Whither Get Out?

(image from here)

The phrase "get out" - an imperative sentence - is mostly considered a warning. Whether trying to keep you from possible harm in an emergency situation - "Get out of here! The place is on fire!" - or said in anger that might result in physical altercation - "Get out of my room & leave me alone!" - the phrase is hardly ever said in situations that are friendly, jovial, amicable.

Unless of course it's said in disbelief, like "No way!" An example might be: "I met the stars of Barbie today." "Get out!" One supposes it's short for "get out of here!" which is said in the sense of "I think you are lying & if you are lying you probably should leave." But in a more exaggerated, friendly way.

It's mainly the first use you'll hear on today's Self Help Radio. It's not really meant to be an instruction; for example, if you are listening in your house, you're not really supposed to get out of your house & cease listening. The same for in your car. It's best if you don't think of the phrase as said to you - it's probably never a good idea to think a song is actually directing you to do something. The songwriters & performers didn't have you in particular in mind at the time of composition & recording. Sorry if this is the first time you've heard this.

This show is especially good, in fact, for those who never get out at all. As is most of radio. If you're always listening to the radio, you're mainly getting out of other obligations, such as work, family, friendship. I'm not encouraging that but I appreciate it.

Listen to Self Help Radio's "Get Out" show today on Freeform Portland, which is on the air from noon to 2pm on 90.3+98.3fm in Portland, & online at the Freeform Portland website. At the very least, if someone asks you what you did today, you can say, "Oh I did get out for a while this afternoon."