The simple folk of old-time Phoenix


A song that I remember from from the movie "Camelot" was a duet with the King and Queen wondering what the simple folk do? It was, of course, a light-hearted song about the people that they never saw, the peasants, who never came into the royal court, and who seemed to have a wonderful life, in spite of their poverty, and their lack of solid gold drinking cups.

And I've always had the same fascination with the simple folk, which of course includes me (I doubt whether I have any solid gold drinking cups in the cupboard and I've done enough of my family's genealogy that I know that I'm not descended from royalty). I am, compared to the king, a peasant, and compared to my dogs, a king. And today I'm thinking about the simple folk of old-time Phoenix.

Please don't get me wrong, I have as much interest in Kings and Queens as I have in scurvy knaves, it's just that this morning I'm pondering what life would have been like in old-time Phoenix for someone who never got their name in the paper, never had a statue erected to them, but enjoyed their life. You know, the simple folk.

Let's set the wayback machine to 1915. I'll be riding my bicycle over to the Dwight B. Heard Real Estate Building, on the southeast corner of Central and Adams. I'm wearing a suit, but remember that this is over 100 years ago, when men wore suits, even riding bicycles. No, I'm not dressed up for a job interview, this is the only suit of clothes that I own. I borrowed the hat, and along with my snappy mustache, I look like somebody important, don't I? Well, maybe not.

I haven't seen Dwight Heard, but he'll be along soon. He's a very important and wealthy man, and when I see him I'll call him Mr. Heard, or sir. He may know my name, but it isn't as if I'm all that important.

The man walking past me seems to be dressed in those trousers made by Levi Strauss, so he's probably a working man. I suppose that's his wife, and they're probably going over to look at the blankets at the Indian Shop. I understand they got some nice new ones in, I wish I could afford one. The Navajos do such nice work! I suppose a hundred years from now those blankets will be very valuable!

I'm going inside, will you watch my bike?
GUENEVERE
What do the simple folk do
To help them escape when they're blue?
The shepherd who is ailing, the milkmaid who is glum
The cobbler who is wailing from nailing his thumb
When they're beset and besieged
The folk not noblessly obliged
However do they manage to shed their weary lot?
Oh, what do simple folk do we do not?

 ARTHUR
I have been informed by those who know them well
They find relief in quite a clever way
When they're sorely pressed, they whistle for a spell
And whistling seems to brighten up their day
And that's what simple folk do
So they say

 GUENEVERE
They whistle?

 ARTHUR
So they say

 GUENEVERE
What else do the simple folk do
To pluck up the heart and get through?
The wee folk and the grown folk
Who wander to and fro
Have ways known to their own folk
We throne folk don't know
When all the doldrums begin
What keeps each of them in his skin?
What ancient native custom provides the needed glow?
Oh, what do simple folk do?
Do you know?

 ARTHUR
Once, upon the road, I came upon a lad
Singing in a voice three times his size
When I asked him why, he told me he was sad
And singing always made his spirits rise
And that's what simple folk do
I surmise

 GUENEVERE
They sing?

 ARTHUR
I surmise

 BOTH
Arise, my love, arise, my love
Apollo's lighting the skies, my love
The meadows shine with columbine
And daffodils blossom away
Hear Venus call to one and all
And taste delight while you may
The world is bright and all is right
And life is merry and gay

 GUENEVERE
What else do the simple folk do?
They must have a system or two
They obviously outshine us at turning tears to mirth
And tricks a royal highness is minus from birth
What, then, I wonder, do they
To chase all the goblins away?
They have some tribal sorcery you haven't mentioned yet
Oh, what do simple folk do to forget?

 ARTHUR
Often, I am told, they dance a fiery dance
And whirl 'till they're completely uncontrolled
Soon the mind is blank and oh, they're in a trance
A violent trance astounding to behold
And that's what simple folk do
So I'm told

 GUENEVERE
They dance?

 ARTHUR
So I'm told

 GUENEVERE
What else do the simple folk do
To help them escape when they're blue?

 ARTHUR
They sit around and wonder what royal folk would do
And that's what simple folk do
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