Chatter, Chitter, Paul, Ben, and Mark have been trying to record a song for 2 years. When they first started trying to learn the song-they almost had it…and then the boys had to head back up north to school.
For the next 2 years either Mark or Ben was missing; the girls had something they had to do; or Chatter couldn’t get her part exactly right.
Finally after 2 years of trying I do believe they got the song right last night. We even had some fancy equipment on hand to capture it. It made me say “Great day in the morning I’m glad that’s done!”
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great day in the morning interjection A mild oath.
1966 DARE (Cherokee NC). 1972 Cooper NC MT Folklore Great day in the morning! 1998 Montgomery Coll. according to consultants, the term expresses mainly pleased surprise, but sometimes exasperation or anger.
[in reference to Judgment Day; DARE South, Midland)
Dictionary of Smoky Mountain English
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The first person I ever heard use the expression great day in the morning is a Blind Pig reader-Kenneth Roper. The Deer Hunter picked up the phrase from Kenneth and apparently I’ve picked it up from him.
Tipper
Appalachia Through My Eyes – A series of photographs from my life in Southern Appalachia.
The expression was also used in a song lyric by the Lonesome Roads character in the movie “A Face in the Crowd” lonesome was played by Andy Griffiths to great effect. Andy was a great actor.
Not seeing the name Tipper in the cast of characters would lead me to conclude that the whole endeavor remains bassless.
Our Dad use to say that from time to time, it seemed during times of exasperation or shocked unbelief like when he was aghast at something, best I can remember.
I don’t think I’ve ever used it, but may have in repeating something he said maybe.
God bless.
RB
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“Great Day in the Morning”, sounds like someone got the short end of the wishbone!
Waiting on the announcement of the drawing? Thought it was the 27th?
I’ve heard and used “Great day in the morning” pert near all my life. It usually was used in exasperation like one of my Grandmother’s favorites, “Lord have mercy” which meant she was asking the Lord to help her keep from beating me severely.
Great Day in the Morning was an expression used by both my parents, usually when confronted by some mess or the other we kids had gotten into.
Yep, heard that one in Alabama, along with “Gee my Netty!” I don’t know who Netty is or was.
Tipper, I’ve heard that expression a lot during my life but to save me I can’t remember who used it.
I’m excited now, when will we hear the two year song?
Great Day in the Morning!
Great Day Alive!
I heard both these expressions
many times as a child!
“Oh Happy Day, That Fixed My Choice,” which was sung in my old mountain country church, was corrupted into popular song and then a movie theme. Now hardly anyone has heard of the original version and of those none can sing it without revolting over to the movie score. Edwin Hawkins got credit for it but it was written in the mid 1700’s in England by Philip Doddridge. Hawkins only took out the best lyrics and repeated the rest. People don’t listen to the content anyway so why waste words, right?
Yes I said revolting, because repulsive didn’t seem to fit.
Great Day in the Morning – always used in exasperation by my folks. Seems to me it was usually used in early part of the day when something went awry and the plans for the entire day had to be adjusted to deal with it; perhaps even going into the night – such as a mechanical failure at harvest time with a storm on the way. Many times I recall my Dad working his magic on equipment into the evening in order to take advantage of a Harvest Moon surrounded by those tell-tale rings or playing hide and seek through those wisps of ghost hair scurrying across it.
Lawsy mercy and great day in the morning, Tipper’s turned into a tease. You give us this grand build-up about how the quintet finally got a song right and I’m all ready to hear it. Instead, I get a “to be continued” message worthy of the old serials which used to run at the theater in Bryson City on Saturday afternoons prior to the feature movie of the day.
Oh well, since there’s no alternative, I reckon I’ll just have to wait. But forevermore I’ll think of “Great Day in the Morning” in terms of “these are the words that try men’s souls.”
Jim Casada
“Great day in the morning, what a mess,” was spoken often by my Dad when confronted with some sort of disaster or mess created by something or someone. This was usually followed by, “Who in the Sam Hill made this mess?” Or sometimes it was, “I don’t know what in tarnation I’m going to do with that ole dog.” Since reading your blog, I have realized my Dad was a walking encyclopedia of Appalachian expressions. I daresay he used some that were unique to the mountain where he was raised, and managed to avoid cursing except when he hit his thumb with a hammer.
Mamma said this- a LOT!And her mother, aunts, etc.The above ‘Smoky Mtn. English’ description certainly applies here.
Tipper,
I’ve heard Great Day in the Morning forever.
I don’t guess you remember the movie that came out in 1956, by the same title? Why of course not, young’un!
I was a junior in high school, it starred a dreamy dark haired guy! Robert Stack I think it was!
I can never stop at one expression!
“Great Day in the Morning” also brought to mind some other “great day” type expressions.
How many times I’ve heard my Grandchildren say,(when we were going to a park), “Mammaw, It’s Going To Be The Best Day Ever!” This came from Sponge Bob, I think? That song title spins in my head to this day! LOL
Then there is the expression I have used from my childhood and parents…”Happy Days Are Here Again”!
Another one, “Oh Happy Daaaayyy, when Jesus was, when Jesus was…I sing out! lol
The second one is from a gospel song! Then of course remembering the sitcom “Happy Days” song which for some reason I can never remember the words to.
At any rate it is going to be a
“Great Day in the Morning”…this afternoon I’m not so sure about as the better half wants to go to the Bass Pro Store in Pigeon Forge to look at guy stuff! Last time we were there it was packed and today is shopping frenzy day!
I want to hear the song the family played and sang! I know it will be good!
Have a great day!
Thanks Tipper, for the “great day” post, pun intended!
I heard great day in the morning all my life. Usually from exasperated women folks whose young’uns were acting out. “Great day in the morning, the mess you young’uns have made, and I just cleaned up in there!”
I remember my dad using that expression, especially when the day had a good beginning. It’s always a great day in the mornin’ when I rise and shine and the world seems to be in a better place.
I’ve heard Great Day in the Morning, but mostly just “Great Day”.. We have friends from Tennessee that say “Day my goodness”.. We’ve caught ourselves saying it…