Friday
Jan192007
Lay it on me, Grammar Girl
Friday, January 19, 2007 at 07:57AM Have you discovered Grammar Girl yet? No? Then check her out!
Grammar Girl is one of my favorites. I don't remember how I stumbled upon her website/podcast but I am thoroughly enjoying her grammar tips.
Today she is addressing one of the stickiest grammar bugaboos known to man: lay and lie. I'm keeping this one in my bookmarks. Then if I ever run into Eric Clapton or Robert Zimmerman, I'll have something interesting to share with them. (if you know who Robert Zimmerman is, tell me in the comments. No prize. Hint: he's been said to have a "voice like sand and glue"--if you can figure out where THAT obscure reference came from you just might get a prize)
Reader Comments (7)
I know who RZ is, but I hate to ruin the game right away. How about I just give his initials? They are BD.
He grew up in the town that my sister-in-law and her family live in, so I've seen his boyhood home from the outside. It's just a rather run down two story mustard yellow house with junky cars parked in the driveway.
I have no idea what is the "sand and glue" reference.
Yep. BD is correct! That wasn't too hard, was it?
LOVE the link. I have added it to my favourites too!
I think the answer to your question is here.
I don't like how grammar girl is pedantic about grammar in songs though. Songs are like poems and should not be subject to rules of grammar. I can see how it helps her make her point though so I am not opposed to grammar girl, I just feel that Eric Clapton and BD should be able to express themselves freely and creatively. Besides, I like both of the songs she refers to. Ahem, to which she refers.
I'm guessing you had to google that answer, right MissM? I figured someone who was 50 or so would get it.
I think that Grammar Girl had her grammar hat on and probably just used the songs as a memory device. Everyone knows those songs so attaching a rule to them (even in the negative sense) might help a person remember.
I tell my dogs to "go lay down" every day. Wonder what they'd think if I straighted up my grammar and told them to "go lie down." Evie wouldn't miss a beat, but Ivy might give me a look--and then figure she didn't have to obey! hehehe
Yep, BD for sure! No googling here--he was one of my favorites as a high scooler and college student. Believe it or not, but it all started with a greatest hits record that belonged to my parents. My CD collection of BD includes all his albums from the 60s and most from the 70s. His 80s gospel kick sort of turned me off. So did his voice, then, too.
Kim I have no idea who said "sand and glue." It's a very creative observation, though.
Lay Lady Lay...
XO
Hi Jill,
The reference came from "Song for Bob Dylan" by David Bowie.
"Now hear this Robert Zimmerman
I wrote a song for you
'bout a strange young man called Dylan
with a voice like sand and glue.
His words of truthful vengance
They could pin us to the floor
Brought a few more people on
Put the fear in a whole lot more. . ."
Bowie is known for nonsensical lyrics, but I think he pretty much nailed Bob Dylan, don't you?