Dementia and Show Tunes (and Dogs!), Oh My!

The other day, there was a report stating researchers found that singing show tunes helped improve brain function in patients with Alzheimer's/dementia. The researchers held sing-along sessions with hits from The Wizard of Oz, Oklahoma! and The Sound of Music, and found that those who sang along showed "marked improvement" compared to those who just listened.

The hubs and I really worry about our brains - especially mine, which often doesn't work right. This was fantastic news to me, because I know every word to every song from Oklahoma! (and most of them for TSoM and TWoO and, as a bonus, South Pacific). We not only had the albums when I was a kid, but I played Aunt Eller in the school musical. (I shoulda rounded up a pic, but that would be Throw-back Thur, and today's Less-Wordy Wed.)

To prove to myself I still had it, I typed out the lyrics to Ado Annie's "I Can't Say No" from Oklahoma. (Hit that link if you've never heard it. It's not exactly a beautiful tune, but it's fun.) 

So, here are my typed lyrics... accompanied by repurposed dog photos.


I Can't Say No!
It ain't so much a question of not knowing what to do...
I knowed what's right and wrong since I been 10.

"Since I'm only 3, I can do 'wrong' for another 7 years!"

I heared a lot of stories and I reckon they are true...
About how girls are put upon by men.

"I think I'm about to be put upon!"

I know I mustn't fall in to the pit.
But when I'm with a feller... I forget.

"Oops, I fell in to the pit!"

I'm just a girl who can't say no!
I'm in a terrible fix.
I always say, "Come on, let's go."
Just when I outta say, "Nix!"

"Come on, let's go!"

When a person tries to kiss a girl, 
I know she outta give his face a smack.
But as soon as someone kisses me,
I somehow sorta wanna kiss him back!

"Go away. I'm about to kiss him back!"

I'm just a fool when lights are low.
I can't be prissy and quaint.
I ain't the type that can faint.

"Check me out. I'm pretending I fainted!"

How can I be what I ain't?
I can't say no!

Whacha gonna do when a feller gets flirty,
And starts to talk purty?

"Are you getting flirty with me, little boy?"

Whacha gonna do?
Supposin that he says that your lips are like cherries, or roses or berries.
Whacha gonna do?!
Supposin that he says that you're sweeter than cream,
And he's gotta have cream or die.
Whatcha gonna do when he talks that way... spit in his eye?

"Missed his eye by *that* much."

I'm just a girl who can't say no.
Kissin's my favorite food!

"Well, after bacon. After bacon, kissin's my fave food."

With or without the mistletoe,
I'm in a holiday mood.

"Seriously... don't I look like I'm in a holiday mood?"

Other girls are coy and hard to catch, 
But other girls ain't havin' any fun!

"You can totally catch me, dude!"

Every time I lose a wrestlin' match,
I have a funny feeling that I won!

"I think I won this wrestling match!"

Though I can feel the undertow,
I never make a complaint.

"I'm gettin' out! I felt the undertoad*!"

Til it's too late for restraint.
Then when I want to, I can't.
I caaaaaaan't saaaaaay nooooo!

"What? I can't help it... I can't say no!"

So, how about y'all? Do you sing along to show tunes? Or any tunes? (I'm guessing singing along with any tune would help the ol' brain.) Does your dog like it when you sing?

Now... everyone, "Oh, what a beautiful morning..."

* Points if you sang along. Extra points if you got the "undertoad" reference!

Thanks to Blogpaws for hosting Wordless Wednesday!