The Line That Never Ended

Remembering the sing-along my Dad started while waiting in a long line.

Line of Kids from Short to Tall (Media from Wix)

During a discussion over lunch, my Dad and I reminisced about my first trip to Walt Disney World. Dad starting a sing-along was one of our favorite shared memories from that trip.

In case it's helpful, below are the main points covered in this post:

• Waiting in Line

• The Song

• What's Next?

Waiting in Line

My Dad surprised me with a trip to Walt Disney World when I was eleven years old. The Magic Kingdom was the first park we visited.

Unfortunately, we were not able to go on many rides due to the long wait times (even in the nineties). In fact, I only remember riding Peter Pan's Flight.

After a half hour of waiting (with another hour wait ahead unbeknownst to us at the time), I listened as young children and my Mom complained and whined about having to wait so long. I was a patient child, but Mom constantly nagging Dad about getting out of the line because I did not need to ride any rides started to dishearten me.

Mom's nagging obviously annoyed Dad. Dad started small talk with a few other parents waiting in line. They joked about how long people waited in line compared to the length of the ride.

Then my Dad said a group of words that made a young me nervous. Dad told the other parents that "this is the line that never ends."

The Song

I shook my head when Dad's eyes met mine. I knew he was going to embarrass me when he smirked and cleared his throat. Before I could protest, Dad started singing.

"This is the line that never ends

It just goes 'round and 'round, my friends

Some people started singing it

Not knowing what it was

And we continue singing it forever just because

This is the line that never ends..."

As soon as Dad looped back to the beginning of the song, other Dads joined in. Moms joined soon after, turning into a loud sing-along. I and several other children were embarrassed. When some children asked their parents to stop, their parents sang louder.

I do not remember how long the sing-along lasted. I know it started while we were in the outdoor part of the queue and ended once we made it indoors. Dad and the other parents enjoyed small talk and embarrassed their children until the nearby group finally made it to the ride vehicles.

Unfamiliar with the song lyrics Dad sang? "The Song That Doesn't End" was written and originally performed by Shari Lewis. Dad changed the word "song" to "line" considering our long wait for the ride.

If you have never heard the song before, or want to hear the song again, listen to Lewis sing with Lamb Chop via the embedded video below:

Embedded YouTube Video: Shari Lewis: The Song That Doesn't End

Shari Lewis created "Lamb Chop's Play-Along," a show many children watched in the nineties. While I did not get to watch it as a child (it aired when I was unable to watch TV), I was very familiar with the song. Dad and I would sing it together during long drives to annoy Mom.

So, despite saying that Dad's impromptu sing-along was embarrassing, it was and will always be a happy core memory. Because of this, I felt it was important to document it in writing.

What's Next?

Hopefully, you found this entertaining. I encourage you to make a happy core memory with your loved ones!

Comment below to share your favorite childhood core memory!

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Thanks, and have a great day!

~Simply Jelly Jam