“He would not quit, he would not quit”
The song “Two Reelers” by Frank Black (aka Black Francis of The Pixies) features these lyrics, about The Three Stooges:
Most important was brother Moe
He was the one who made it so
He got a Joe and another Joe
He would not quit, he would not quit
When you listen to the song, Black shouts this part with enthusiasm and wonderment: “He would not quit — he WOULD NOT QUIT!” He sounds incredulous and admiring, which may be why it’s stuck in my head for almost 20 years.
I thought of that today when I read that Roger Ebert has found yet another way to keep his movie-review show on TV. Against all the odds — the failings of syndication, lackluster ratings, the death of his original co-host and a revolving door of hosts ever since, Disney pulling the plug, and his own inability to ever speak again — Mr. Ebert has resurrected this show yet again. Given everything he has battled and overcome, we should all sound incredulous and admiring.