Results 1 to 6 of 6
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Up North
    Posts
    145

    Default What does it mean?

    We were watching the Grand Finale of The Voice.
    Harrison was our favourite right from the start.
    Loved the duet with Seal.
    So here it comes:

    I have always wondered what it means

    "He ain't heavy
    He's my brother
    "?
    Every day is better than yesterday

    Cheers
    SAISAY

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    ...
    Posts
    1,460

    Default

    From Wikepedia.:

    Origin of the title

    The first editor of Kiwanis magazine, Roe Fulkerson, published a column in September 1924 carrying the title "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"; variations on the phrase are attested as early as 1884.[3] The phrase is also associated with Father Edward J. Flanagan, the founder of Boys Town. Flanagan came across a line drawing of a young boy carrying his brother in the Christmas 1941 edition of the Louis Allis Messenger. The caption read "He ain't heavy Mister—he's m' brother!" It was created by Mr. Van B. Hooper who later became the editor of Ideals. The drawing was reprinted in the first issue of Ideals in December 1944. Flanagan felt that the drawing illustrated the work done at Boys Town and received permission from the company in August 1943 to recreate the drawing in color with the caption "He ain't heavy, Father . . . he's m' brother." The phrase became the motto of Boys Town.


    In an 1918 publication by Ralph Waldo Trine titled "The Higher Powers of Mind and Spirit" he relates the following anecdote: "Do you know that incident in connection with the little Scottish girl? She was trudging along, carrying as best she could a boy younger, but it seemed almost as big as she herself, when one remarked to her how heavy he must be for her to carry, when instantly came the reply: 'He's na heavy. He's mi brither.'"


    It was also reported through the media of the time that the song was written by a Vietnam veteran. He and his company were approaching a town after it had been bombed. A little boy was carrying the dead body of a younger boy away from the burning village. One of the soldiers asked the boy if the dead child was heavy. The child responded, "He's not heavy, he's my brother."


    The statement is a use of paraprosdokian, a figure of speech in which the second half of the statement causes the hearer to reinterpret the first part. Often used for comedic effect, this is a rare use of the form as pathos.

    This is probably more then you wanted to know.


    Peter.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Up North
    Posts
    145

    Default

    Actually, that was rather interesting.
    Thank you Peter
    Every day is better than yesterday

    Cheers
    SAISAY

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Horsham Victoria
    Posts
    1,142

    Default

    interesting, I had hear Vietnam a young girl carrying her brother who had his legs blown off but he was still alive. and the rest of the story similar to those above

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 1999
    Location
    Westleigh, Sydney
    Age
    78
    Posts
    1,332

    Default

    The statement is a use of paraprosdokian, a figure of speech in which the second half of the statement causes the hearer to reinterpret the first part.
    Thanks for that. I shall look forward to seeing that in the DA cryptic crossword, in a couple of weeks time.
    Visit my website
    Website
    Facebook

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    belgrave
    Age
    61
    Posts
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by AlexS View Post
    Thanks for that. I shall look forward to seeing that in the DA cryptic crossword, in a couple of weeks time.
    Could be the only word I get.
    anne-maria.
    T
    ea Lady

    (White with none)
    Follow my little workshop/gallery on facebook. things of clay and wood.

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •