Exact meaning for "sunny boy"

[nopa]

Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the
expression "hey! sunny boy!". We know they never met before (so
they're not friends, nor relatives, nothing). Also, we know the woman
is happy and very kind and friendly, so she's not implying a second
meaning nor a sarcasm with her expression.

What would be the accurate meaning for "sunny boy" there? Can you
guess some reason for her calling him that way instead of, for
example, "hey! sir!" ? Would it be possible to change it with another
expression without losing any bit of meaning/flavour?

Btw, do you know of some English dictionary where you can find answers
to questions like this? I usually understand most of the English
language, but there're some constructs that require some contextual
experience which I lack.

[Alec McKenzie]

Post by nopa
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the
expression "hey! sunny boy!". We know they never met before (so
they're not friends, nor relatives, nothing). Also, we know the woman
is happy and very kind and friendly, so she's not implying a second
meaning nor a sarcasm with her expression.
What would be the accurate meaning for "sunny boy" there? Can you
guess some reason for her calling him that way instead of, for
example, "hey! sir!" ? Would it be possible to change it with another
expression without losing any bit of meaning/flavour?
Btw, do you know of some English dictionary where you can find answers
to questions like this? I usually understand most of the English
language, but there're some constructs that require some contextual
experience which I lack.

Don't you mean "sonny boy"?

[John Dean]

Post by Alec McKenzie

Post by nopa
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the
expression "hey! sunny boy!". We know they never met before (so
they're not friends, nor relatives, nothing). Also, we know the woman
is happy and very kind and friendly, so she's not implying a second
meaning nor a sarcasm with her expression.
What would be the accurate meaning for "sunny boy" there? Can you
guess some reason for her calling him that way instead of, for
example, "hey! sir!" ? Would it be possible to change it with another
expression without losing any bit of meaning/flavour?
Btw, do you know of some English dictionary where you can find
answers to questions like this? I usually understand most of the
English language, but there're some constructs that require some
contextual experience which I lack.

Don't you mean "sonny boy"?

Or "sunny jim"?

[Mike Lyle]

Post by John Dean

Post by Alec McKenzie

Post by nopa
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the
expression "hey! sunny boy!". [...]

Don't you mean "sonny boy"?

Or "sunny jim"?

Over the fence leaps Sunny Jim:
Force is the food which raises him!

Mike.

[John Dean]

Post by Mike Lyle

Post by John Dean

Post by Alec McKenzie

Post by nopa
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by
the expression "hey! sunny boy!". [...]

Don't you mean "sonny boy"?

Or "sunny jim"?

Force is the food which raises him!

Jim Dumps was a most unfriendly man,
Who lived his life on a hermit plan.
He'd never stop for a friendly smile,
But trudged along in his moody style.
Till 'Force' one day was served to him.
Since then they call him Sunny Jim.

[Charles Riggs]

On Sat, 9 Oct 2004 01:49:47 +0100, "John Dean"

Post by John Dean
Jim Dumps was a most unfriendly man,
Who lived his life on a hermit plan.
He'd never stop for a friendly smile,
But trudged along in his moody style.
Till 'Force' one day was served to him.
Since then they call him Sunny Jim.

A far better outcome for Jim than for John the Bridge Builder, if you
know his story.

[John Dean]

Post by Charles Riggs
On Sat, 9 Oct 2004 01:49:47 +0100, "John Dean"

Post by John Dean
Jim Dumps was a most unfriendly man,
Who lived his life on a hermit plan.
He'd never stop for a friendly smile,
But trudged along in his moody style.
Till 'Force' one day was served to him.
Since then they call him Sunny Jim.

A far better outcome for Jim than for John the Bridge Builder, if you
know his story.

Some of my best friends are goats ...

[Charles Riggs]

On Sat, 9 Oct 2004 13:23:01 +0100, "John Dean"

Post by John Dean

Post by Charles Riggs
On Sat, 9 Oct 2004 01:49:47 +0100, "John Dean"

Post by John Dean
Jim Dumps was a most unfriendly man,
Who lived his life on a hermit plan.
He'd never stop for a friendly smile,
But trudged along in his moody style.
Till 'Force' one day was served to him.
Since then they call him Sunny Jim.

A far better outcome for Jim than for John the Bridge Builder, if you
know his story.

Some of my best friends are goats ...

From that, I think you know what John did. Only once, but that was
enough.

[nopa]

Post by Alec McKenzie

Post by nopa
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the
expression "hey! sunny boy!".

[...]

Post by Alec McKenzie
Don't you mean "sonny boy"?

I suppose so, but I can't be sure, since my oral comprehension is far
from optimal.

But then, I still didn't find a dictionary which explained me why
"sonny boy" can be said to an adult man in his 30s without him feeling
offended (at least circa 1940, not sure now). What kind of feelings
are/were associated with "sonny boy"?
What other expression could be used to express the same flavour/mood?

[Mike Lyle]

Post by nopa

Post by Alec McKenzie

Post by nopa
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the
expression "hey! sunny boy!".

[...]

Post by Alec McKenzie
Don't you mean "sonny boy"?

I suppose so, but I can't be sure, since my oral comprehension is far
from optimal.
But then, I still didn't find a dictionary which explained me why
"sonny boy" can be said to an adult man in his 30s without him

feeling

Post by nopa
offended (at least circa 1940, not sure now). What kind of feelings
are/were associated with "sonny boy"?
What other expression could be used to express the same

flavour/mood?

Nothing much to explain, really. Friends of the same age may address
one another as "boy", "lad", or even "kid". "Old son" (mentioned by
JD above? I can't remember) is a now rather out-dated version; but
some British speakers of the same age may sometimes address one
another as "my son" -- perhaps mostly when giving advice or assuming
superior knowledge. "Sonny boy", while usually for youngsters, might
be used in the same way; but I don't feel it's now very common. You
will occasionally hear "sunshine", too (it's one of those things
people like to imagine policemen saying).

Feminine forms are fewer: "girl" and "lass", along with "kid", are
the only ones I can think of.

Mike.

[Jess Askin]

Post by nopa

Post by nopa

Post by Alec McKenzie

Post by nopa
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by

the

Post by nopa

Post by Alec McKenzie

Post by nopa
expression "hey! sunny boy!".

[...]

Post by Alec McKenzie
Don't you mean "sonny boy"?

I suppose so, but I can't be sure, since my oral comprehension is

far

Post by nopa
from optimal.
But then, I still didn't find a dictionary which explained me why
"sonny boy" can be said to an adult man in his 30s without him

feeling

Post by nopa
offended (at least circa 1940, not sure now). What kind of feelings
are/were associated with "sonny boy"?
What other expression could be used to express the same

flavour/mood?
Nothing much to explain, really. Friends of the same age may address
one another as "boy", "lad", or even "kid". "Old son" (mentioned by
JD above? I can't remember) is a now rather out-dated version; but
some British speakers of the same age may sometimes address one
another as "my son" -- perhaps mostly when giving advice or assuming
superior knowledge. "Sonny boy", while usually for youngsters, might
be used in the same way; but I don't feel it's now very common.

It's pretty much obsolete in AmE. An older person might use it in a
friendly argument with a peer ("Listen, sonny boy!"), but that's about it.

[Areff]

Post by Jess Askin

Post by Mike Lyle
Nothing much to explain, really. Friends of the same age may address
one another as "boy", "lad", or even "kid". "Old son" (mentioned by
JD above? I can't remember) is a now rather out-dated version; but
some British speakers of the same age may sometimes address one
another as "my son" -- perhaps mostly when giving advice or assuming
superior knowledge. "Sonny boy", while usually for youngsters, might
be used in the same way; but I don't feel it's now very common.

It's pretty much obsolete in AmE. An older person might use it in a
friendly argument with a peer ("Listen, sonny boy!"), but that's about it.

Vocative "son" is essentially obsolete in Standard AmE. I think you might
find some relatively advanced-age persons who'd use it, but that's about
it. A college friend whose father was from Greece addressed his sons with
"son", but that's different, but still odd today.

However, and I may have mentioned this some time ago, my brother reported,
when he was a middle school teacher in the Bronx around 2000-2002 or so,
that his male students (= BrE "pupils") would address one another with
"son" (and I think my brother too); the usage seemed to be roughly like
the contemporaneous "dawg".

--

[Skitt]

Post by Areff
Vocative "son" is essentially obsolete in Standard AmE. I think you
might find some relatively advanced-age persons who'd use it, but
that's about it. A college friend whose father was from Greece
addressed his sons with "son", but that's different, but still odd
today.
However, and I may have mentioned this some time ago, my brother
reported, when he was a middle school teacher in the Bronx around
2000-2002 or so, that his male students (= BrE "pupils") would
address one another with "son" (and I think my brother too); the
usage seemed to be roughly like the contemporaneous "dawg".

And then there's cartoons.
http://www.geocities.com/opus731/foggy.html

[Jerry Friedman]

Post by nopa

Post by Alec McKenzie

Post by nopa
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the
expression "hey! sunny boy!".

[...]

Post by Alec McKenzie
Don't you mean "sonny boy"?

I suppose so, but I can't be sure, since my oral comprehension is far
from optimal.

Don't worry. "Sun" and "son" are exactly the same in my
pronunciation, and I think in most dialects of English.

Post by nopa
But then, I still didn't find a dictionary which explained me why
"sonny boy" can be said to an adult man in his 30s without him feeling
offended (at least circa 1940, not sure now). What kind of feelings
are/were associated with "sonny boy"?

I have no trouble understanding it if the woman was significantly
older than the man. It's a friendly address to a younger male, now
out of style in my experience.

If not, it sounds odd to me. I'm trying to figure out whether it
discourages flirtation ("you're just a boy") or encourages it (by
giving the man a chance to call her "mama".

Post by nopa
What other expression could be used to express the same flavour/mood?

I don't understand this use of "sonny boy" well enough to answer.

[nopa]

[...]

Post by Jerry Friedman

Post by nopa
But then, I still didn't find a dictionary which explained me why
"sonny boy" can be said to an adult man in his 30s without him feeling
offended (at least circa 1940, not sure now). What kind of feelings
are/were associated with "sonny boy"?

I have no trouble understanding it if the woman was significantly
older than the man. It's a friendly address to a younger male, now
out of style in my experience.

I got it from a movie: "Stand-In"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029605/

Both the woman (played by Joan Blondell) and the man (played by Leslie
Howard) are more or less of the same age (30yo or so). If one of them
is younger, I'd say it's the woman. She calls him "sonny boy" all the
time, from the beginning (when they're still strangers to each other),
to the end.

Post by Jerry Friedman
If not, it sounds odd to me. I'm trying to figure out whether it
discourages flirtation ("you're just a boy") or encourages it (by
giving the man a chance to call her "mama".

At the beginning there's no romantic interest, but you know it will
appear, and indeed it does. It's a nice romance, and certainly not in
the lines of "boy-mama".

[Donna Richoux]

Post by nopa
[...]

Post by Jerry Friedman

Post by nopa
But then, I still didn't find a dictionary which explained me why
"sonny boy" can be said to an adult man in his 30s without him feeling
offended (at least circa 1940, not sure now). What kind of feelings
are/were associated with "sonny boy"?

I have no trouble understanding it if the woman was significantly
older than the man. It's a friendly address to a younger male, now
out of style in my experience.

I got it from a movie: "Stand-In"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029605/
Both the woman (played by Joan Blondell) and the man (played by Leslie
Howard) are more or less of the same age (30yo or so). If one of them
is younger, I'd say it's the woman. She calls him "sonny boy" all the
time, from the beginning (when they're still strangers to each other),
to the end.

That does make sense. From about 1935 to 1950 you get the brash,
flippant, wise-cracking women in the films. I actually don't remember
how Joan Blondell comes across, but in that era, I can well imagine a
lead female character being impertinent towards a man her age and
treating him as if she were worldly-wise and he the kid brother (not
deferentially, as if a boss, father, or romantic prospect...)

The IMDb blurb says "Joan Blondell plays Howard's confidant and partner,
a former child star now working as a stand-in for an overrated glamour
queen ... the camaraderie between Howard and Blondell ... make[s]
"Stand-In" thoroughly enjoyable."

Notice, "camaraderie" -- comradeship, a friendship between equals. I
hope it makes sense that her treating him as if he was younger, makes
him her equal.

[Jess Askin]

Post by Donna Richoux

Post by nopa
[...]

Post by Jerry Friedman

Post by nopa
But then, I still didn't find a dictionary which explained me why
"sonny boy" can be said to an adult man in his 30s without him feeling
offended (at least circa 1940, not sure now). What kind of feelings
are/were associated with "sonny boy"?

I have no trouble understanding it if the woman was significantly
older than the man. It's a friendly address to a younger male, now
out of style in my experience.

I got it from a movie: "Stand-In"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029605/
Both the woman (played by Joan Blondell) and the man (played by Leslie
Howard) are more or less of the same age (30yo or so). If one of them
is younger, I'd say it's the woman. She calls him "sonny boy" all the
time, from the beginning (when they're still strangers to each other),
to the end.

That does make sense. From about 1935 to 1950 you get the brash,
flippant, wise-cracking women in the films. I actually don't remember
how Joan Blondell comes across, but in that era, I can well imagine a
lead female character being impertinent towards a man her age and
treating him as if she were worldly-wise and he the kid brother (not
deferentially, as if a boss, father, or romantic prospect...)

Joan Blondell made a specialty of wise-cracking streetwise tough cookie
blondes.

[don groves]

[This followup was posted to alt.usage.english and a copy was
sent to the cited author.]

Post by nopa

Post by Donna Richoux

Post by nopa
[...]

Post by Jerry Friedman

Post by nopa
But then, I still didn't find a dictionary which explained me why
"sonny boy" can be said to an adult man in his 30s without him

feeling

Post by Donna Richoux

Post by nopa

Post by Jerry Friedman

Post by nopa
offended (at least circa 1940, not sure now). What kind of feelings
are/were associated with "sonny boy"?

I have no trouble understanding it if the woman was significantly
older than the man. It's a friendly address to a younger male, now
out of style in my experience.

I got it from a movie: "Stand-In"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029605/
Both the woman (played by Joan Blondell) and the man (played by Leslie
Howard) are more or less of the same age (30yo or so). If one of them
is younger, I'd say it's the woman. She calls him "sonny boy" all the
time, from the beginning (when they're still strangers to each other),
to the end.

That does make sense. From about 1935 to 1950 you get the brash,
flippant, wise-cracking women in the films. I actually don't remember
how Joan Blondell comes across, but in that era, I can well imagine a
lead female character being impertinent towards a man her age and
treating him as if she were worldly-wise and he the kid brother (not
deferentially, as if a boss, father, or romantic prospect...)

Joan Blondell made a specialty of wise-cracking streetwise tough cookie
blondes.

And after that came the dumb blonde era, courtesy of Marie Wilson
and Judy Holliday.
--
dg (domain=ccwebster)

[Jess Askin]

Post by don groves
[This followup was posted to alt.usage.english and a copy was
sent to the cited author.]

Post by nopa

Post by Donna Richoux

Post by nopa
[...]

Post by Jerry Friedman

Post by nopa
But then, I still didn't find a dictionary which explained me why
"sonny boy" can be said to an adult man in his 30s without him

feeling

Post by Donna Richoux

Post by nopa

Post by Jerry Friedman

Post by nopa
offended (at least circa 1940, not sure now). What kind of feelings
are/were associated with "sonny boy"?

I have no trouble understanding it if the woman was significantly
older than the man. It's a friendly address to a younger male, now
out of style in my experience.

I got it from a movie: "Stand-In"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029605/
Both the woman (played by Joan Blondell) and the man (played by Leslie
Howard) are more or less of the same age (30yo or so). If one of them
is younger, I'd say it's the woman. She calls him "sonny boy" all the
time, from the beginning (when they're still strangers to each other),
to the end.

That does make sense. From about 1935 to 1950 you get the brash,
flippant, wise-cracking women in the films. I actually don't remember
how Joan Blondell comes across, but in that era, I can well imagine a
lead female character being impertinent towards a man her age and
treating him as if she were worldly-wise and he the kid brother (not
deferentially, as if a boss, father, or romantic prospect...)

Joan Blondell made a specialty of wise-cracking streetwise tough cookie
blondes.

And after that came the dumb blonde era, courtesy of Marie Wilson
and Judy Holliday.

Who typically (at least in Judy's case) turned out not to be so dumb after
all. Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield, OTOH, rarely if ever threatened the
male's fragile sense of superiority. Perhaps this was essential in the Cold
War years to brace us for the job we had to do.

[Don Phillipson]

Post by nopa
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the
expression "hey! sunny boy!". We know they never met before (so
they're not friends, nor relatives, nothing). Also, we know the woman
is happy and very kind and friendly, so she's not implying a second
meaning nor a sarcasm with her expression.
What would be the accurate meaning for "sunny boy" there? Can you
guess some reason for her calling him that way instead of, for
example, "hey! sir!" ?

Vaudeville singer Al Jolson was one of the most
famous entertainers in the (English-speaking) world
in the 1930s because of his recordings and films,
one of which included the sentimental song "Sonny
Boy." This is the likeliest origin of the catchphrase.

[Jess Askin]

Post by Don Phillipson

Post by nopa
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the
expression "hey! sunny boy!". We know they never met before (so
they're not friends, nor relatives, nothing). Also, we know the woman
is happy and very kind and friendly, so she's not implying a second
meaning nor a sarcasm with her expression.
What would be the accurate meaning for "sunny boy" there? Can you
guess some reason for her calling him that way instead of, for
example, "hey! sir!" ?

Vaudeville singer Al Jolson was one of the most
famous entertainers in the (English-speaking) world
in the 1930s because of his recordings and films,
one of which included the sentimental song "Sonny
Boy." This is the likeliest origin of the catchphrase.

Surely it was the other way around. "Sonny boy" is probably a very old
expression.

[Donna Richoux]

Post by Jess Askin

Post by nopa
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the
expression "hey! sunny boy!". We know they never met before (so
they're not friends, nor relatives, nothing). Also, we know the woman
is happy and very kind and friendly, so she's not implying a second
meaning nor a sarcasm with her expression.
What would be the accurate meaning for "sunny boy" there? Can you
guess some reason for her calling him that way instead of, for
example, "hey! sir!" ?

Vaudeville singer Al Jolson was one of the most famous entertainers in
the (English-speaking) world in the 1930s because of his recordings and
films, one of which included the sentimental song "Sonny Boy." This is
the likeliest origin of the catchphrase.

Surely it was the other way around. "Sonny boy" is probably a very old
expression.

Merriam-Webster dates "sonny" to 1838. Meaning, "a young boy -- usually
used in address." No record for "sonny boy."

The DigiTrad folk music collection has one hit for "sonny boy" in
lyrics, in an Irish emigration song called "Goodbye Mick":

Now won't I come that Yankee chat, I guess I'm celebrating
Come liquor up ole sonny Boy, while an old friend I am treating

So perhaps it was a common phrase in Ireland.

[John Dean]

Post by Donna Richoux

Post by Jess Askin

Post by nopa
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by
the expression "hey! sunny boy!". We know they never met before (so
they're not friends, nor relatives, nothing). Also, we know the
woman is happy and very kind and friendly, so she's not implying a
second meaning nor a sarcasm with her expression.
What would be the accurate meaning for "sunny boy" there? Can you
guess some reason for her calling him that way instead of, for
example, "hey! sir!" ?

Vaudeville singer Al Jolson was one of the most famous entertainers
in the (English-speaking) world in the 1930s because of his
recordings and films, one of which included the sentimental song
"Sonny Boy." This is the likeliest origin of the catchphrase.

Surely it was the other way around. "Sonny boy" is probably a very
old expression.

Merriam-Webster dates "sonny" to 1838. Meaning, "a young boy --
usually used in address." No record for "sonny boy."
The DigiTrad folk music collection has one hit for "sonny boy" in
Now won't I come that Yankee chat, I guess I'm celebrating
Come liquor up ole sonny Boy, while an old friend I am treating

And, of course, the old Iraqi folk ballad 'Sunni Jim'

[Steve Hayes]

Post by John Dean
And, of course, the old Iraqi folk ballad 'Sunni Jim'

Wasn't that Sunni Djimm?

[Mike Lyle]

On Sat, 9 Oct 2004 01:50:59 +0100, "John Dean"

Post by John Dean
And, of course, the old Iraqi folk ballad 'Sunni Jim'

Wasn't that Sunni Djimm?

Can't beat this group for shia wit. (Sorry, rhotics.)

Mike.

[Jerry Friedman]

Post by Don Phillipson

Post by nopa
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the
expression "hey! sunny boy!". We know they never met before (so
they're not friends, nor relatives, nothing). Also, we know the woman
is happy and very kind and friendly, so she's not implying a second
meaning nor a sarcasm with her expression.
What would be the accurate meaning for "sunny boy" there? Can you
guess some reason for her calling him that way instead of, for
example, "hey! sir!" ?

Vaudeville singer Al Jolson was one of the most
famous entertainers in the (English-speaking) world
in the 1930s because of his recordings and films,
one of which included the sentimental song "Sonny
Boy." This is the likeliest origin of the catchphrase.

I would just like this opportunity to note that, although I don't find
STS particularly annoying, the most annoying kind is that in which one
knows only one phrase of the tune, and some but not all of the words
that go with it.

*googles*

When there are gray skies, I don't mind the gray skies.
You make them blue, Sonny Boy.
Friends may forsake me--let them all forsake me.
You pull me through, Sonny Boy.
You're sent from heaven and I know your worth.
You made a heaven for me right here on the earth.
When I'm old and gray, dear, promise you won't stray, dear,
For I love you, Sonny Boy.

<http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/sleeplessnightsmoresongs/sonnyboy.htm>,
with some corrections.

[Jess Askin]

Post by Jerry Friedman

Post by Don Phillipson

Post by nopa
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the
expression "hey! sunny boy!". We know they never met before (so
they're not friends, nor relatives, nothing). Also, we know the woman
is happy and very kind and friendly, so she's not implying a second
meaning nor a sarcasm with her expression.
What would be the accurate meaning for "sunny boy" there? Can you
guess some reason for her calling him that way instead of, for
example, "hey! sir!" ?

Vaudeville singer Al Jolson was one of the most
famous entertainers in the (English-speaking) world
in the 1930s because of his recordings and films,
one of which included the sentimental song "Sonny
Boy." This is the likeliest origin of the catchphrase.

I would just like this opportunity to note that, although I don't find
STS particularly annoying, the most annoying kind is that in which one
knows only one phrase of the tune, and some but not all of the words
that go with it.
*googles*
When there are gray skies, I don't mind the gray skies.
You make them blue, Sonny Boy.
Friends may forsake me--let them all forsake me.
You pull me through, Sonny Boy.
You're sent from heaven and I know your worth.
You made a heaven for me right here on the earth.
When I'm old and gray, dear, promise you won't stray, dear,
For I love you, Sonny Boy.

And don't forget the exquisitely annoying duet version of same:

["Father", sung] When there are grey skies...
["Son", spoken in an adorable squeaky voice] What don't you mind in the
least?
[F] I don't mind the gray skies...
[S] What do I do to them?
[F] You make them blue,
[S] What's my name?
[F] ...Sonny Boy!
[S] What will friends do to you?

etc. etc. Can't recall who made this version famous.

[R H Draney]

Post by Jess Askin
["Father", sung] When there are grey skies...
["Son", spoken in an adorable squeaky voice] What don't you mind in the
least?
[F] I don't mind the gray skies...
[S] What do I do to them?
[F] You make them blue,
[S] What's my name?
[F] ...Sonny Boy!
[S] What will friends do to you?
etc. etc. Can't recall who made this version famous.

Given that he can't decide whether the skies are gray or grey, I'd guess some
Canadian....r

[Jess Askin]

Post by R H Draney

Post by Jess Askin
["Father", sung] When there are grey skies...
["Son", spoken in an adorable squeaky voice] What don't you mind in the
least?
[F] I don't mind the gray skies...
[S] What do I do to them?
[F] You make them blue,
[S] What's my name?
[F] ...Sonny Boy!
[S] What will friends do to you?
etc. etc. Can't recall who made this version famous.

Given that he can't decide whether the skies are gray or grey, I'd guess some
Canadian....r

That was just me >blush<. I've been hanging around this bloody scuzzy
newsgroup too long.