The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #115320   Message #3293876
Posted By: beeliner
21-Jan-12 - 09:24 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Bilbao Song (Weill/Brecht/Mercer)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bilbao Song (Weill/Brecht/Mercer)
Kind of an old thread, but here are Will Holt's lyrics, from his "Exciting Artistry" album, Electra LP 181:

Bill's Dance Hall in Bilbao, Bilbao, Bilbao
Was the greatest dancehall in the world I'm sure.
There you could for just a dollar whoop and holler, whoop and holler, whoop and holler,
And do a lot of things I wouldn't call so pure.
All the same, I'm not so sure that if you'd gone there you'd have liked it - 'twas a special kind of place.
Brandy laughter hit you at the door.
Blades of grass grew right up through the floor.
The moon shone green through roof of glass,
And the music that they played there had such CLASS!

(Chorus)Ah that Bilbao moon, when love was worth your while,
Ah that Bilbao moon, when people lived in style,
Ah that Bilbao moon, where did the time all go?
Ah that Bilbao moon, I guess we'll never know.
I'm not so sure you would have like it, ah but then,
It was the greatest, it was the greatest,
It was the greatest place on earth.

Bill's Dance Hall in Bilbao, Bilbao, Bilbao,
Has re-opened under different management.
Lots of palm trees, lots of ice cream, very flashy, very flashy,
But you know, it's not the same establishment.
Now I'll bet if you walked in you'd feel at home,
That is, if potted palms are just your style.
No grass is growing on that modern dancefloor,
The moon shining throught the roof is just a moon,
And the music that they play there is the kind you'd never ask for.
Ah, Joe, play me that old time tune!

(Chorus repeats).

Holt's electrifying version of "Sailor's Tango", also from Happy End, is on the same album.