Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes - Perry Como

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Jan. 10 - Feb. 13, 1953

This is a great song, which has been recorded by numerous artists in many different styles. Perry Como hit the biggest with his version.


Download this song

Here's a quite recent recording of Goldie Hill, singing a response to this song:



Lyrics:

(Pa pa pa pia, pa pa pa pia...)

Don’t let the stars get in your eyes,
Don’t let the moon break your heart!
Love blooms at night,
In daylight it dies,
Don’t let the stars get in your eyes,
Don’t keep your heart from me,
For some day I’ll return,
And you know you’re the only one I’ll ever love!

Too many nights! (Too many nights!)
Too many stars! (Too many stars!)
Too many moons could change your mind!
(Don’t let the moon change your mind!)

If I’m gone too long,
Don’t forget where you belong,
When the stars come out remember you are mine!

Don’t let the stars get in your eyes,
Don’t let the moon break your heart!
Love blooms at night,
In daylight it dies,
Don’t let the stars get in your eyes,
Don’t keep your heart from me,
For some day I’ll return,
And you know you’re the only one I’ll ever love!



(Don’t let the stars get in your eyes,
...Don’t let the moon break your heart!)



(Pa pa pa pia, pa pa pa pia...)

Too many miles! (Too many miles!)
Too many days! (Too many days!)
Too many nights to be alone! (Too many nights all alone!)
Oh! please keep your heart, while we are apart,
Don’t you linger in the moonlight when I’m gone! (While I’m gone!)

Don’t let the stars get in your eyes,
Don’t let the moon break your heart!
(Don’t let the moon break your heart!)
Love blooms at night,
In daylight it dies,
Don’t let the stars get in your eyes,
Don’t keep your heart from me,
For some day I’ll return,
And you know you’re the only one I’ll ever love!
(I’ll ever love!) I’ll ever love!

You’re the only one! (You’re the only one!)
I’ll ever love!

Why Don't You Believe Me - Joni James

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Nov. 29 - Dec. 26 1952


Download this song at Amazon.com

In 1963, The Duprees made number 37 on the billboard with their own version of this song (see video clip below). Margaret Whiting and Patti Page also recorded this song in 1952.



Here's a clip from April 2008 where The Duprees deliver this song again:



Lyrics:

Why don't you believe me?, it's you I adore
Forever and ever, can I promise more?
I've told you so often the way that I care
Why don't you believe me?, it just isn't fair

CHORUS
Here is a heart that is lonely
Here is a heart you can take
Here is a heart for you only
That you can keep or break

How else can I tell you, what more can I do?
Why don't you believe me?, I love only you

REPEAT from CHORUS

It's In The Book - Johnny Standley

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Nov. 22 - Nov. 28 1952

This is, as you can quite clearly hear, not actually a song, but a comedy monologue. It nevertheless hit the number one spot on the billboard! It's a piece, delivered in the style of a revivalist preacher, analyzing and ridiculing the nursery rhyme Little Bo Peep. If you can't hear what he says, read along in the lyrics below the video clip!

Little Bo Peep goes as follows (there are some variations):

Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep,
And doesn't know where to find them.
Leave them alone, and they will come home,
Wagging their tails behind them

Download this track at Amazon.com

Lyrics:

I have a message for you - a very sad message!
My subject for this evening will be Little Bo Peep.
It says here, "Little Bo Peep, who was a little girl,
has lost her sheep,"
"And doesn't know where to find them."
Now that's reasonable, isn't it?
It's, it's reasonable to assume, if Little Bo Peep had lost her sheep,
It's only natural that she wouldn't know where to find them.
That, that basically is reasonabl-l-le, but, uh, "leave them alone".
Now that overwhelms me, …, completely overwhelms me.
The man said she lost her sheep, turns right around and boldly states,
"She doesn't know where to find them".
And then has the stupid audacity to say, "Leave them alone"!
Now! Now, now think for a moment! Think!
If the sheep were lost, and you couldn't find them,
You'd have to leave them alone, wouldn't you?
So, "Leave them alone". "Leave them alone".
It's in the book!

"Leave them alone and they", they being the sheep, "they will come home".
Ah yes, they'll come home.
Oh, there'll be a brighter day tomorrow, they will come home!
It's in the book.

"They will come home… a-waggin' their tails…".
Pray, tell me, what else could they wag?
"They will come home a-waggin' their tails … behind them… behind them!"
Did we think they'd wag them in front of them?
Of course, they might have come home in reverse.
They could have done that, I really don't know.
But, none the less, it's in the book.

So now if you will, kindly pick up your books, and turn to page 222.
We'll ask you all to sing.
You'll find your books on the backs of your seats.
Are we ready?

Everyone, 222. Let's really enjoy ourselves, let's live it up.
All together.

Do you remember grandma's lye soap?
Good for everything in the home,
And the secret was in the scrubbing,
It wouldn't suds and couldn't foam.

Then let us sing right out of grandma's, of grandma's lye soap
Used for - for everything, everything on the place,
For pots and kettles, the dirty dishes, and for your hands and for
your face.

So we'll now sing the second verse.
Let's get it with great exuberance, let's live it up.
It's not raining inside tonight.
Everyone, let's have a happy time.
Are we ready? All together, the second verse.

Little Herman and brother Thurman
Had an aversion to washing their ears
Grandma scrubbed them with the lye soap.
And they haven't heard a word in years.

Then let us sing right out of grandma's, of grandma's lye soap.
Sing all out, all over the place.
The pots and kettles, the dirty dishes, and also hands and also f….
(clapping fades)

Well, let's sing what's left of the last verse.
Let's have a happy time, everyone.
The last verse, al-l-l-l together.
Ev-v-v-very one!

Mm-m-m-m. Thank you kindly, kindly,
M-m-mrs. O'Malley, out in the valley,
Suffered from ulcers, I understand.
She swallowed a cake of grandma's lye soap,
Has the cleanest ulcers in the land.

Then let us sing right out of grandma's, of grandma's lye soap.
Sing right out. All over the place.
The pots and - the pots and pans, oh dirty dishes,
And the hands……..

Delicado - Percy Faith & his Orchestra

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single July 5 - July 11 1952

Quite a bit different, very good indeed!



Download Delicado at Amazon.com

Come On-a My House - Rosemary Clooney

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single July 28 - Sept. 7

Years after this song hit the charts, Rosemary Clooney, who is by the way the aunt of George Clooney, revealed that she first hated this song, but was forced to record it. See the second clip. It's a good thing she let herself be talked into it, since this song made her a star overnight.





A cover by Della Reese:



Lyrics:

Come on-a my house my house, I'm gonna give you candy
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give a you
Apple a plum and apricot-a too eh
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house I'm gonna give a you
Figs and dates and grapes and cakes eh
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you candy
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you everything

Come on-a my house my house, I'm gonna give you Christmas tree
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you
Marriage ring and a pomegranate too ah
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house I'm gonna give a you
Peach and pear and I love your hair ah
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you Easta-egg
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you
Everything - everything - everything

SPOKEN: Come on-a my house-a!

Download Come On-a My House at Amazon.com

Too Young - Nat King Cole

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single June 23 - July 27



Lyrics:

They try to tell us were too young
Too young to really be in love
They say that love's a word
A word we've only heard
But can't begin to know the meaning of

And yet were not too young to know
This love will last though years may go
And then some day they may recall
We were not too young at all



And yet we're not too young to know
This love will last though years may go
And then some day they may recall
We were not too young at all

Download Too Young at Amazon.com

The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise - Les Paul & Mary Ford

This post constitutes a little detour in our journey through time; this song never actually reached the #1 position on the billboard, and thus, is not one of our destinations on this trip. However, being your guide through this adventure, I feel that it's worth a digression. It was still a major hit, with a #2 peak position.

In the last post, we made acquaintance with Les Paul & Mary Ford and their special sound. Given the context and the novelty of their sound, I find their music both very interesting, inspiring and beautiful. In this clip, you'll recognize the same sound as in the clips in the last post, and Les Paul shows off some of his dazzling guitar skills.



Lyrics:

Dear one, the world is waiting for the sunrise.
Ev'ry rose is covered with dew
And while the world is waiting for the sunrise
And my heart is calling you.

(instrumental break)

Dear one, the world is waiting for the sunrise.
Every little rose bud is covered with dew
And my heart is calling for you
The thrush on high his sleepy mate is calling
And my heart is calling you.

Download this song at Amazon.com

How High The Moon - Les Paul & Mary Ford

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Apr. 21 - June 22

Les Paul was also an inventor, and he played a major role in the development of electrical instruments and recording techniques. In 1941 he invented the first solid electrical guitar, that is without the sound hole in the body of the guitar. That way he could avoid resonance. He was also a pioneer in using and developing reverbs (echo effects) and multitrack recording. Mary Ford, who was not only his co-artist but also his wife, is said to be one of the first persons to have been part-singing with herself.





Lyrics:

Somewhere there's music
How faint the tune
Somewhere there's heaven
How high the moon
There is no moon above
When love is far away too
Till it comes true
That you love me as I love you

Somewhere there's music
How near, how far
Somewhere there's heaven
It's where you are
The darkest night would shine
If you would come to me soon
Until you will, how still my heart
How high the moon

[Guitar Solo]

Somewhere there's music
How faint the tune
Somewhere there's heaven
How high the moon
The darkest night would shine
If you would come to me soon
Until you will, how still my heart
How high the moon

The Tennessee Waltz - Patti Page

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Dec. 16, 1950 - Mar. 2, 1951

Wow. Just wow...


Download The Tennessee Waltz at Amazon.com

This was her second number one hit in a little less than two months, and it remained on top for sixteen weeks. And, yes, she sure could sing.

This is the perfect song for celebrating a new year. Yes, our time machine is now leaving the year 1950 and heading on into 1951. It's been an interesting first year! Thanks to those of you who came along for this first part of our trip. Make sure to stay aboard for more.

Lyrics:

I was dancing with my darlin' to the Tennesse waltz
when an old friend I happened to see.
I introduced him to my loved one,
and while they were dancing
my friend stole my sweet-heart from me.

I remember the night and the Tennessee waltz.
Now I know just how much I have lost.
Yes I lost my little darlin' the night
they were playing the beautiful Tennessee waltz.

Update: Also see the post Norah Jones - The Tennessee Waltz.

The Thing - Phil Harris

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Dec. 2 - Dec. 15

A funny little song by Phil Harris:



Lyrics:

While I was walking down the beach one bright and sunny day,
I saw a great big wooden box a-floating in the bay.
I pulled it in and opened it up and much to my surprise,
Ooh, I discovered a * * * right before my eyes.
Ooh, I discovered a * * * right before my eyes.

I picked it up and ran to town as happy as a king.
I took it to a guy I knew who'd buy 'most anything.
But this is what he hollered at me as I walked in his shop:
"Ooh, get out of here with that * * * before I call a cop!
Ooh, get out of here with that * * * before I call a cop!"

I turned around and got right out, a-running for my life.
And then I took it home with me to give it to my wife.
But this is what she hollered at me as I walked in the door:
"Ooh, get out of here with that * * * and don't come back no more!
Ooh, get out of here with that * * * and don't come back no more!"

I wandered all around the town until I chanced to meet
A hobo who was looking for a handout on the street.
He said he'd take 'most any old thing. He was a desperate man.
But when I showed him the * * *, he turned around and ran.
Ooh, when I showed him the * * *, he turned around and ran.

I wandered on for many years, a victim of my fate,
Until one day I came upon Saint Peter at the Gate.
And when I tried to take it inside, he told me where to go:
"Get out of here with that * * *, and take it down below!
Oh, get out of here with that * * *, and take it down below!"

The moral of this story is if you're out on the beach
And you should see a great big box and it's within your reach,
Don't ever stop and open it up. That's my advice to you.
'Cause you'll never get rid of the * * *, no matter what you do.
Oh, you'll never get rid of the * * *, no matter what you do.

Download The Thing at Amazon.com

All My Love - Patti Page

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Oct. 28 - Nov. 17

This is a wonderful live recording, however the sound quality is not the best, especially not the instrumentals.



The lyrics in this recording aren't exactly the same as the ones that I found at Lyricsdownload.com:

All my love, I give you all my love
The skies may fall, my love
But I will still be true
All my sighs, will disappear at last
Now that you're here at last
My heart belongs to you

Ohhhhhhhhh ooh, never let me go
You thrill me so
I can see as I recall my life
I've waited all my life
To give you all my love

Ay, ay, ay
Ay, ay, ay
Ay, ay, ay
Ay, ay, ay

Bow, caballero, and tip your sombrero
To your seorita, the lovely Chiquita
Waiting so long for you and your song
While you are playing her heart will be swaying
She will surrender her kisses so tender
To you she will cling the moment that you sing

All my love, I give you all my love
The skies may fall, my love
But I will still be true
All my sighs will disappear at last
Now that you're here at last my heart belongs to you

Ohhhhhhhhh ooh, never let me go
You thrill me so
I can see as I recall my life
I've waited all my life
To give you all my love

Ay, ay, ay
Ay, ay, ay
Ay, ay, ay
FADE
Ay, ay, ay

Download All My Love at Amazon.com

Goodnight, Irene - Weavers featuring Gordon Jenkins

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Aug. 19 - Oct. 27

The Weavers were around for many years and eventually received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. They had some tough years being blacklisted by parts of the entertainment industry and even put under FBI surveillance because of their leftist personal beliefs.

I really like this song. I found a few versions of it, and I'll post all of them here. However, I don't think any one of them is the exact version that topped the billboard list.

Here we go:



A lovely live recording:



And finally, this is a live recording from their reunion concert at Carnegie Hall. It makes me pleasantly shiver..



Find out more about the Weavers at Wikipedia.org.

Lyrics:

Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams

Last Saturday night I got married
Me and my wife settled down
Now me and my wife are parted
I'm gonna take another stroll downtown

Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams

Sometimes I live in the country
Sometimes I live in town
Sometimes I take a grave notion
To jump into the river and drown

Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams

Stop ramblin', stop your gamblin'
Stop stayin' out late at night
Go home to your wife and family
Stay there by your farsight right

Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Goodnight Irene, goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams

Download Goodnight Irene at Amazon.com

The Third Man Theme - Anton Karas

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Apr. 29 - May 4



This one is a real classic! Before The Third Man, Anton Karas was an unknown zither player, playing at cafés and bars. The exposure he got from The Third Man turned him into an international star.

I never knew the old Vienna before the war, with its Strauss music, its glamour and easy charm -- Constantinople suited me better. I really got to know it in the classic period of the Black Market. We'd run anything, if people wanted it enough- mmm - had the money to pay. Of course, a situation like that does tempt amateurs, but you know they can't stay the course like a professional.

Now the city - it's divided into four zones, you know, each occupied by a power - the American, the British, the Russian, and the French. But the center of the city - that's international, policed by an International Patrol, one member of each of the four powers. Wonderful. What a hope they had, all of them strangers to the place and none of them could speak the same language, except a sort of smattering of German. Good fellows on the whole, did their best, you know. Vienna doesn't really look any worse than a lot of other European cities, bombed about a bit.

Oh, I was gonna tell you, wait, I was gonna tell you about Holly Martins, an American. Came all the way here to visit a friend of his. The name is Lime, Harry Lime. Now Martins was broke and Lime had offered him some sort - I don't know - some sort of a job. Anyway, there he was, poor chap, happy as a lark and without a cent.

Download The Third Man Theme at Amazon.com:
Original version| Another version

Music! Music! Music! - Teresa Brewer

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Mar. 18 - Mar. 24



You may recognize this song, even if you haven't heard this particular version of it. It has been recorded in numerous versions since Teresa Brewer's popular recording. Bill Haley & His Comets recorded an instrumental version, but I can't seem to find any audio of that version. If you find one, please tell me in the comments.

Lyrics:

Put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is having you
And music, music, music

I'd do anything for you
Anything you'd want me to
All I want is kissin' you
And music, music, music

Closer, my dear, come closer
The nicest part of any melody
Is when you're dancing close to me

So, put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is lovin' you
And music, music, music

[Instrumental Interlude]

Put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is having you
And music, music, music

I'd do anything for you
Anything you'd want me to
All I want is kissin' you
And music, music, music

Closer, my dear, come closer
The nicest part of any melody
Is when you're dancing close to me

So, put another nickel in
In the nickelodeon
All I want is lovin' you
And music, music, music

"C'mon, everybody
Put some nickels in
And keep that old Nickelodeon playing"

Music, Music, Music
Dum-dee, dum-dee, dah-dee-dum
Dum-dee, dum-dee, dah-dee-dum
Dum-dee, dum-dee, dah-dee-dum
And music, music, music

Dum-dee, dum-dee, dah-dee-dum
Dum-dee, dum-dee, dah-dee-dum
Dum-dee, dum-dee, dah-dee-dum
And music, music, music

Lyrics quoted from Lyricstime.com.

Shamefully, I must admit that until I really listened to this song, I thought that "Nickelodeon" was just the name of a TV channel. Then again, English is not my first language..

Download Music! Music! Music! at Amazon.com

Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy - Red Foley

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Feb. 11 - Mar. 10



Lyrics:

Have you ever passed the corner of Forth and Grand?
Where a little ball o' rhythm has a shoe-shine stand
People gather 'round and they clap their hands
He's a great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy

He charges you a nickel just to shine one shoe
He makes the oldest kind o' leather look like new
You feel as though you wanna dance when he gets through
He's a great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy

It's a wonder that the rag don't tear
The way he makes it pop
You ought to see him fan the air
With his hoppity-hippity-hippity-hoppity-hoppity-hippity-hop

He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He likes to get up early when they're feelin' fine
Everybody gets a little rise 'n shine
With the great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy

------ instrumental break ------

It's a wonder that the rag don't tear
The way he makes it pop
Just listen to him fan the air
Here he goes!

He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He likes to get up early when they're feelin' fine
Everybody gets a little rise 'n shine
With the great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy

The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy

Lyrics quoted from Lyricsdownload.com.