• "Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip...." • "Here's the story of a lovely lady who was bringing up three very lovely girls...." • "A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and no one can talk to a horse, of course...." • "Come 'n' listen to a story 'bout a man named Jed...." • "There's a man who leads a life of danger...."

Cheese? Pop/corn? Perhaps. But there's something to be said for a catchy TV theme song that provides the premise and/or backstory of a program. Such a theme can serve as a kind of memorable aural logo while also handling some of the requisite story exposition duties in an efficient manner. So, hey....

"Mass Media News Blues" was written as the main theme for a video docudrama called "Anatomy of a News Story." The program was written and produced by Lawrence J. Londino. It was directed by Kathleen V. Minardi. Me? I served as assistant producer and I shot some of the location videography for the project. I also wrote this little ditty.

The initial story in "Anatomy" revolves around allegations of corruption being levied against a local government official in city-level politics. The main plot of the program, however, concerns itself with presenting and analyzing the similarities and differences between print journalism and electronic news media in covering a late-breaking story.

Did the accused politician commit the crime, or was he being set up as a scapegoat by his political enemies? I don't recall. But if that bit of information had been important enough to sing about, I'm sure I'd remember now. I mean, neither you or I will ever forget certain singable things like, for instance, the fact that the ill-fated SS Minnow was expected to be away from port only a short time "...for a three-hour tour. A three-hour tour."

And so it goes.

Read the lyrics below or check out the Lead Sheet for words and music. — BD