Have you seen the 1965 film The Sound of Music starring Julie Andrews? There's a song lyric from "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" that I've misheard my entire life. I thought Rolf sang, "Timid and shy and scared are you of things beyond your kin (as in family)." But I recently learned while reading How To Know A Person by the wordsmith David Brooks that the lyric is not kin, but ken. I had to look up the full lyrics to confirm. Sure enough, ken. So what does ken mean?
Ken appeared on the English horizon in the 16th century as a term of measurement of the distance bounding the range of ordinary vision at sea—about 20 miles. British author John Lyly used that sense in 1580 when he wrote, "They are safely come within a ken of Dover." Other 16th-century writers used ken to mean "range of vision" ("Out of ken we were ere the Countesse came from the feast." — Thomas Nashe) or "sight" ("'Tis double death to drown in ken of shore." — Shakespeare). Today, however, ken rarely suggests literal sight. Rather, ken nowadays almost always implies a range of perception, understanding, or knowledge.
Why was this an apt description employed by the songwriters Brian Davies & Lauri Peters?
Leisl's father, Captain Von Trapp, is an icon in the Austrian Navy. As evidenced by his regimented parenting style (e.g., use of a naval whistle, firm dress and appearance guidelines, and strict activity schedules and regulations), Leisl no doubt grew up well-acquainted with this kind of naval terminology. By employing the language of her Father, Rolf is symbolically asserting himself as Leisl's new protector.
Or perhaps Rolf is actually a social progressive who is (ironically) manipulating Leisl through reverse psychology. But I doubt it; Rolf isn't that smart, sociopathic, or in control of his own emotions. Based on the genuine feelings of pride, fear, and elation he expresses in the Gazebo scene, he's probably a normal, self-important teen from an entitled family, feigning confidence but frightened to commit to a relationship.
I don't love the (realistic) notion of poor Rolf becoming a blundering Nazi sheep. For you fellow wishful thinkers who'd prefer a different story, here's a fan theory suggesting that Rolf joined The Hitler Youth to strategically position himself as an asset to the Austrian Resistance. This song was his way of testing Leisl's aptitude and loyalty (Reddit).
Bonus: This song has another lyric I've always wondered about: "Roués and cads." A roué, according to Merriam-Webster, is a smooth-talking, pleasure-seeking, morally lax, no-good ladies' man or a rake (not to be confused with its feminine counterpart). This one deserves a full etymology: it's French, a participle of rouer, "to break on the wheel." Since the wheel is a torture device, the French were implying that such dissolute beings deserved this punishment. It's also the name first applied to the profligate companions of Philippe II, France's regent from 1715 to 1723. (Remember how the conservative bourgeoisie of the French Revolution (1790s) were fed up with the opulent, aristocratic members of Percy's League of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Roués were their more promiscuous predecessors.) Modern-day roués might be spotted dirty dancing at a nightclub while drinking his and his companion's drinks.
Interesting! Itsy Bitsy Spider wouldn't let me comment without subscribing to twitter so I'm grateful! I love the lesson of "It's not over until you quit!" as well; but I'm not convinced of the conspiracy theory inspired by the agricultural rumorings in California. I also cannot fathom why we were still using the common British slang of "blooming" and "bloody" in 1910! Although I had come across a couple of verses with climbing the kitchen wall and the yellow pail, it was fun for me to add the rocking chair, the maple tree and the final
ReplyDeleteverse of climbing up without a stop which is such a great lesson for childrens they practice trying to press thumbs and alternating index fingers together!
Okay- figured out I need to be in a different window to post. I remember a long time ago when you asked me what I thought "kin/ken" meant in the Sound of Music verse. I knew they were saying ken, but my dad (ironically a naval officer) taught me that ken was Scottish and meant within your scope of knowledge or understanding. To say that it is a nautical term being used by Rolf to manipulate Leisl is a huge stretch and I would dare say even those scripting the song wouldn't throw in something that most of us would have no ability to relate to. Ken rhymed with men- that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
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