Garrison Keillor: Amazingly, it is spring in Minnesota, unbelievable as that may seem. April. Usually we don't get spring until Memorial Day. But here it is. It burst upon us on Thursday. For six months I've been going around with a small dark cloud over my head. (LOW GRUMBLING) I go to parties and I walk into a room and suck all the life out of it. (LIVELY PARTY HUBBUB SUDDENLY DAMPENS TO LOW MURMURS) I have fantasies about spray-painting everything black. (SPRAY PAINT)
And then-- on Thursday it changed--
GK: SINGS (ALMOST SPRING)
March was hard. The airport was closed due to a blizzard (BLIZZARD) and a 747 charter for Cancun was snowbound at the end of the runway surrounded by wolves (WOLVES) and people survived for two weeks by eating pretzels -- people become deranged (KEENING, MOANING) and riots broke out in Minneapolis (ANGRY VOICES) after there were rumors that the supply of antidepressants was gone (ANGRIER VOICES, WOOD BREAKAGE) and the National Guard was busy so the governor had to call out the School Patrol (KIDS VOICES) and they stood in front of drugstores with their red flags and order was restored, but it was too late for some people. (MORONIC CHUCKLING) The stress of winter had sent them right around the bend.
Sue Scott (DAZED): I see bright lights.
Tim Russell: That's the refrigerator light, Marge. Don't climb in there.
SS (DAZED): I just want to sleep.
TR: You need coffee, Marge. Come on...
SS (DAZED): Iced coffee.
Tim Russell: No, no-- here, (FADING) have some coffee...
GK: Some people in desperation hopped the southbound freight (TRAIN WHISTLE) only to find out it was headed for Winnipeg (
TR: Nooooooo FADING, WITH TRAIN) -- but then-- one day-- spring.
TR (GEEZER): Spring...(CHORD)
SS (SOPRANO): Spring!!!!!!!!!!!!! (DOG BARK)
TR (GEEZER): I was on the verge of giving up hope and becoming an atheist. But I guess I'll just stick with the Methodists.
TK: Attaboy, Pops.
GK: That's what happens when grimy gray frozen hard March starts to melt and we see some green in the world -- Spring came with a thunderstorm on Thursday (SFX) and people had to run across the parking lot (FAST FOOTSTEPS, THUNDER, LIGHTNING) with a bag full of groceries and if you said paper instead of plastic you had to be careful (SPLIT OF BAG, CRY OF ALARM, CRASH OF FRUIT AND BREAKFAGE OF GLASS) and the rains poured down ended there was that green damp smell of spring. (MUSIC)
And suddenly the world was full of birds. Chickadees (SFX) and a bluejay (SHRIEK) and cardinals (CHANTING IN LATIN) and a woodpecker (SFX). And the Canada geese. (GEESE) They hang out for a few days and if your lawn wasn't green before, it will be now.
Spring! the sound of the lawnmower (SFX) and the chainsaw (SFX) and the garden tractor (SFX) and the weed-whacker (SFX) and also the sound of schoolchildren going door to door fundraising.
TK (TEEN): Excuse me, I'm selling apples to raise money for my teacher's salary?
GK:Spring cleaning starts down in your basement (SHOVEL OF MANURE, THROW, SPLAT. REPEAT) and you clean out the garage (TRASH LANDSLIDE) and meanwhile the days keep getting longer. (MUSIC) More light. And time to let your light shine.
(PIANO)
Jearlyn Steele & GK (SING):
This little plant of yours
It's going to grow outdoors.
This little plant of yours
It's going to grow outdoors.
Hallelujah.
This little plant of yours
It's going to grow outdoors.
So is mine, so is mine, so is mine.
April's finally here
And then Daylight Savings Time
April's finally here
And then Daylight Savings Time
Hallelujah
April's finally here
And then Daylight Savings Time.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Flowers are going to grow
And the honeysuckle vine
Flowers are going to grow
And the honeysuckle vine
Flowers are going to grow
And the honeysuckle vine
Intertwine intertwine intertwine
SANCTUS
This little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
Oh, this little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
Hallelujah
This little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Let it shine 'till Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
I'm gonna let it shine
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Light a candle where you are
I'm going to let it shine
Light a candle where you are
I'm going to let it shine
Hallelujah
Light a candle where you are
I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Ev'ry where I go
I'm going to let it shine
Oh, ev'ry where I go
I'm going to let it shine
Hallelujah
Ev'ry where I go
I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine