In these days of instant communications all over the world, we have lost surprise in favor of convenience. This may not be a wonderful idea when the hurry up deprives us of imagination and anticipation.
On March 18, 1852, in New York City, Henry Wells, William Fargo and others signed articles of association for a joint stock company to do a banking and express business in distant California.
Rushing for gold and silver in the West, overland by pony and stagecoach, coming through for miners, merchants, farmers and ranchers, building on the frontier, offering “Ocean-to-Ocean” service by 1888 Wells, Fargo & Co. grew with the nation and is part of American History.
In the musical, "Music Man", Meredith Wilson captured that feeling of wonder in a truly fun song, "Wells Fargo Wagon". There's a cute community playhouse production of the number at the bottom since I couldn't get a clip of the copyrighted original.
When was the last time you were truly truly surprised by anything and what was it?
Wells Fargo Wagon Lyrics
People:
O-ho the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin' down the street,
Oh please let it be for me!
O-ho the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin' down the street,
I wish, I wish I knew what it could be!
First Voice:
I got a box of maple sugar on my birthday.
Second Voice:
In March I got a gray mackinaw.
Third Voice:
And once I got some grapefruit from Tampa.
Fourth Voice:
Montgom'ry Ward sent me a bathtub and a cross-cut saw.
People:
O-ho the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin' now
Is it a prepaid surprise or C.O.D.
Fifth Voice:
It could be curtains!
Sixth Voice:
Or dishes!
Seventh Voice:
Or a double boiler!
Eighth Voice:
Or it could be
People:
Yes, it could be
Yes, you're right it surely could be
Eighth Voice:
Somethin' special
People:Somethin' very, very special now
Eighth Voice:
Just for me!
People:
O-ho the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin' down the street.
Oh, don't let him pass my door!
O-ho the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin' down the street
I wish I knew what he was comin' for.
Ninth Voice:
I got some salmon from Seattle last September.
Tenth Voice:
And I expect a new rockin' chair.
Eleventh Voice:
I hope I get my raisins from Fresno.
Quartet:
The D.A.R. have sent a cannon for the courthouse square.
Winthrop:
O-ho the Wellth Fargo Wagon ith a-comin' now,
I don't know how I can ever wait to thee.
It could be thumpin' for thumone who is
No relation but it could be thump'n thpethyul
Just for me!
People:
O-ho, you Wells Fargo Wagon keep a-comin'
O-ho, you Wells Fargo Wagon, keep a-comin'.
O-ho you Wells Fargo Wagon, Don't you dare Make a stop
Until you stop for me!
3 comments:
I wracked my brain on this one and couldn't think of a darned thing - sadly!
As for the song, I love it along with the rest of the play! I've seen it on Broadway with Craig Bierko but no one beats Robert Preston - he was Harold Hill!
Linda,
These days we may all have that problem. How do we slow down enough to care about "what comes next?"
Great movie!!! My kids used to laugh at the Shipoopie song lol.
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