Songs My Mother Taught Me . . . Que Sera, Sera

There probably aren't many women who were little girls in the 1950s who didn't learn this song, and I'd venture to guess that most learned it from their mothers.....or at least sang it with their mothers.

My mother always tried to keep life up beat. She was into positivity long before it was a movement. But I could tell that this song made her a bit sad and it made me sad too.  It all seemed a little too loosey-goosey to me, the concept of having little or no self-determination. Even back then I had a strong sense that the final verse about having "children of my own" didn't apply to me and I didn't like the constraints set up in the song. If it was about the future happening as it will then why did the verses seem like a blueprint?

I didn't realize until I began thinking about this song to post, and paying attention to the feelings it stirred inside me, how little I cared for Que Sera, Sera ......even if it was one of the songs my mother taught me.





Que Sera, Sera
from The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
words by Ray Evans and music by Jay Livingston


When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother
What will I be?
Will I be pretty?
Will I be rich?
Here's what she said to me:


Que sera, sera.
Whatever will be, will be.
The future's not ours to see.
Que sera, sera.
What will be, will be.


When I grew up and fell in love
I asked my sweetheart
What lies ahead?
Will we have rainbows
Day after day?
Here's what my sweetheart said:


Que sera, sera.
Whatever will be, will be.
The future's not ours to see.
Que sera, sera.
What will be, will be.


Now I have children of my own.
They ask their mother,
What will I be?
Will I be handsome?
Will I be rich?
I tell them tenderly:


Que sera, sera.
Whatever will be, will be.
The future's not ours to see.
Que sera, sera.
What will be, will be.
Que sera, sera.


I find the video below, with quasi-version of Que Sera and hint of Doris Day's voice filtering around it, both frightening and invigorating at once. The line towards the end of the video: "It's your responsibility to do something about it" is more along my way of thinking. If I see something that needs to be done and I can do it, then I must do it. If I see where I can make a difference, large or small, then I must commit to make that difference. I shouldn't think manana regarding a responsibility, unless sleeping on an idea will bring more clarity and therefore a better result. The word endangered should send me into action, and it usually does. Just tossing it all to the wind and saying whatever will be will be doesn't work and we should see that by now.



Que Sera by Wax Tailor, aka JC Le Saout




{This is the 14th in an undetermined number of songs my mother taught me I'm posting this month in her memory. For background, please visit the post containing the first song, Ivory Tower.} 

art: Escher, Crystal Ball

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES  (Don't sing Que Sera, Sera to any of these!)

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