You say, "If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment or a question."
I certainly enjoyed it! Maybe for the first time in months or since I started reading your posts. The typical after reading feeling I get is that of deep sorrow, anger, guilt or something that has nothing to do with joy. Although I know what was/is behind this song is no laughing matter, but watching the YouTube video you included, I was able to join the audience in the video in laughing, partly because the English was easy even for me for the most part (except for the last verse) and partly because the phenomenon described in the song is unfortunately pretty much universal (unlike in the past posts it was not a totally new discovery).
Just out of curiosity, I looked up the idiom "look somebody in the eye" in two dictionaries, and I enjoyed finding slightly different definitions in them. A Longman dictionary says "look somebody in the eye" is defined as "to look directly at someone when you are speaking to them, especially to show that you are not afraid of them or that you are telling the truth." This definition (especially the last part) is probably useful or helpful in explaining that the song is a total joke or of sarcastic nature. In contrast, an Oxford dictionary says the following:
"look somebody in the eye(s)/face"
(usually used in negative sentences and questions)
to look straight at someone without feeling embarrassed or ashamed
It does not include the implication of "telling the truth" in the definition and seems to place an emphasis on "without feeling embarrassed or ashamed." This definition seems to be useful in understanding the suspected character of the person in the song or in understanding the intended message of the song more directly.
I didn't know there was a slightly different nuance between the two meanings (UK/US). The Oxford version seems to imply a certain boldness or defiance, although that is included in the Longman version, "especially to show that you are not afraid of them." Perhaps the usage in the UK doesn't include honesty. Interesting! Any UK readers here who could confirm this?
No, the subject itself is not funny. However, humor is often used to make a point, and I think it was clear in this/poem/song.
You say, "If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment or a question."
I certainly enjoyed it! Maybe for the first time in months or since I started reading your posts. The typical after reading feeling I get is that of deep sorrow, anger, guilt or something that has nothing to do with joy. Although I know what was/is behind this song is no laughing matter, but watching the YouTube video you included, I was able to join the audience in the video in laughing, partly because the English was easy even for me for the most part (except for the last verse) and partly because the phenomenon described in the song is unfortunately pretty much universal (unlike in the past posts it was not a totally new discovery).
Just out of curiosity, I looked up the idiom "look somebody in the eye" in two dictionaries, and I enjoyed finding slightly different definitions in them. A Longman dictionary says "look somebody in the eye" is defined as "to look directly at someone when you are speaking to them, especially to show that you are not afraid of them or that you are telling the truth." This definition (especially the last part) is probably useful or helpful in explaining that the song is a total joke or of sarcastic nature. In contrast, an Oxford dictionary says the following:
"look somebody in the eye(s)/face"
(usually used in negative sentences and questions)
to look straight at someone without feeling embarrassed or ashamed
It does not include the implication of "telling the truth" in the definition and seems to place an emphasis on "without feeling embarrassed or ashamed." This definition seems to be useful in understanding the suspected character of the person in the song or in understanding the intended message of the song more directly.
Dear Louise,
You say, "If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment or a question."
I certainly enjoyed it! Maybe for the first time in months or since I started reading your posts. The typical after reading feeling I get is that of deep sorrow, anger, guilt or something that has nothing to do with joy. Although I know what was/is behind this song is no laughing matter, but watching the YouTube video you included, I was able to join the audience in the video in laughing, partly because the English was easy even for me for the most part (except for the last verse) and partly because the phenomenon described in the song is unfortunately pretty much universal (unlike in the past posts it was not a totally new discovery).
Just out of curiosity, I looked up the idiom "look somebody in the eye" in two dictionaries, and I enjoyed finding slightly different definitions in them. A Longman dictionary says "look somebody in the eye" is defined as "to look directly at someone when you are speaking to them, especially to show that you are not afraid of them or that you are telling the truth." This definition (especially the last part) is probably useful or helpful in explaining that the song is a total joke or of sarcastic nature. In contrast, an Oxford dictionary says the following:
"look somebody in the eye(s)/face"
(usually used in negative sentences and questions)
to look straight at someone without feeling embarrassed or ashamed
It does not include the implication of "telling the truth" in the definition and seems to place an emphasis on "without feeling embarrassed or ashamed." This definition seems to be useful in understanding the suspected character of the person in the song or in understanding the intended message of the song more directly.
It's not a laughing matter, is it?
Mitsuru Hiki
Mitsuru,
Thank you for your thoughtful comments!
I didn't know there was a slightly different nuance between the two meanings (UK/US). The Oxford version seems to imply a certain boldness or defiance, although that is included in the Longman version, "especially to show that you are not afraid of them." Perhaps the usage in the UK doesn't include honesty. Interesting! Any UK readers here who could confirm this?
No, the subject itself is not funny. However, humor is often used to make a point, and I think it was clear in this/poem/song.
Dear Louise,
You say, "If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment or a question."
I certainly enjoyed it! Maybe for the first time in months or since I started reading your posts. The typical after reading feeling I get is that of deep sorrow, anger, guilt or something that has nothing to do with joy. Although I know what was/is behind this song is no laughing matter, but watching the YouTube video you included, I was able to join the audience in the video in laughing, partly because the English was easy even for me for the most part (except for the last verse) and partly because the phenomenon described in the song is unfortunately pretty much universal (unlike in the past posts it was not a totally new discovery).
Just out of curiosity, I looked up the idiom "look somebody in the eye" in two dictionaries, and I enjoyed finding slightly different definitions in them. A Longman dictionary says "look somebody in the eye" is defined as "to look directly at someone when you are speaking to them, especially to show that you are not afraid of them or that you are telling the truth." This definition (especially the last part) is probably useful or helpful in explaining that the song is a total joke or of sarcastic nature. In contrast, an Oxford dictionary says the following:
"look somebody in the eye(s)/face"
(usually used in negative sentences and questions)
to look straight at someone without feeling embarrassed or ashamed
It does not include the implication of "telling the truth" in the definition and seems to place an emphasis on "without feeling embarrassed or ashamed." This definition seems to be useful in understanding the suspected character of the person in the song or in understanding the intended message of the song more directly.
It's not a laughing matter, is it?
Mitsuru Hiki
I shouldn’t laugh, but it sounds as though this Mr Ross Perot would have fitted right in along side every other lying president the world has seen!
At least this man was honest, in his song anyway, about lying!
Thanks for sharing Louise, I’ve never even heard of him before now… xxx