I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Jimmy Boyd

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Dec. 27, 1952 - Jan. 9, 1953

Once again, we're decorating our time machine for Christmas. Jimmy Boyd, at the age of twelve years, made the original recording of this well known Christmas song, which has since been covered by many artists and translated into many languages. It was actually banned by the Roman Catholic Church of Boston for mixing Christmas with sex, but after Boyd himself met with the church and explained the song, the ban was lifted. This song quickly turned him into a star and it sold two and a half million records the first weeks after it's release. Every Christmas it had a new peak for many years to come, and today, reportedly, it has sold a grand total of about 60 million records.


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Here are some more versions of this song:

Jackson 5


John Cougar Mellencamp in 1987


Amy Winehouse


Lyrics:

I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night.
She didn't see me creep
down the stairs to have a peep;
She thought that I was tucked
up in my bedroom fast asleep.

Then, I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white;
Oh, what a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night

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

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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……..

I Went To Your Wedding - Patti Page

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Oct. 18 - Nov. 21 1952

As with many other of the songs we stopped by throughout our journey, this is only the most popular out of many versions of this song. Interestingly, Patti Page released this single with her own version of yesterday's song, You Belong to Me, on the flip side.


Download this song at Amazon.com

Lyrics:

I went to your wedding
Although I was dreading
The thought of losing you
The organ was playing
My poor heart kept saying
"My dreams, my dreams are through"

She came down the aisle, wearing a smile
A vision of loveliness
I uttered a sigh, and then whispered goodbye
Goodbye to my happiness

Your mother was crying
Your father was crying
And I was crying too
The teardrops were falling
Because we were losin' you

She came down the aisle, wearing a smile
A vision of loveliness
I uttered a sigh, and then whispered goodbye
Goodbye to my happiness

Oh, your mother was crying
Your father was crying
And I was crying too
The teardrops were falling
Because we were losing you

Spike Jones and his City Slickers made a popular spoof version of this song a few years later. Check it out:


Download this song at Amazon.com

Lyrics:

I went to your wedding
Although I was dreading
The thought of seeing you...(laugh)... oh, that face!
My poor heart was praying
To hear the groom saying
"I do, I do, I do"... (laugh)... oh, that poor fish... I'm sorry.

You tripped on the aisle
Fell flat on your... (laugh)... smile
Your father was loaded too...(laugh)... oh, what a mess!
He dragged your bouquet
The rest of the way
And then... (snigger)... and then... (laugh)...
He went back and dragged you... (laugh)

Your mother was laughing
Your father was laughing
And I was... (manic laughter)... too
We all had hysterics
At last we got rid of YOU!

You Belong to Me - Jo Stafford

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Sept. 13 - Oct. 17 1952

Jo Stafford was a traditional pop and jazz singer who's career stretched from the late 30's to the early 60's. In 1961 she received a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. This song, however, is not part of her comedy career.



Download You Belong To Me at Amazon.com

Lyrics:

See the pyramids along the Nile
Watch the sun rise on a tropic isle
But just remember, darling, all the while
You belong to me

See the marketplace in old Algiers
Send me photographs and souvenirs
Just remember when a dream appears
You belong to me

I'll be so alone without you
Maybe you'll be lonesome too and blue

Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain
Just remember till you're home again
You belong to me

I'll be so alone and without you
Maybe you'll be lonesome too and blue

Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain
But remember, darling, till you're home again
You belong to me

Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart - Vera Lynn

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single July 12 - Sept. 12 1952

British singer Vera Lynn, also called "The Forces' Sweetheart" hit her peak during World War II.



Lyrics:

(Auf wiedersehen, auf wiedersehen)
(We'll meet again, sweetheart)
This lovely day has flown away
The time has come to part

We'll kiss again, like this again
Don't let the teardrops start
With love that's true, I'll wait for you
Auf wiedersehen, sweetheart

Photographer

Taking our time machine for a little detour back to the war, we find her singing about the famous cliffs of Dover. This is another one of her big hits:



Wikipedia has a short article on the white cliffs of dover, England.

Download these songs at Amazon.com:
Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart
White Cliffs Of Dover

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

Here in My Heart - Al Martino

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single June 21 - July 4 1952

You may recognize Al Martino from the movie The Godfather, where he played the part of singer Johnny Fontane, who is said to be based on Frank Sinatra's career. Though, that character was probably not too far away from his own self. Al released singles and albums for a good 25 years, starting in the middle fifties.



Lyrics:

Here in my heart I'm alone, I'm so lonely
Here in my heart I just yearn for you only
Here in my arms I long to hold you
Hold you so near, ever close to my heart
So, darling

Say that you care, take these arms I give gladly
Surely you know I need your love so badly
Here is my heart, my life, and my all, dear
Please be mine and stay here in my heart

REPEAT second verse

Download Here In My Heart at Amazon.com

Blue Tango - Leroy Anderson

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single May 17 - June 20 1952

Here's a reminder that things have changed since the fifties. To the worse in some respects, I believe. But then again, things have never been as good as they were in the past...

Wheel of Fortune - Kay Starr

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Mar. 15 - May 16 1952



A later performance:



Lyrics:

The wheel of fortune

Goes spinning around
Will the arrow point my way?
Will this be my day?

Oh, wheel of fortune

Please don't pass me by
Let me know the magic of
A kiss and a sigh

While the wheel is spining, spinning, spinning
I'll not dream of winning fortune or fame
While the wheel is turning, turning, turning
I'll be yearning, yearning
For love's precious flame

Oh, wheel of fortune
I'm hoping somehow
If you ever smile on me
Please let it be now

While the wheel is spining, spinning, spinning
I'll not dream of winning fortune or fame
While the wheel is turning, turning, turning
I'll be yearning, yearning
For love's precious flame

Oh, wheel of fortune
I'm hoping somehow
If you ever smile on me
Please let it be now

Download The Wheel Of Fortune at Amazon.com

The year 1952

1952 despite the war in Korea Americans considered themselves to be prospering with average worker earning $3,400 per year, a college teacher could expect to earn $5,100 per year . Three out of 5 families owned a car, 2 out of 3 families now had a telephone, 1 in 3 homes had a television. The average woman in America would be married by 20 years of age looking forward to raising a family but few continued with a career after children were born. Fast Food restaurants were growing in popularity, but the scourge of Polio hit many thousands of families ( 50,000 estimated ) . Many more cars in America were now fitted with automatic gearboxes and gas cost 25 cents per gallon. The worlds first passenger jet The Comet is produced in UK signaling the start of faster and cheaper air travel in later years.

Quoted from Thepeoplehistory.com.

Cry - Johnny Ray

Billboard Magazine's #1 Single Dec. 29, 1951 - Mar. 14, 1952

This song will serve as our gateway to the year 1952.



Lyrics:

If your sweetheart sends a letter of goodbye
It's no secret you'll feel better if you cry
When waking from a bad dream
Don't you sometimes think it's real
But it's only false emotions that you feel

If your heartaches seem to hang around too long
And your blues keep getting bluer with each song
Remember sunshine can be found behind the cloudy skies
So let your hair down and go on and cry

If your heartaches seem to hang around too long
And your blues keep getting bluer with each song
Well now, remember sunshine can be found
Behind a cloudy sky
So let your hair down and go right on and cry