Lyr Add: Cocoanut Grove

Subject: Lyr Add: Cocoanut Grove
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 11:45 PM

A local music pal found these lyrics for me today
He said he never knew they existed until today.

I couldn't recall a single line in the song -
but I could whistle the tune


COCOANUT GROVE
© 1938
Lyrics & Music: Harry Owens
Introduced by Owens and his Royal Hawaiians in the Paramount film,
Cocoanut Grove.

There's a cocoanut grove where life is entrancing
And there, sweetheart, we'll find romancing
And love for two
By the light of a South Sea Island moon

There's a cocoanut grove where your happy love
Will do his part, and soon discover
A rendezvous
In the shelter of a tropical lagoon

Palm trees will be swaying
While steel guitars are playing
Believe what I'm saying, dear
I swear it's true

There's a cocoanut grove where I'll be confessing
The simple truth that you've been guessing
Sweetheart
I love but you

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cocoanut Grove
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 11:51 PM

This song was recorded by the Lovin Spoonful back in 1966 (can't recall exactly what album it was) ... but it was well done by them. Interesting I always thought it was a John Sebastian composition.

Used to play this song myself.

sIx

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cocoanut Grove
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 11:53 PM

Actually slightly different lyrics by the Lovin spoonful ..

It's really true how nothin matters.
No mad, mad world and no mad hatters.
No one's pitchin cause their ain't no batters
in coconut grove.

Don't bother door.
Theirs no one comin.
The oceans roar, were double drummin.
of many silly thoughts and silly ways
the ocean breeze has cooled my mind.
the salty days are her's and mine
just to do what we anna

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cocoanut Grove
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 01:22 PM

Both song and movie titled "Coconut Grove." Also the night club.
Not 'cocoanut'.

Filmography-
Coconut Grove, 1938, a BW film, featured Harry Owens as 'Hula Harry'. Cast included such favorites as Ben Blue, Rufe Davis and Eve Arden in addition to Harriet Hilliard and Fred MacMurray.
The Yacht-Club Boys also appeared.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cocoanut Grove
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 08:21 PM

I'll stick with Cocoanut Grove...

http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/54752/plot.jhtml

lists the 1938 movie as titled above

and ASCAP.COM lists the song as COCOANUT GROVE by Harry Owens

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cocoanut Grove
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 09:12 PM

And will wonders never cease?

the Original Decca recording #23626A lists the title as

Cocoanut Grove

'nuff sed!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cocoanut Grove
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 09:14 PM

I type faster than I proofread..

make that Decca #23616A

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cocoanut Grove
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 09:19 PM

Gene, I found lots of references with both spellings- But you are correct on the ASCAP listing, and probably the film as well (looking for an advertisement, but can't find one). The ImDb Movie Data Base gives Cocoanut Grove for the film.

I started with data from Kanehele, "Hawaiian Music and Musicians," 1979, University Press of Hawai'i, p. 281-282, "Harry Owens," in which the film is listed as "Coconut Grove."

Looks like I have company in the error.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cocoanut Grove
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 01:22 AM

Q - I have to 'fess up a bit...before this week I always thought it was Coconut Grove, also, till a music pal who lays claim to
actually knowing Harry Owens set me straight...I played the song on the pedal steel years ago and I did not recall any lyrics, PERIOD.

Another music pal dug up the lyrics and also the SCAN of the 78...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cocoanut Grove
From: Artful Codger
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 01:15 PM

Don Ho has recorded "Cocoanut Grove" and quite a number of other Harry Owens "Hawaiian" songs - an easy source for the tune.

Subject: Lyr Add: COCOANUT GROVE (Harry Owens)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 12:39 AM

Lyrics copied from HUAPALA - Hawaiian Music and Hula Archives (which has lyrics to lots more Hawaiian-themed songs, and a few tunes):

COCOANUT GROVE
Words & Music by Harry Owens, 1938.

VERSE: I know of a place poets write about,
An island of dreams they delight about,
Where the birds on high sing a song to us,
And the earth and sky belong to us.
There's a grove of palm trees
Growing by the sea,
Beckoning to you and me.

CHORUS: There's a cocoanut grove where life is entrancing,
And there, sweetheart, we'll find romancing,
And love for two,
By the light of a south sea island moon.
There's a cocoanut grove where your happy lover
Will do his part and soon discover
A rendezvous
In the shelter of a tropical lagoon.

Palm trees will be swaying
While steel guitars are playing.
Believe what I'm saying, dear.
I swear it's true.

There's a cocoanut grove where I'll be confessing
The simple truth that you've been guessing.
Sweetheart, I love but you.

[Source: Copyright Royal Music Publisher, 447 Ilimanu Street, Kailua, HI. 96734]