Be Young, Be Foolish, But Be Happy?

Charlottesville

July 17, 2022

I may never find the answer to this question -- why are the lyrics to this song "... but be happy?" If you are young and foolish, you are by default happy.

The Tams version of the song includes the "but." There are versions where the "but" is replaced by "and." And there are versions where there is no conjunction. Go figure. The two men who wrote the song have passed away so I can't ask them.

No conjunction:

But:

And: