Ask Mr. Know It All

Q. In the late 1990s, I was a college student and a big fan of professional wrestling. I just came across an old T-shirt from my wrestling days. The shirt is black with “Austin 3:16” written on it. I know that was Steve Austin’s catchphrase, meaning, “I kicked your butt.” How did the whole thing start?

H.W.E., Syracuse, N.Y.

A. During that same era, I, too, enjoyed professional wrestling. In the early ’90s, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin started on his journey as one of the hottest properties in wrestling. When Austin met Jake “The Snake” Roberts in 1996, Roberts was playing the role of a Bible-reading, born-again Christian. After Austin defeated Roberts, he said, in part, “Talk about your Psalms, talk about John 3:16 ... Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your a--!” It didn’t take long for this to become wrestling’s most popular catchphrase.

World Wrestling Entertainment chairman Vince McMahon says Austin is the most profitable wrestler in the company’s history.

Q. Who played the role of Anna Schmidt in the 1949 movie “The Third Man”? Anna was the love interest of Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles. Has she appeared in other films?

J.T., Paris, Ill.

A. The actress who played the part of Anna Schmidt in the film was Alida Valli. She was born in Pola, Italy, which is now part of Croatia, on May 31, 1921.

Valli appeared in more than 20 movies on her home soil before producer David O. Selznick signed her to a contract. In the U.S., she continued her movie career and was billed simply as Valli. In 1951, she returned to Italy and performed in many French and Italian movies. Valli was considered one of Italy’s cinema greats. In her career she appeared in more than 100 films. She died in Rome in 2006 at age 84.

Q. In a class in college, we studied poems and analyzed them. There was one poem in particular I enjoyed. It was possibly Old English, and the narrator tells of his love for a woman who is acting aloof toward his advances. He tells her that youth and beauty are fleeting and that she should live every day to its fullest. Finally, he tells her of when she will be an old lady and no longer desirable. Is this enough information for you to tell me the name of the poem?

N.K., Meriden, Conn.

A. It sounds as if you are describing “To His Coy Mistress,” by Andrew Marvell (1621-78). The poem is too long to print here, but it is available on the Internet. It’s a wonderful poem. If you have a difficult time reading this style of English, read it slowly and possibly several times — it will make sense. There are sites that include an analysis of the poem as well.

Q. I wonder how many times I’ve blamed Sigmund Freud for slips of my tongue or saying something I didn’t want to say. Is there a technical term for a Freudian slip?

V.L., Seaford, Del.

A. The technical word for a Freudian slip is “parapraxis.” Parapraxis is not limited to a slip of the tongue; it also includes forgetting names, misplacing items, misreading or mishearing. The error is blamed on some unconscious, subdued wish, dream or conflict. Freud discussed his theory of parapraxis in his book, “Zur Psychopathologie des Alltagslebens” (1901), translated to “The Psychopathology of Everyday Life.”

Q. My friend’s grandfather used to sing a song with the phrase, “While behind the barn, on my knees, I thought I heard a chicken sneeze.” Can you tell me the title of the song?

E.G., Redondo Beach, Calif.

A. The title of the nonsense song is “Polly Wolly Doodle.” While many sources say there is no information of its origin, others say it was first published in a Harvard student songbook in 1880. Here are the lines you’re thinking of:

“Behind the barn, down on my knees,

“I thought I heard a chicken sneeze.

“He sneezed so hard with the whooping cough,

“He sneezed his head and tail right off.”

Shirley Temple sang the song in the 1935 film, “The Littlest Rebel.” The song was also featured in the 1938 film “You Can’t Take It With You.” Over the years, many artists, including Alvin and the Chipmunks, have recorded the song.

Q. Do you know the stock-ticker symbol for the auction house Sotheby’s?

R.J., Scottsdale, Ariz.

A. I do — it’s BID. Very appropriate!

Q. Is it true that comedian George Burns ran for president of the U.S.?

T.U.N., Shawnee, Okla.

A. Burns’ wife, Gracie Allen, ran for president in 1940. She ran on the “Surprise Party” ticket.

Q. The song “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival was one of my favorite songs when it was released in 1969. At the end of each verse is the line “There’s a bad moon on the rise.” For years, I always thought they were saying “There’s a bathroom on the right.” Is there a term for mishearing the lyrics of a song in this way?

G.K.L., Monona, Wis.

A. There is a term for mishearing lyrics — you’re describing a “mondegreen.” American writer Sylvia Wright coined the term in a 1954 article. Wright said the word comes from her own experience in misunderstanding a line in a poem her mother used to read her, the 17th-century ballad “The Bonny Earl o’ Moray.” She recalls the line, “Ye Highlands and ye Lowlands, Oh, where hae ye been? They hae slain the Earl o’ Moray, and Lady Mondegreen.” The actual ending is: “And laid him on the green.” She decided this slip in hearing would be called a mondegreen.

Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

2012 Gary Clothier