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Black and White

You could hardly see for all the snow,
Spread the rabbit ears as far as they go.
Pull a chair up to the TV set,
"Good Night, David. Good Night, Chet."

Depending on the channel you tuned,
You got Rob and Laura - or Ward and June.
It felt so good. It felt so right.
Life looked better in black and white.

I Love Lucy, The Real McCoys,
Dennis the Menace, the Cleaver boys,
Rawhide, Gunsmoke, Wagon Train,
Superman, Jimmy and Lois Lane.

Father Knows Best, Patty Duke,
Rin Tin Tin and Lassie too,
Donna Reed on Thursday night! --
Life looked better in black and white.

I wanna go back to black and white.
Everything always turned out right.
Simple people, simple lives...
Good guys always won the fights.

Now nothing is the way it seems,
In living color on the TV screen.
Too many murders, too many fights,
I wanna go back to black and white.

In God they trusted, alone in bed, they slept,
A promise made was a promise kept.
They never cussed or broke their vows.
They'd never make the network now.

But if I could, I'd rather be
In a TV town in '53.
It felt so good. It felt so right.
Life looked better in black and white.

I'd trade all the channels on the satellite,
If I could just turn back the clock tonight
To when everybody knew wrong from right.
Life was better in black and white!






Author notes

a passed on poem ...thx rainfallingirl
Written February 2nd, 2005

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Comments

1 - 18 of 18

  • Night Hope gold member
    November 9, 2005
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    No, Sweetness...it merely makes ya Timeless...we're classics now, ya know... Wanderer


  • MuddyKing
    November 9, 2005
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    this one ages me fo' sho'..lmao

  • Night Hope gold member
    November 9, 2005
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    'You could hardly see for all the snow, Spread the rabbit ears as far as they go. Pull a chair up to the TV set, "Good Night, David. Good Night, Chet."' & 'Say Good night, Gracie...' Bless ya, my Friend...told ya we're in sync... This is a fabulous piece, MuddMan...but of course...'tis you, after all... Wanderer

  • spiritflo
    May 4, 2005
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    I really agree with that. Black and white shows are the best. They were funnier, cleaner, and happier. I enjoyed the rhythm and the way you made me think.


  • SpydurPoet gold member
    May 4, 2005
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    This was so beautiful and somewhat sad. I loved it, though. I completely agreed with everything in it. A truly wonderful poem. Good luck in the contest. Write on. ~~SpydurPoet~~


  • CoolHandLuke
    March 23, 2005
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    The essance of the good old days, loved your take on a tribute of shows that culminated the 50's generation...although me thinks TV and real life back in the 50's and 60's was a lot different...and less sunny. But TV was supposed to do that...Calm a nation in a state of crisis, depict escape. You painted that illusion very well.

  • Cada
    February 22, 2005
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    I really liked your poem. It made me realize that you are right. I never thought about it like that before. You are a great writer.


  • forgot
    February 22, 2005
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    that is wicked awesome. but have you ever seen "pleasentville"? you should rent it...if you actually feel this way

  • Ethersong
    February 22, 2005
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    BEAUTIFUL! I loved it, because it's soooo true. Sex, violence and drugs are all glorified on the television screen, and it's just not right!


  • diavolina
    February 22, 2005
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    this is so great i can really relate to it, i wish things were still innocent and naive as they were 50 years ago. nowadays kids are watching violence and killing all the time, theres no way to stop it. your poem was amazing, and i wish that this was true! great write, keep it up x x x


  • masterblaster gold member
    February 22, 2005
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    So true my friend, I loved this poem of yours, it was so refreshing, great fun and with an important message, the good guys always did win, and there was always a happy ending, you did a great job on this,aah great my friend just great

  • WranglerSteve gold member
    February 18, 2005
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    Wonderful!!!

    WOW, you stole the words, right out of my mouth, though I nevr lived during that time, i often wish I could have... I which it would seem you too, are dreams of good and evil that's all there truly is, no grey area... Just black and white. At least that's what I felt from this write. Thank you so much for sharing your words, thoughts, and experiences with all of us here.


  • ladylyric
    February 14, 2005
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    Oh wow....this was incredible. I wasnt born yet when black and white Tv was around...but because my parents had me so late in life (they were already in their 40's when they had me and Im 24 now) I kinda grew up around that pop culture...they listened to old 50's & 60's motown and pyschadelia. I have aunts and uncles who attended woodstock...Most of my friends parents were just kids when woodstock (the original) was held.
    So, I guess thats why I love that kind of tv. Thanks to nick at night...I always watched those shows with my dad. Andy Griffin (or is ir Griffith?) show. I love the episodes with Jim neighbors especially....because I also liked that Gomer pile show. I liked the monkees also, but they werent in black and white! Very creative...I loved how did this whole thing. Using old tv as sort of a metaphor to describe a simpler time.
    Very clever. ~~~~peace...Shannon Rose


  • Redstormy gold member
    February 3, 2005
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    You know what I think you're right, life probably looked better in black and white. Clever write and again it's nice
    to see your words once again.

    Red

  • datb
    February 2, 2005
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    grood

    I really like it. The way you right it even seems old fashioned and simplistic... I don't know what it is about it, but you wrote it to suit your mood and message perfectly. Good job.

  • PoeticMadness
    February 2, 2005
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    Very nice. There are two thoughts on classic TV. One is that it was a simpler time, a more pure beautiful time, the other is that that is how it is remembered bc those that saw the complexities, the ugliness of the world were the adults and are mostly gone now. So is it really the tv the speaker misses or his childhood?


  • Snack Lover
    February 2, 2005
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    I like this one! I like the way you rhyme the shows, repeat the "Life was better in black and white!" !! Good poetry

  • SpydurPoet gold member
    February 2, 2005
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    God. I Used to love those old shows. I grew up with my parents watching almost all of those. I Love Lucy was my favorite. Great write. Nostalgic.... Write on. ~*~SpydurPoet~*~

1 - 18 of 18