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Lyrics: Based on a story by Keith Currie, adapted by Jerry Paladino Music: Jerry Paladino

A few short months 'for I was born, On a hot and humid July morn', A stranger came to our Tennessee town. It was easy to see that he'd been around:

So full of stories of varying themes, Tales of woe, of passion and dreams. --Right then from the very start --Right He captivated my Papa's heart, And before you could whistle Jimmy crack corn Papa had invited him home!

Then I was born and filled my space, and as I grew up I never questioned his place. He'd sit right there in the corner and weave his stories by the hour, & no one could leave; Hypnotized by the tales he told, we were fascinated! Why, he could hold our whole family spellbound hours on end end Except for Mama, who'd recommend we all grab some book, or go outside and get some exercise.

That's molding our thoughts and lives? Is he a danger, or just opening up our eyes? Who's he, the stranger, an enemy or a friend? One thing for sure: We'll never be the same again, We'll never be the same again.

Now, he knew the past like no other creature, understood the present, predicted the future-Politics, history, science or sports, why, he knew it all, a genius of sorts. He took us to all his favorite places, and filled our anxious, waiting faces with all the good things he'd been told Yep, he knew the World, it's glitter and gold; But he also knew the darker side, and loved to lay it before our eyes!

Now Papa and Mama had strong convictions, and ran our house with loving restrictions: No bad language was ever to be heard-heard-But how the stranger liked four-letter words fourthat stung my ears and made 'em burn, and made dear Mama and Papa squirm! He'd boldly stand right there and sneer at values that my folks held dear.

Why, to this day I just cannot perceive Why Papa never asked him to leave!

He had some strange ideas about sex, and constantly offered us cigarettes-Preaching to us that beer and wine would somehow bring us peace of mind. Gory stories filled with action and bloody endings were his passion. As I look back on all those years, I truly feel that so many fears I've had through life were planted then, while spending time with him.

That's molding our thoughts and lives? Is he a danger, or just opening up our eyes? Who's he, the stranger, an enemy or a friend? One thing for sure: We'll never be the same again, We'll never be the same again.

Now 40 years have come and gone, and both Mama and Papa have slowed down some. Papa's no longer so in a daze from the stranger's talkative ways. But to this day, if you walk in my parent's house, there in the den the stranger sits, just awaitin' for someone to listen to his stories and those tales he loves to weave.

TV, the stranger, That's molding our thoughts and lives. Is he a danger, or just opening up our eyes? TV, the stranger, Be careful what he has to say! One thing's for sure: You'd better take control today, You'd better take control.

--

U.S. News & World Report asked some 500 business, government and professional leaders to rate, in terms of their influence, 18 of the nation's principal organizations and institutions. Television came in first. It was ranked ahead of the White House and the Supreme Court and the Congress; ahead of education and religion and political parties and all competing media. A Southern Baptist radio and television official agrees with a recent report which held that television is possibly the most powerful social force in American culture today. Paul M. Steven, president of the Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission, referred to a survey in U.S. News & World Report showing that television ranks first--and organized religion eighteenth--among influences on daily living.

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