Paul Harvey - Goodbye

Summary

Podcast Summary: Paul Harvey - Goodbye

Podcast Information:

• Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Description: Radio shows from the Golden Age of Radio. The time before television and the family all sat around the radio and listened to the shows of the time like The Shadow, Abbott & Costello, Amos & Andy, Dragnet and many more.
• Episode: Paul Harvey - Goodbye
• Release Date: February 20, 2025

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Introduction: The Ubiquity of Profanity

The episode opens with a reflection on the widespread use of profanity in daily conversations. The host sets the stage by addressing the listener directly, highlighting the paradox of self-perception versus reality.

"Whether you know it or not. You may consider yourself gentle, even genteel and thoughtful... In the last 12 hours, I promise you almost certainly have used a bad word."
[00:00]

This introduction underscores the idea that profanity is deeply ingrained in everyday language, transcending notions of politeness and moral integrity.

Historical Origins: 1642 Harvard Commencement

The narrative delves into a historical account, tracing the roots of profanity concerns back to the very first Harvard commencement in 1642. Two graduates shocked the assembly with speeches rich in vulgarity, marking a significant moment in linguistic history.

"In New England more than 300 years ago, the Harvard commencement...was the very first Harvard commencement, 1642."
[00:00]

This event is portrayed as the inaugural instance where profanity became a subject of societal concern, highlighting its longstanding presence in American culture.

Societal Reactions and Concerns

Following the Harvard incident, the episode explores the ensuing societal backlash against the perceived rise in profanity among the youth. Educators and clergymen alike responded with increasing alarm, advocating for stricter discipline and moral regeneration.

"The profanity problem did not go away...One colonist protested. I find greatest trouble and grief about the rising generation."
[00:00]

These reactions reflect a recurring pattern where each generation grapples with the moral and linguistic shifts introduced by its youth, fearing a decline in societal standards.

Reverend Cotton Mather's Observations

A significant portion of the discussion centers on Reverend Cotton Mather, a prominent New England clergyman, who lamented the degradation of language among children. Mather urged adults to pay closer attention to the vernacular of the younger generation, fearing it was a harbinger of moral decay.

"The Reverend Cotton Mather wished more adults would eavesdrop on their children at play to observe the wicked language heard among them."
[00:00]

Mather's concerns encapsulate the broader anxiety of the time regarding the influence of youth on societal morals and the preservation of decency in public discourse.

Evolution of 'Goodbye'

The episode culminates in an intriguing linguistic evolution: the transformation of the phrase "God be with you" into the commonplace term "goodbye." This metamorphosis serves as a focal point, illustrating how linguistic contractions can strip words of their original sanctity and imbue them with new, often secular, meanings.

"The offensive phrase which so perturbed our Puritan forefathers was a contraction of the phrase God be with you into a single word. And that single word was goodbye."
[00:00]

This example highlights the dynamic nature of language and how societal changes influence the adaptation and perception of words over time.

Conclusion: Understanding the Rest of the Story

The episode concludes by tying back to the initial promise of uncovering "the rest of the story" behind everyday profanity and expressions. By tracing the historical and linguistic journey of terms like "goodbye," listeners gain a deeper appreciation of the complexities and transformations inherent in language.

"And now you know the rest of the story."
[00:00]

This ending reinforces the episode's overarching theme: the continual evolution of language reflects broader societal changes and enduring concerns about morality and propriety.

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Key Takeaways:

• Profanity has been a persistent element in American language since the 17th century.
• Societal concerns about profanity often mirror fears of moral and cultural decline.
• Historical figures like Reverend Cotton Mather have played pivotal roles in critiquing and attempting to curb the use of vulgar language.
• The transformation of "God be with you" to "goodbye" exemplifies the natural evolution of language and the secularization of formerly sacred expressions.

Notable Quotes:

• On Daily Profanity:

  "No matter. In the last 12 hours, I promise you almost certainly have used a bad word."
  [00:00]

• On the 1642 Harvard Incident:

  "In New England more than 300 years ago, the Harvard commencement...was the very first Harvard commencement, 1642."
  [00:00]

• On Rev. Mather's Concerns:

  "The Reverend Cotton Mather wished more adults would eavesdrop on their children at play to observe the wicked language heard among them."
  [00:00]

• On the Evolution of 'Goodbye':

  "The offensive phrase which so perturbed our Puritan forefathers was a contraction of the phrase God be with you into a single word. And that single word was goodbye."
  [00:00]

This detailed exploration provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the episode's examination of profanity's historical context and its enduring impact on language and society.

Transcript

[A]

The rest of the story. You swear every day. Oh, yes, you do. Whether you know it or not. You may consider yourself gentle, even genteel and thoughtful. Your morals immaculate, your language refined. No matter. In the last 12 hours, I promise you almost certainly have used a bad word. One in particular, perhaps even directed towards somebody you love. Profanity has always lurked at the fringe of society, but when did Americans first realize it had become prevalent among their young? It may have been during that Harvard commencement ceremony when two new graduates flabbergasted the assembly with speeches laden with vulgarity. Complaints were made to the school's governors. The foul misbehavior was a prime topic of discussion for weeks thereafter. The general agreement was that these were the fruits of parental permissiveness. The Harvard incident was only the obtrusive tip of an enormous iceberg. And predictably, what lay beneath the surface was now of increasing concern to grown ups. So educators proposed more effective discipline. Clergymen called for a moral regeneration. In New England more than 300 years ago, the Harvard commencement, stunned by the swearing and ribaldry of two young men, was the very first Harvard commencement, 1642. The profanity problem did not go away. Fifteen years later, one colonist protested. I find greatest trouble and grief about the rising generation. Young people are little stirred here, but they strengthen one another in evil, by example and by counsel. One particularly costly Indian war was believed to have been God's punishment for the disorder and the rudeness of young people, whereby sin and profaneness is greatly increased. The Reverend Cotton Mather wished more adults would eavesdrop on their children at play to observe the wicked language heard among them. What were they saying that so deeply troubled their elders? Surely many terrible things. One especially terrible one. For while yesteryear's obscenities and blasphemies are often unintelligible in today's ears, some manage to avoid obscurity. One not only remains in our modern dictionary, but in your everyday life. For three and a half centuries ago, it was virtually unimaginable that the solemn and beautiful Farewell, God be with you, should be perverted and contracted into something ugly. In each generation, there are bad words. In each generation, there are things that polite people just don't say. The offensive phrase which so perturbed our Puritan forefathers was a contraction of the phrase God be with you into a single word. And that single word was goodbye. And now you know the rest of the story.