Moonrise. By Paul Goldfinger ©
Today, the glow of the moon, of the moonrise, or the moon over the ocean, or over the river….makes me think of Andy Williams. I first listened to his new song, “Moon River,” playing on my car radio one night in 1961. That evening I was alone in my old Plymouth driving home from a date with my future wife, Eileen. I knew that “Moon River” had to be our song.
Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics, and Henry Mancini the music. It was very beautiful, but I never exactly knew what a “huckleberry friend” was; somehow I imagined I knew what kind of friend that was. Today I finally looked it up, and the Urban Dictionary says, “There are your good friends: people who love you. And then there are your huckleberry friends: people who’ve known you for years and have stuck by you and love you no matter what.”
Here are some of the lyrics from a song that was featured in the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s:”
“There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after the same rainbow’s end, waitin’ ’round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me”
Andy Williams just died three days ago. Here is that recording:
As luck would have it, this weekend we’re having a harvest moon. The harvest moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. Unlike other full moons, the harvest moon rises at roughly the same time for several nights in a row. For three days it will be rising just about as the sun sets. It’s name comes from the fact that it gives farmers an extra amount of light for getting in their crops. USA Today had a story about it this week, which is how I know so much about it.
Many great artists have passed in the last months, but Andy Williams passing is making me very sad. This is THE most romantic song. I loved his specials while I was growing up, and saw him in Branson MO when I accompanied my father to his Navy reunion. It was a surprisingly enjoyable show and I was as excited as I was thinking of Donny Osmond when I was 12! Thank you for the wonderful reminder.