Miss Molly

Our daughter is a big music fan.

Even though she’s only four years old, she already has a collection of music sitting on our computer’s hard drive and also strewn about here, there and everywhere on numerous CDs.

So far, she has about 25-30 songs that she has picked out on her own, and we all get ample opportunity to listen to these songs as we drive the highways and byways of this great and extended state.

A friend from church gave her the idea for one of her latest acquisitions.

Whenever he would see her, he would burst into song – Oh me oh my Miss Molly, I’m in love with you, Oh me oh my Miss Molly won’t you say you love me too.

She would generally give him a puzzled look and then he would explain to her that Miss Molly was a song that used to be played on the radio a long, long, time ago.

The song was recorded by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys back in the 1930s or 1940s and it is a wonderful example of pure traditional Texas Swing country music.

Much to my amazement, the song was available for 99 cents at iTunes, and as soon as our "Miss Molly" authorized the purchase from her hard-earned spending money, it was just a matter of waiting 10 minutes for the song to fly from iTunes-land across cyberspace into our home computer.

Instantly, our Molly was entranced by the song – not just because she shares a first name with the song’s subject, but because it’s such a catchy little tune, she just finds it irresistible.

Her brother likes it, too.

Together they dance as it plays on the stereo.

Andy has a dance where he just sort of wobbles from one foot to the other, back and forth.

Come to think of it, I’ve seen a lot of older people dance that way, as well.

Molly spins and twirls and makes grandiose gestures with her arms as she glides to and fro.

Miss Molly is track number 18 on the latest CD that rides with us in the car, and it’s gotta be one of the most played tracks on there.

She has lots of favorites, and which one is her favorite varies from day to day based on her current mood.

Last night while she was taking a bath, she sang another favorite, a Capella – Down to the river to pray.

I was really impressed by her ability to remember the words, the melody and what is a fairly complex rhythm. I believe children are blessed with an innate gift and ability for music. It is an amazing thing to behold.

Love of music is something our whole family has in common with one another. We listen together, we sing together, we dance together and it lifts our spirits in a way that nothing else can.

Whether it’s something old like Bob Wills or something newer like Ben Folds, I imagine we’ll be listening for many years to come.