere great. He found a life in a busy city surrounded by people who had never known his home. He lived in this fast paced life for years and years constantly pushing his body and mind to the limit. He ignored contact with his family and continued to live life on his own. 

As years went by, friends had left, happiness was hard to come by, and family had felt like a ghost. He never had a constant companion or support group that cared for him in all parts of his life. He searched for happiness with money and thought the more he had the more he would enjoy life. At the peak of his loneliness he lost it all. He lost his friends, his fancy lifestyle, and his enjoyment of life in general. After losing everything he thought about how different his life would be if he had not been so selfish and had a true home with the people he didn't know he loved. 

City Life (Wikipedia)

At this point in life Ralph decided to go on one last life-changing journey. After working hard and long shifts to save money he would return to where he was living and sit on the front stairs. He would sit there and think about his choices in life and how he can better them now as an older man. Ralph would also sing, for it was comforting to hear the songs from his mother back in his childhood. 

Citizens would walk by as he sat there singing and wishing for a way back. Ralph would start with: "I'll sing you a song, though not very long, yet I think it is pretty as any." For he was desperate for a life of happiness and a yearning for true friendship and love in his life and would continue with: "Put your hand in your purse, you'll never be worse, and give the poor singer a penny." He was poor in the fact that he lacked love and compassion from others. Some out of pity gave him money and helped him on his way, but he continued on. 

The Singer (Flickr)

Although Ralph was older and his health was failing, he sat there every night. He sang his songs and hoped for a better life. In the end Ralph didn't make it home, for he never had enough to make the long travel. 

------------------------------------------------------

I'll Sing you a Song 

“I'll sing you a song,

Though not very long,

Yet I think it as pretty as any.

Put your hand in your purse,

You'll never be worse,

And give the poor singer a penny.”

A man searching for a more exciting life finds that what makes life exciting are the people in it. He then attempts to change his path and go back to where he stated from. 

-------------------------------------------------------

Authors Note: When I read this nursery rhyme I immediately thought about the biblical story of the Prodigal Son. In that story, the son leaves home, loses all of his savings, then returns home to find his father still forgiving of him. In my story I also had a boy who wanted to leave home and finds himself wanting to return home as an older man, realizing everything he has missed out on. However, with this story he never makes it home. He comes to self-realization and self-improvement. I love stories of people finding true happiness and love in their lives and with Ralph it was through song and searching for a way home. 

------------------------------------------------------

Bibliography: This nursery rhyme can be found on page 57 in Our Country's Readers edited by M. Halley and Leonard Lemmon.