A while back, I used a quote from Anissa Jones, Buffy on the ’60’s TV show Family Affair, on One-Liner Wednesday. As I was researching that post, I heard rumors of a song about Anissa and went looking for it. I found “Does Anybody Remember Anissa Jones?” by a songwriter named Bill Ratekin that was posted to YouTube a few years ago. It’s a nice way to remember her.
I found the lyrics on a discussion board called The Death Discussion. Ratekin himself provided the lyrics, but someone calling herself Bernadette59 seems to have done a better job of transcribing them.
Rumor and innuendo was all that was ever known.
And you never did quite make it very far from home.
Does anybody remember Anissa Jones?
And I can still see Mrs. Beasley she’s alone in her chair.
You can almost hear the voice of a little girl who once was there.
And you always wonder what could have been is left unknown.
I bet Mrs. Beasley remembers Anissa Jones.
And I can’t help but wonder as I’m riding through the night.
What on Earth could have been so wrong what was missing from your life.
Why didn’t you turn away from that dark forbidden life?
Fade away, fade to night. Ohhh…..
Does anybody remember Anissa Jones?
Rumor and innuendo was all that was ever known.
And you always wonder what could have been is left unknown
I bet Cissy and Jodie remember Anissa Jones.
And I can’t help but wonder as I’m riding through the night,
What on Earth could have been so wrong what was missing from your life?
Why couldn’t you turn away from that dark forbidden life?
Fade away fade to night. Ohhh…..
And that’s Song Lyric Sunday for August 11, 2019.
Great find…I have an Anissa Jones post in my draft folder…not finished. I was 9 years old when she died and I remember the news story…it shocked me that this little girl I watched from Family Affair could have died.
I’ve spent hours reading about her on the web and quotes from her friends…I wish someone would have stepped up.
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I do, too. She had a lot of problems and I don’t think she had anyone to really listen to her. That happens far too much, and the problem has gotten worse.
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Well, now you have my curiosity built up sky high that I have to go do some research and find out what happened to her. What a bummer~ Great tune, but kinda sad. Also, I’d like to find out what happened to everyone else. Great job John.
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She overdosed on booze, Seconal and one or two other drugs. The coroner said it was the worst he had ever seen. I’m not even sure she was trying to kill herself…
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A sweet and sad song. Thanks for finding it.
Love,
Janie
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You’re welcome! The more I learn about her, the more tragic it seems.
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I was sixteen and overwhelmed someone I’d “grown up with” on television was gone so quickly. Didn’t know how bad it was for her brother.
Great lyrics – thanks for the share.
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Her real brother, or her TV brother? Her real brother died of an overdose as well; her TV brother, Johnny Whitaker, is still acting… https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0924278/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
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Her real brother, Paul. I remember reading Anissa’s death hit him hard and he blamed himself for not being there, but never knew he died from an overdose too.
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Well done John a great choice 💜
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Thanks!
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Would love to walk in to Cissy and Mrs Beasley and Jodie [I don’t know why I thought “June” earlier].
Perhaps they discussed Anissa over peach tea or something similar.
[the whole real-life / acting discussion].
I would bring honey cake and lemon myrtle tea to such a discussion.
And this song is so lovely.
Good to know Ms Garver is alive and well!
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As is Johnny Whitaker (Jody). The others – Anissa, Brian Keith, Sebastian Cabot, and John Williams (who played Mr. French’s brother when Cabot was ill) – are all gone now.
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Beautiful lyrics.
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They are… very sad, too.
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Yes they are indeed 😢
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Very sad. I remember watching the show. Didn’t know about the song or her brother.
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Which brother, her real one (who also died from a drug overdose) or Johnny Whitaker (her TV brother, who’s still alive and working)?
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Real one.
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After seeing your post, I did some research on her life. Such a sad ending to her life. I had never heard of the song before today.
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All I had heard were rumors of the song until I went looking for it.
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Such a sweet face on that little girl, thanks for bringing back some old memories John.
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She was quite attractive as she reached her late teens. What a waste…
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I remember wanting a Mrs. Beasley doll. Definitely very popular. I always confuse Anissa with the actress who played the older sister Cissy. But I see Kathy Garver is still alive and well. Very sad what happened to Anissa.
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Kathy Garver is still working and has written a book called “Surviving Cissy” about her career.
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Good to know since I’m always on the lookout for my next book.
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I remember this poor gal and, when I found out she died at the age of 17, I was in shock because she was such a sweet little girl on Family Affair despite loving that really ugly doll.
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Evidently she was happy when they canceled the show because she wouldn’t have to drag Mrs. Beasley around anymore. That doll was so popular that one of the toy companies started making them and got Anissa to endorse them. It was terrible how she died…
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