Land of Milk and Honey

I haven't finished with the Star Child CD, not by a long shot.  These are not the experience today, and I wonder if it ever was the reality or Brigham Young University (BYU) or Ricks College (now BYU-I).   I never attended BYU, but the legends, or stereotypes were there, and they live on.  I am not sure about how valid they are today.  Not sure that all the young men and women that go to BYU, or BYU-Idaho, are on the same path they used to be. Based on the devotions and talks given regarding dating and courting and how they are not happening would indicate that they are not.  While extremely cheesy, I suspect more than a few would like the stereotype to be the reality.  So, a two-fer.

The first is Matrimony.  Marie has decided to go to the dance, the music is a very disco type beat, and well, the words speak for themselves.

Matrimony, Milk and Honey
Happy Valley, Have a ball
With a hey, and a hi, And a hi back too and I love you
Take a girl and a guy and you bet your life, On a date you’ll go and a kiss and a ring
And before you know it she’s got a ring
So if you come to find the one, make your mark and do your thing

Land, land of milk and honey
If your major’s matrimony,
Bargain for your money, come on, come on have a ball
In the heart of happy valley, Why be shy when you can party

Find a mate you won’t be sorry, come on, come on, come on, come on have a ball.

Happy Valley refers to the Provo/Orem area, home to BYU.  During the course of the song, Wally who has become smitten with Marie at this point finds her at the dance, and he breaks into Rhapsody.

Can it be you, dream of my dream I’ve waited for, I’ve hungered for
And now, I see she’s everything I’ve wanted and more
Gazing at you, life turns into a
Rhapsody (a rhapsody), a symphony (a symphony), a thousand violins begin to play
Oh dream of my dreams.

The song is a tribute, something you can imagine at the coronation of Miss America, or prom queen.  In the play, a tiara is placed on her head, roses are presented, and then back to reality.  Wally  feels that he has fallen in love at first sight.  He is overwhelmed by her beauty, inner and outer.  Thus the tribute.

I know, a couple of songs with a stereotypical message.  I wonder how many in this crazy world long for days that were so simply presented like this.  They are not nearly Doug Stewart's best work, but in this day, hearken back to a different time.

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