Each line of the chorus changes the meaning of the song, I believe.
"My eyes are dim, I cannot see"
Is the protagonist blind? This would partly explain why he/she is imaginating surreal happenings within the store.
"I have not brought my specs with me"
We learn the protagonist (a) has glasses-- so isn't entirely blind-- and (b) hasn't brought the glasses to the store. Did he/she forget them at home? Possibly, but that would be peculiar phrasing. I think it's more likely that the protagonist made the decision not to bring them.
"I have not brought my specs with me"
Here is that line again. It works well musically, but I don't think that is the only reason Raffi chose to repeat it. I'm reminded of Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," where "And miles to go before I sleep" is repeated to connect the literal meaning to the more universal (or figurative) meaning of the line.... In this case, I think the line is repeated to emphasize that the decision was made to walk into the store without glasses, while also connecting it to a more universal meaning.
Had the protagonist brought glasses into the store, it would have been easier to shop for groceries, but by leaving them at home it enabled the grownup (assuming it is, for a moment, since adults struggle to see without glasses more often than kids.... Also "specs" was an outdated term, even in 1979, when the album was released, not said by kids) to use his/her imagination for the items in the store.... It enabled the grownup (a) to remember what it was like to be a child, (b) to interact with children, and (c) to merely entertain oneself for the sake of enjoying life.
In this way, the protagonist shares traits with Raffi, who was not afraid to look beyond the physical world and share his imagination with others. I think at the heart of this song is a reminder: sometimes it is a good idea to leave our "corrective" lenses at home and view the world as an imaginative child.
Notice that Raffi often encouraged the adults in the audience to sing along to this particular song, when performing it live. It has more of a grown-up style than some of his other songs. While the verses are silly, the chorus is very much geared towards adults, IMO.
Each line of the chorus changes the meaning of the song, I believe.
"My eyes are dim, I cannot see"
Is the protagonist blind? This would partly explain why he/she is imaginating surreal happenings within the store.
"I have not brought my specs with me"
We learn the protagonist (a) has glasses-- so isn't entirely blind-- and (b) hasn't brought the glasses to the store. Did he/she forget them at home? Possibly, but that would be peculiar phrasing. I think it's more likely that the protagonist made the decision not to bring them.
"I have not brought my specs with me"
Here is that line again. It works well musically, but I don't think that is the only reason Raffi chose to repeat it. I'm reminded of Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," where "And miles to go before I sleep" is repeated to connect the literal meaning to the more universal (or figurative) meaning of the line.... In this case, I think the line is repeated to emphasize that the decision was made to walk into the store without glasses, while also connecting it to a more universal meaning.
Had the protagonist brought glasses into the store, it would have been easier to shop for groceries, but by leaving them at home it enabled the grownup (assuming it is, for a moment, since adults struggle to see without glasses more often than kids.... Also "specs" was an outdated term, even in 1979, when the album was released, not said by kids) to use his/her imagination for the items in the store.... It enabled the grownup (a) to remember what it was like to be a child, (b) to interact with children, and (c) to merely entertain oneself for the sake of enjoying life.
In this way, the protagonist shares traits with Raffi, who was not afraid to look beyond the physical world and share his imagination with others. I think at the heart of this song is a reminder: sometimes it is a good idea to leave our "corrective" lenses at home and view the world as an imaginative child.
Notice that Raffi often encouraged the adults in the audience to sing along to this particular song, when performing it live. It has more of a grown-up style than some of his other songs. While the verses are silly, the chorus is very much geared towards adults, IMO.