[Stirner]

My assumption, when I saw the movie in 1968 or so, was that HAL was regressing to his early programming, and that the song was something that his early trainers had exposed him to when they were teaching him human language.

[Dan(9698)]

that the song was something that his early trainers had exposed him to when they were teaching him human language.

And then he got Alzheimers and gradually everything new was lost and he had only really old memories.

[buccaneer81]

My assumption, when I saw the movie in 1968 or so, was that HAL was regressing to his early programming, and that the song was something that his early trainers had exposed him to when they were teaching him human language.

Exactly. HAL stated earlier in the movie that he was activated at the University of Illinois-Urbana on January 12, 1992 and that Professor So-and-so had taught him the song as one of his first programming efforts.

[Daffynition]

I thought something along those lines too ... or as arasina mentioned ...going "half crazy."

[midnightcat]

I never understood the movie, especially the ending...