Hark

“Hark, the herald angels sing. Glory to the new-born king”

Yeah, yeah, I’ve already heard it about 600 gazillion times this season…

But wait-a-minute… It’s my duty to notice what you are overlooking.

What is up with the word “Hark”? In all this time, I don’t know that I’ve ever heard anyone use this word. In fact, I don’t really know what it means. Let’s go look it up. That way you write off this blog reading at work as education. You can probably bill some hapless client for it as well.

According to the dictionary “Hark” means “to listen”. “To Hearken”

Talk about your obscure words-of-the-day. Why if they hadn’t used it in that damn Christmas song where else would you have ever heard this word used?

The Beatles didn’t sing “Hearken…do you want to know a secret?” If they had, they’d have been punted right back to Liverpool and we’d never know about the Walrus or Rocky Raccoon then!

You don’t hear your teacher say “Hark up children…there will be a test tomorrow on what we don’t study today…”

Apparently it was once used for dog hunting. No…not the hunting of dogs…the hunting with dogs. Sheesh. You know, silly-looking rich people riding around on horses with packs of dogs chasing something through their neighbors acreage.

Yeah, so supposedly they would shout “Hark forward” or “Hark back” or “Hark away”. I have no idea why. If we cannot understand what the hell this word is, do you really think a pack of running, barking dogs chasing something are going to understand it?

Maybe they should change the song to avoid the confusion. You know, “Hark, the herald angel’s brother…” Ok, you’re right. Hark is even a dorky name and certainly not fitting of an angel.
I formally submit that this word should be retired. It’s one less thing for kids to have to study…