The Electric Company - I Was Young Once Too

this song almost makes you forget it was about learning to read. jim boyd seemd like such a sweet and talented man. i agree that "educational" shows today can't match the heart of stuff like this.

very nice i miss these very much

We need more kids' programming that will teach them to not only respect their elders, but that learning from them can be fascinating! I loved to hear my grandparents' stories of the '20's and '30's. Kids today are so into computer games, TV and cell phones that I'm afraid the youngest generation will lose out on learning through interaction with our seniors. How else will we pass America's values on?

A concession to these young 'uns who've never seen a unicycle before, maybe? The detailed observation of how an old fella might explain things to younger folks is an example of the songwriting skill on display here.

Jim really tugs at your heartstrings with this one, doesn't he? It was always very touching when TEC had these sentimental musical numbers, ones that weren't out and out comedy but actually had some pathos. I often remark how many things they did in the '70s wouldn't pass muster in the cynical, irony-obsessed 2000s, and this is one of them. "How Is Howard" is another TEC tear-jerker that comes to mind.

A great song indeed. There's a song that Jim sung in the fifth season called "Raggedy Al." Another song that tugged at the heart.

You really hit the nail with the cynical, irony obsessed 2000s. Up until now that kind of thing is still around. And it's sad that nowadays I see kids behaving more like adults instead of kids.

Yup...these days Jim wouldn't even warrant a song telling his side of the story--he'd be portrayed as a hopelessly out-of-touch old fart, and Bayn would be a smug, iPod-toting little smartass asking, if those streetcar things were so great, why aren't they around anymore, duh? She she probably wouldn't be played by as skilled a young actress, either--Bayn Johnson was a real pro.

Today both Jim and Bayn would be twittering each other.

A case of my memory failing. I didn't start watching "Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island" on a regular basis until February 1978.