The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #7569 Message #4199653
Posted By: Jim Dixon
24-Mar-24 - 05:53 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Songs about smiles, smiling
Subject: Lyr Add: LET A SMILE BE YOUR UMBRELLA
1. Once I met a happy little bluebird. I was just as blue as could be. In a little while, I began to smile, When he sang this merry song to me:
CHORUS: “Just let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy, rainy day; And if your sweetie cries, just tell her that a smile will always pay. Whenever skies are gray, don’t worry or fret. A smile will bring the sunshine and you’ll never get wet. So let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy, rainy day.”
2. As I listened to that happy bluebird, I soon learned his smart philosophy. On my window sill, He began to trill. This is what he had to say to me: CHORUS
- - - There are tons of recordings on the Internet Archive. Many of them are instrumentals, or they sing only the chorus. These are the ones that sing at least one verse:
Singer and Morton, on Oriole (1137 (a)), 1927. They sing the chorus, verse 1, chorus, bridge, chorus. This bridge does not appear in the sheet music:
Remember that a cheerful smile is always bound to win, So never pull the shades down when the sun wants to come in. A smile is just a slicker and it’s always still the line(?), And if you wear it, you are sure to find That ev’ry raindrop soon becomes a little pearl of joy, And you’ll keep going along just like a whistling barefoot boy, So pack up all your troubles in a great big pile (or “pipe”?) of bubbles, And blow, blow, blow them all away
Dolly Kay and the University Six, on Diva (2581-G), 1928. She sings the first verse, chorus, bridge, plus this alternate chorus which is not in the sheet music:
Just let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy, rainy, ray-ray-rainy day. Just pucker up your lips and whistle and your blues will pass away. For never let your friends see you wear a frown, ’Cause one by one they’ll walk away and all turn you down, So let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy, rainy day.
Jay C. Flippen and His Gang on Perfect (12406), 1928. He sings the first verse and chorus, plus the following alternate chorus:
Just let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy, rainy day. Just pucker up your lips and yell a great big “Hip-hip-hip-hooray!” Grab all your cares and pull them out by the roots. Just wear a smile and throw away those old rubber boots And let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy, rainy day.
Lee Morse and Her Blue Grass Boys, on Columbia (1303-D), 1928. She sings the first verse, chorus, second verse, second chorus, alternate chorus, as above.)