I think it's time for a break again
from all the serious death and destruction out there. This year the
Library of Congress added a number of titles to its collection of
significant songs in American history, including "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King. It was first recorded in 1961, but
was re-released in 1986 when it was used as the theme song in the
movie “Stand By Me”.
It is really the movie that I wanted to
talk about. It's one of my favorites. Why? In many ways it's a
serious film, yet it's a story of a period of childhood where
adventures are possible and friendships are deep, at least in that
moment.
It's the story of four friends who go
on an overnight camping trip to see a dead body. Along the way they
run into various obstacles and delve into the more serious sides of
their lives. It's set in a simpler era of America, before the
internet, before cell phones, and before friendships were based on
the more superficial aspects of life.
This scene always gets me because my friends and I did this when I was a kid. We were walking to the fair and took a shortcut across the railroad tracks over the river. The river wasn't as wide, the drop wasn't as long, and there wasn't any train, but there was still just a little shiver down the spine.
I know, I'm giving away part of the ending, but you've all probably already seen this movie, so I think I'm safe. I can't not add this scene. It's what the title's all about.
