Sanford Curse: Maria Songs Stuck In My Head

Perhaps the reason Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) was so besotted by Maria Belen Chapur is his coming of age during the musicals "West Side Story" and "The Sound of Music," both of which had songs of "Maria" that are catchy and get stuck in your head.

"The Sound of Music" musical/movie "Maria" song is the one that's really driving me up a wall. The lines that just won't stop running through my head are: "How do you solve a problem like Maria? How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?" and "When I'm with her I'm confused. Out of focus and bemused. And I never know exactly where I am!"

Governor Sanford, did you have the same problem? Is that why you lied to your wife about going to Argentina, becuase Maria "could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl?" The lyrics:

How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!

Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand

Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?

When I'm with her I'm confused
Out of focus and bemused
And I never know exactly where I am
Unpredictable as weather
She's as flighty as a feather
She's a darling! She's a demon! She's a lamb!

She'd outpester any pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
She could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl
She is gentle! She is wild!
She's a riddle! She's a child!
She's a headache! She's an angel!
She's a girl!

Then there's the "West Side Story" musical with its own rendition of "Maria", with these lyrics:

The most beautiful sound I ever heard
All the beautiful sounds of the world in a single word
Maria
I just met a girl named Maria
And suddenly that name
Will never be the same
To me
Maria
I just kissed a girl named Maria
And suddenly I found
How wonderful a sound
Can be
Maria
Say it loud and there's music playing
Say it soft and it's almost like praying
Maria
I'll never stop saying
Maria
Maria, Maria...
Maria
Say it loud and there's music playing
Say it soft and it's almost like praying
Maria
I'll never stop saying
Maria
The most beautiful sound I ever heard
Maria