"Pack up all my care and woe, here I go, singing low"

Blue day. Nothing to do but call my Gran. And then the loveliest thing happened. I was wailing about life and the general debris accumulated whilst living it, and she said 'Rianna; remember how you would dress up as a little girl...always with the gold bag I've kept for you. And we would 'drive' to Noosa for dinner. There would always be a time-lapse; and dancing.' And I went straight back there; to the couch and lounge room at Gran's house. I felt the humidity of the QLD evenings, and the safety and love of our 'dress-ups'.
'We've always had something special Rianna; you and I...since you were tiny. I used to love cooking with you on my shoulder as a baby, singing 'Bye Bye Blackbird' to you. And you would mew like a little kitten and sleep soundly upon your Granny's shoulder'.
ME: Good God Gran!!! 'Bye Bye Blackbird'!!!
GRAN: Yes darling, of course; put a little lilt into it and any babe will fall asleep.
ME: BUT THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVOURITE NUMBERS OF ALL TIME!!!!!! I NEVER KNEW!!!!
GRAN: (Laughing) Well; you must have always remembered.

And so it is. Made especially for 'Liza with a Z' in 1972 by beloved Bob Fosse: here is the version I dance to regularly, with the most spectacular Ben Vereen, singing. I leave all behind in the joy of this song. Doubled, tripled and quadrupled now that I know it was given to me by my Gran, as a baby.



And...the sensational original. I believe my most favourite, Ann Reinking, is lead dancer here.



Happy Doll.