When our washing machine finishes, it plays a little tune.

Since working from home, Sam has heard this tune over and over again. At least once a day. Often more. Today it got to him.

Here is the genesis of Sam’s discovery.

Sam (coming down the stairs): “I wonder who composed the song that the washing machine plays.”

Rocky (sitting at the kitchen computer): “I’ll Google it!” And she types in, “Who composed the washing machine song?”

Unbelievably, Google knew the answer. Immediately. Apparently, other people out in cyber world had the same question. The tune is Die Forelle by Franz Schubert.

That’s immortality folks. Your 1817 composition lives on in a Samsung washing machine. After a little reading on Wikipedia, I learned that Die Forelle means “The Trout” in German. Schubert set the tune to the text of a poem by Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart. As if that isn’t confusing. Schubert/Schubart.

An interesting thing about that poem: the last verse reveals that the poem serves as a warning to young women to guard against young men. Here is the final stanza of the poem:

You who tarry by the golden spring
Of secure youth,
Think still of the trout:
If you see danger, hurry by!
Most of you err only from lack
Of cleverness. Girls, see
Seducers with their tackle!
Or else, too late, you’ll bleed.

Now, Schubert (composer) omitted this last verse so that his song could be sung by either male or female singers. Perhaps Angela could learn the tune and hum it while working in the grocery store. You know, seducers with their groceries lurk in every checkout line…

So that’s what happened around here today. We can name that tune. For our washing machine. I am beginning to question the wisdom of work quarantine. Normally, Sam works on infrared missile technology for a national defense company. Perhaps he could add this musical diagnostic skill to his resumé. Or maybe our national defense would be stronger if we set it to classical music.