Swinging on a Star

One day in either late 1943 or early 1944 (can any reader help me here and fill in the gap?) one of the sons of the legendary Bing Crosby complained he did not want to go to school but wanted to stay home and play instead.  Bing replied "If you don't go to school you might grow up to be a mule.  Do you wanna do that?"  Song writer Jimmy Van Heusen was there, and thought this could be the beginning of a great song, so he took the idea to lyricist Johnny Burke.  Together they wrote the song "Swinging on a Star" for the movie "Going My Way". The song was released in February 1944 and became one of Bing Crosby's greatest hits.

Why am I writing about a Bing Crosby song in a blog on personal development?  At the end of this article I have reproduced the full lyrics and have also included a video of Bing singing this song in "Going My Way".  Read the lyrics carefully and thoughtfully (ignoring the insults to some lovely animals!) and I think you will see exactly why!

This song may have originally been aimed at children not wanting to go to school, and the lesson there still applies (my younger readers take note!).  But the lesson is actually very much wider.

Where do you really want to be in life?  Are you aiming at the stars or settling for something far more mundane?  If the latter, why?  If the former, what are you doing right now to get closer to your dream?

This is not simply about material success, although it applies equally here of course.  What "aiming for the stars" really means is a very personal thing.  It may simply mean becoming a much more loving and caring person.  Making a real difference in life.  But whatever it means to you, take inspiration now from this song and start doing something to make your dream a reality.  You can do it!



"Would you like to swing on a star,
carry moonbeams home in a jar,
and be better off than you are,
or would you rather be a mule?

A mule is an animal with long funny ears.
He kicks up at anything he hears.
His back is brawny but his brain is weak.
He's just plain stupid with a stubborn streak,
and by the way if you hate to go to school
you may grow up to be a mule.

Oh would you like to swing on a star,
carry moonbeams home in a jar,
and be better off than you are,
or would you rather be a pig?

A pig is an animal with dirt on his face;
his shoes are a terrible disgrace.
He has no manners when he eats his food.
He's fat and lazy and extremely rude.
But if you don't care a feather or a fig
you may grow up to be a pig.

Oh would you like to swing on a star,
carry moonbeams home in a jar,
and be better off than you are,
or would you rather be a pig?

A fish won't do anything but swim in a brook.
He can't write his name or read a book.
To fool the people is his only thought
and though he's slippery he still gets caught;
but if then that sort of life is what you wish
you may grow up to be a fish.
A new kind of jumped up slippery fish!

And all the monkeys aren't in the zoo;
everyday you see quite a few.
So you see it's all up to you,
you could be better than you are
you could be swinging on a star."