Frosty the Snowman

By Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson
1950

If you'll indulge me with a belated Christmas standard, I'd like to place the (not-too-hot) spotlight on "Frosty the Snowman", mainly due to my two-year-old son's current obsession with both the song and the 1969 Rankin-Bass animated special narrated by Jimmy Durante. Introduced by the great singing cowboy Gene Autry, Frosty was a follow-up to Autry's mega-hit of the previous Christmas, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". In addition to the song, which has become a modern Christmas classic, the snowman's popularity has endured due to a series of animated cartoons based on him, most notably the aforementioned 1969 chestnut, as well as a beloved Little Golden Book edition of the story, also published in 1950. The lyrics supposedly takes place in Armonk, New York, a town which has an annual parade in Frosty's honor to this day.

Lyrics:

Frosty the Snowman
Was a jolly happy soul
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And his eyes made out of coal

Frosty the Snowman
Made the children laugh and play
And were they surprised when
Before their eyes
He came to life that day

There must have been some magic
In that old silk hat they found
For when they placed it on his head
He began to dance around

Frosty the Snowman
Was alive as he could be
And the children say
He could laugh and play
Just the same as you and me

Frosty the Snowman
Knew the sun was hot that day
So he said let's run
And we'll have fun
Now before I melt away

So down to the village
With a broomstick in his hand
Running here and there all around the square
Saying catch me if you can

He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop
And he only paused a moment when
He heard him holler stop

Frosty the Snowman
Had to hurry on his way
But he waved goodbye
Saying don't you cry
I'll be back again some day

Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Look at Frosty go
Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump

Over the hills of snow

Recorded By:

Nat King Cole
Perry Como
Guy Lombardo
Jimmy Durante
The Ronettes

Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat

By Frank Loesser
1950

With all the recent hullabaloo over the Frank Loesser song "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (whose entry you can find here), I thought today I'd spotlight a different Loesser tune, this time from his masterpiece musical, Guys and Dolls. Introduced by the irrepressible Stubby Kaye in the original run of the stage show as well as the 1955 movie, it's a spirited and catchy number that epitomizes the spirit of that classic show. As recently as 1993, this song also charted when recorded in a slowed-down version by ex-Eagle Don Henley, for the soundtrack of the Steve Martin film Leap of Faith.

Lyrics:

I dreamed last night I got on the boat to heaven
And by some chance I had brought my dice along
And there I stood, and I hollered, "Someone fade me"
But the passengers they knew right from wrong

For the people all said
"Sit down, sit down you're rockin' the boat"
The people all said
"Sit down, sit down you're rockin' the boat
And the devil will drag you under
By the sharp lapel of your checkered coat
Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down
Sit down you're rocking the boat"

I sailed away on that little boat to heaven
And by some chance found a bottle in my fist
And there I stood nicely passin' 'round the whiskey
But the passengers were bound to resist

For the people all said
"Beware you're on a heavenly trip"
The people all said
"Beware, beware you'll scuttle the ship
And the devil will drag you under
By the fancy tie 'round your wicked throat
Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down
Sit down you're rockin' the boat"

And as I laughed at those passengers to heaven
A great big wave came and washed me overboard
And as I sank, and I hollered, "Someone save me"
That's the moment I woke up, thank the Lord

And I said to myself
"Sit down, sit down you're rocking the boat"
Said to myself
"Sit down, sit down you're rocking the boat
For the devil will drag you under
With a soul so heavy you'd never float
Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down
Sit down you're rockin' the boat"

Recorded By:

Sammy Davis Jr.
Louis Armstrong
Don Henley
The Four Lads
Rebecca Kilgore & Dave Frishberg

Silver Bells

By Jay Livingston & Ray Evans
1950

A warm, fuzzy Christmas classic of the post-war era, this charming chestnut was composed for the film The Lemon Drop Kid, in which it was introduced by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell. A major hit recording by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards released before the film was so successful it caused the film producers to re-shoot the scene more elaborately prior to the release of the movie. Conflicting reports indicate that the inspiration for the song came either from the bell-ringing Salvation Army Santas on NYC streetcorners, or a bell that was kept on Livingston and Evans' shared office desk. Incidentally, the songwriting team of Livingston & Evans were also responsible for such post-war classics as "To Each His Own" and "Mona Lisa".

Lyrics:

Silver bells silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring a ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas day

City sidewalks busy sidewalks .
Dressed in holiday style
In the air
There's a feeling
of Christmas
Children laughing
People passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear...

Silver bells silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring a ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

Strings of street lights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush
home with their treasures

Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all this bustle
You'll hear...

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

Recorded By:

Perry Como

Dean Martin

Frank Sinatra

Martina McBride

Andy Williams

Mona Lisa

By Ray Evans & Jay Livingston
1950

Best known for the timeless recording by Nat King Cole, this beloved favorite was written for the film Captain Carey, USA, in which Cole introduced it along with the orchestra of exotica maven Les Baxter (and for which it won the Oscar). It's believed that Frank Sinatra was offered the song as well, but turned it down. Nevertheless, the song has become ubiquitous, and although several other artists have recorded it over the years, it remains Cole's version that rises head and shoulders above the rest.

Lyrics:

Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you. 
You're so like the lady with the mystic smile. 
Is it only 'cause you're lonely, they have blamed you  
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile?
 
Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa? 
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?  
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep.  
They just lie there and they die there.
Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa? 
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art?
 
Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa?  
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?  
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep.  
They just lie there and they die there.
Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa?  
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art?  

Recorded By:

Elvis Presley

Don Cherry

Harry James

Doris Day

Willie Nelson

Azure Te

By Bill Davis & Don Wolf
1952

A jazz gem that came along just as the new forms were emerging post World War II, including be bop and the nascent rhythm and blues that would lead to rock 'n roll. Wild Billy Davis was an innovative jazz pianist and organist who had done stints with the ensembles of Louis Jordan (pictured) and Duke Ellington among others, when he put this easy, supercool number together along with Don Wolf (who'd later contribute to the timeless early rock instrumental "Sleepwalk"). Jordan's band introduced the song.

Lyrics:

Gone and got the blues in Paris  
Paris blues called Azure-Te  
How can I be blue in Paris?  
It's easy 'cause you're far away  
Can't lose these blues, this Azure-Te
 
Side-walk tables filled with people  
Always happy, always gay  
Still I'm all alone in Paris  
Praying you'll return someday  
Can't lose this blues, this Azure-Te
 
Montmartre, springtime, Eiffel Tower  
Funny taxis, the kids at play  
Paris without you is lonesome  
Yearning more and more each day  
Can't lose these blues, this Azure-Te
 
If you knew how much I need you  
You'd come back to me to stay  
Having you with me in Paris Really is the only way  
You lose these blues, this Azure-Te  
These Paris blues, this Azure-Te

 

Recorded By:

 

Nat King Cole

Ella Fitzgerald

Frank Sinatra

George Shearing

Duke Ellington

Till There Was You

By Meredith Wilson
1957

Written for the Broadway musical The Music Man, this catchy and melodic tune was sung on stage by Barbara Cook. However, it would actually be introduced on record one month prior to the show's December 1957 opening, when Nelson Riddle's orchestra recorded it with singer Sue Raney. Peggy Lee made the song a hit in the UK in 1961, leading to a bunch of kids known as The Beatles adding it to their early repertoire. It would appear on the Fab Four's 1962 album With the Beatles, and remains the only standard the group ever recorded.

Lyrics:

There were bells on the hill

But I never heard them ringing,
No, I never heard them at all
Till there was you.

There were birds in the sky
But I never saw them winging
No, I never saw them at all
Till there was you.

And there was music,
And there were wonderful roses,
They tell me,
In sweet fragrant meadows of dawn, and dew.

There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No, I never heard it at all
Till there was you!

Recorded By:

Shirley Jones
Anita Bryant
Sonny Rollins
Sergio Franchi
Fran Warren

Luck Be a Lady

By Frank Loesser
1950

Of all Loesser's compositions, this could very well be the most enduring. It was written for the musical Guys and Dolls, in which Sky Masterson (first played by Simon Mullins) courts Lady Luck so that she smiles favorably on his gambling endeavors. It was sung by Marlon Brando in the film--yet co-star Sinatra, who coveted Brando's role, later made it one of his signature songs.

Lyrics:

They call you Lady Luck, but there is room for doubt.
At times, you have a very unladylike way of running out.
You're on this date with me, the pickings have been lush.
And yet, before this evening is over, you might give me the brush.
You might forget your manners, you might refuse to stay,
And so the best that I can do is say...

Lucky, be a lady tonight!
Lucky, be a lady tonight!
Luck, if you've ever been a lady to begin with,
Luck, be a lady tonight!

Luck, let a gentleman see,
How nice a dame you can be.
I know the way you've treated other guys you've been with.
Luck, be a lady with me!

A lady doesn't leave her escort.
It isn't fair; it isn't nice.
A lady doesn't wander all over the room,
And blow on some other guy's dice.

Let's keep this party polite,
Never get out of my sight.
Stick with be baby, I'm the guy that you came in with.
Luck, be a lady tonight!

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Barry Manilow
Barbra Streisand
Jack Jones
Dean Martin

Get Me to the Church on Time

By Frederick Loewe & Alan Jay Lerner
1956

One of the many memorable and beloved tunes composed by Lerner & Loewe for their smash Broadway hit, My Fair Lady. It's sung by the character of Alfred Dolittle, played by Stanley Holloway in both the stage production and the Oscar-winning 1964 film version. It would become one of the show's very biggest and most endurant hits.

Lyrics:

There's just a few more hours.
That's all the time you've got. A few more hours
Before they tie the knot. Doolittle
There are drinks and girls all over London,
and I've gotta track 'em down in just a few more hours!

I'm getting married in the morning! Ding dong!
The bells are gonna chime. Pull out the stopper!
Let's have a whopper! But get me to the church on time!

I gotta be there in the mornin'
Spruced up and lookin' in me prime.
Girls, come and kiss me;
Show how you'll miss me.
But get me to the church on time!

If I am dancin' Roll up the floor.
If I am whistlin' Whewt me out the door!

For I'm gettin' married in the mornin'
Ding dong! the bells are gonna chime.
Kick up an rumpus, But don't lost the compass;
And get me to the church, Get me to the church,
For Gawd's sake, get me to the church on time!

I'm getting married in the morning,
Ding dong! the bells are gonna chime.
Doolittle Drug me or jail me, Stamp me and mail me.
But get me to the church on time!

I gotta be there in the morning
Spruced up and lookin' in me prime.
Some bloke who's able. Lift up the table,
And get em to the church on time!

If I am flying, Then shoot me down.
If I am wooin',
Get her out of town!

For I'm getting married in the morning!
Ding dong! the bells are gonna chime.
Feather and tar me;
Call out the Army; But get me to the church.
Get me to the church...
For Gawd's sake, get me to the church on time!

Starlight is reelin' home to bed now.
Mornin' is smearin' up the sky. London is wakin'.
Daylight is breakin'. Good luck, old chum,
Good health, goodbye.

I'm gettin' married in the mornin'
Ding dong! the bells are gonna chime...
Hail and salute me Then haul off and boot me...
And get me to the church, Get me to the church...
For Gawd's sake, get me to the church on time!

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Mel Torme
The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Rosemary Clooney
Nat King Cole

The End of a Love Affair

By Edward Redding
1950

This somber and smokey tune of love and loss was practically written for the saloon. Jimmy Dorsey's orchestra introduced it, but it was quickly snatched up by a number of different artists during the 1950s.

Lyrics:

So I walk a little too fast, and I drive a little too fast,
And I'm reckless its true, but what else can you do
At the end of a love affair?

So I talk a little too much, and I laugh a little too much,
And my voice is too loud when I'm

out in a crowd,
So that people are apt to stare.

Do they know, do they care, that it's only that I'm lonely,
And low as can be?
And the smile on my face isn't really a smile at at all!

So I smoke a little too much, and I drink a little too much,
And the tunes I request are not always the best,
But the ones where the trumpets blare!

So I go at a maddening pace,
And I pretend that its taking your place
But what else can you do, at the end of a love affair?

Recorded By:

Billie Holiday
Johnny Hartman
Frank Sinatra
Julie London
Dexter Gordon