The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #148620   Message #3452093
Posted By: Joe Offer
14-Dec-12 - 10:06 PM
Thread Name: Recording: White Christmas with verse?
Subject: RE: Recording: White Christmas with verse?
The lyrics Jeanie posted above are exactly what gleaned from The Complete Lyrics of Irving Berlin (Robert Kimball and Linda Emmet, 2001). Excerpts from notes from the book:

The Paramount movie Holiday Inn was released in August, 1942, starring Bing Crosby (Jim Hardy) and Fred Astaire (Ted Hanover). Also starring were Marjorie Reynolds (Linda Mason) and Virginia Dale (Lila Dixon). Music and lyrics were by Irving Berlin. During the late 1930s, Irving Berlin and Moss Hart discussed writing a revue based on the major holidays. In the movie, Crosby buys a Connecticut farm and turns in into a hotel that is open only on holidays.

Songs in Holiday Inn:

  1. Special Opening for Main Title
  2. You're Easy to Dance With (only song without "Holiday" idea)
  3. Happy New Year's Blues (New Year's Day)
  4. Father Abraham (Lincoln's Birthday)
  5. Be Careful, It's My Heart (Valentine's Day)
  6. I Can't Tell a Lie (Washington's Birthday)
  7. A Little Bit of Irish (St. Patrick's Day)
  8. Easter Parade (Easter)[published in 1933, used in Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938), Holiday Inn (1942), and Easter Parade (1948)]
  9. I Pledge Allegiance to My Flag (musical version)(Decoration Day and Flag Day)
  10. This Is a Great Country (July 4th)
  11. The Wedding of Capital and Labor (Labor Day)
  12. If Columbus Came Back Today (Columbus Day)
  13. Jack O'Lantern (Halloween)
  14. We Fought the War to End All Wars - Hurray for Armistice Day (Armistice Day)
  15. Plenty to be Thankful For (Thanksgiving)
  16. White Christmas (Christmas Day)


I gather from this YouTube video that Crosby didn't sing the verse in the movie Holiday Inn. This appears to be a duet with Marjorie Reynolds, but the singing was dubbed by Martha Mears. Get a load of Crosby's whistling.



The 1954 movie White Christmas Starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kay, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. Music and lyrics were by Irving Berlin. This is a story about a Vermont lodge that's having financial problems, and the stars team up to save it.

The song "Sisters" appeared in this movie, along with "White Christmas" and a number of other songs. Oh - "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" was another hit from this movie.

-Joe-