Pretty waltzes with lyrics (songs)

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: GUEST,Calico
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 06:00 PM

Moonlight And Roses
Springtime In The Rockies
Oh What A Beautiful Morning
(I'm In Love With A) Wonderful Guy (from South Pacific)

Subject: Lyr Add: WALTZING WITH YOU (Molly Mason)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 02:06 AM

Transcribed from Dancing on the Air Radio Archive:


WALTZING WITH YOU
Molly Mason
From the film "Brother's Keeper"

All these years I've lived alone watching life just pass me by,
So when you asked if I would dance, I was afraid to even try
Then I heard that fiddle playin' and suddenly I knew
All I wanted was a chance to be waltzing with you.

Ev'rybody knew that I'd never danced before,
But there we were together, gliding 'cross the floor.
And all the dreams I never had, and all the love I never knew,
Now I've found here in your arms while I'm waltzing with you.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 01:31 AM

Lyrics copied from http://www.wongawillicolonialdance.org.au/page/AUSTRALIANFOLKSONGLYRICS/


AND WHEN THEY DANCE
Roy Abbott (of Mucky Duck Bush Band)

CHORUS: And when they dance, their dresses spin round,
They travel so light that they ne'er touch the ground,
And the smile on their faces will win every crowd,
The lasses who danced 'till the morning.

1. I've travelled about, yes, I've been all around,
From Perth in the west, to old Sydney town,
And it warms up my heart every time I look down,
At the lasses who danced 'till the morning.

2. I play for the gentry; I've played for them all,
From a small country gig to a debutantes' ball,
And it's one thing that joins them, the big and the small,
It's the lasses who danced 'till the morning.

3. At the end of the dance, the folk leave the floor.
Their feet must be tired, so tender and sore,
But who are the ones who call out for more?
It's the lasses who danced 'till the morning.

4. So long may I travel, and far may I roam,
From Darwin to Hobart, a long way from home,
And I'll stare at the people who I'll never know,
And the lasses who danced 'till the morning.

[Graeme Murray, of Wongawilli, added verse 5:]

5. And as they dance, men turn them around,
Lads all dressed up for a night on the town,
In their waistcoats and moleskins, it's a smile and a bow,
To the lasses who danced 'till the morning.


[Recorded by—
Mucky Duck Bush Band on "Three Ducking Decades"
Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club on "Australian Tradition"
Danny Spooner on "Emerging Tradition"]

Subject: Lyr Add: WISH ME A RAINBOW (Evans, Livingston)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 05:44 PM

Lyrics copied from http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/w/wishmearainbow.shtml:


WISH ME A RAINBOW
(Words and Music by: Ray Evans, Jay Livingston)
From the film "This Property Is Condemned" 1966

Wish me a rainbow and wish me the stars.
All this you can give me wherever you are.

And dreams for my pillow and stars for my eyes,
And a masquerade ball where our love wins first prize.

Wish me red roses and yellow balloons,
And caress us whirling to gay dancing tunes.

I want all these treasures, the most you can give,
So wish me a rainbow as long as I live.

All my tomorrows depend on your love,
So wish me a rainbow above.

All my tomorrows depend on your love,
So wish me a rainbow above.

Subject: Lyr Add: WEDNESDAY NIGHT WALTZ (Spencer Williams?)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 05:22 PM

Lyrics and chords copied from http://kristinhall.org/songbook/USFolk/WednesdayNightWaltz.html:


WEDNESDAY NIGHT WALTZ*

G             Gdim G            Gdim G          Gdim            G Fdim
Sweetheart of mine, sweetheart divine, come have a last waltz with me.
Am         D   G          Em          A7             D7
I love you so; want you to know you're mine 'til eternity.
G#dim       Am      D7                   G         Em            D7
We'll dance the whole waltz through while I whisper love words to you.

CHORUS:
      G          D7       G    G7    C         F#7   G
Let's dance while they are playing the Wednesday Night Waltz.
               D7      G         A7             D7
Let's join the couples swaying before the music halts.
      G    D7         G       G7 C       F#7         G    G7
Close to my heart I'll press you to prove my love is not false.
    C          F#7 G       E7    A7       D7    G
Sweetheart, let me caress you to the Wednesday Night Waltz.

I knew that you would love me, too; I saw it deep in your eyes.
Now I'm complete; you are so sweet; you're just a wonderful prize.
I love to hold you near and hear you say, "I love you, dear."

CHORUS: [new words]
I love a tune so mellow the Wednesday Night Waltz.
And when I hear the cello, my very soul exalts.
With music so entrancing, I'll never find any faults.
    C          F#7    G       E7    A7       D7    G
Sweetheart, when we are dancing to the Wednesday Night Waltz.

[*According to WorldCat.org, 3 university libraries have copies of sheet music titled WEDNESDAY NIGHT WALTZ, and they credit Spencer Williams as songwriter (New York City: Triangle Music Pub. Co., 1928)—but without seeing the sheet music, I can't verify that it's the right song. BMI.com has 12 listings for the same title, each with different writers. I can't tell whether these are different songs with the same title, or different lyrics to the same tune, or conflicting claims to the same song, or—?

[78discography.com lists the following early recordings:

Leake County Revelers, 1927
Kessinger Bros, 1928
North Carolina Hawaiians, 1928
Bar Harbor Society Orch, 1929
Bud & Joe Billings, 1929
Cruther Bros, 1929
Frank Luther & C. Robison, 1929
Harry Pomar Hotel Ansley Orch, 1929
Walter Kolomoku's Hawaiians, 1929
Carter's Orch, 1930
Fiddlin' Doc Roberts Trio, 1931
Riley Puckett, 1934
Stripling Brothers, 1934
Shelton Brothers, 1938
Wiley Walker & Gene Sullivan, 1940
Cope Brothers, 1947
Elmer Christian Bar-X Cowboys, 1947
Jack Youngblood, 1953]

Subject: Lyr Add: SPOON RIVER
From: Barry Finn
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 04:50 PM

Love this one by Micheal Smith

Spoon River

All of the river boat gamblers are losing their shirts
All of the brave union soldier boys sleep in the dirt
But you know and I know, there never was reason to hurt
All of our lives were entwined to begin with,
Here in spoon river.

All of the calico dresses, the gingham and lace,
Are up in the attic with Grandfather's derringer case,
There's words whispered down in the parlour, a shadowy face,
The morning is heavy with one more beginning,
Here in spoon river.

Come to the dance, Mary Perkins, I like you right well,
The union's preserved, if you listen you'll hear all the bells,
There must be a heaven, God knows that I've seen most of hell,
My rig is outside, come and ride through the morning,
Here in spoon river.

Barry

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WALTZING FOOL (Lyle Lovett)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 04:17 PM

Copied from http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/l/lyle_lovett/the_waltzing_fool.html


THE WALTZING FOOL
Lyle Lovett

The waltzing fool, he's got lights in his fingers.
The waltzing fool, he just don't never say.
The waltzing fool, he keeps his hands in his pockets
And waltzes the evening away.

And it's a waltz to a woman who's lying beside him.
It's a waltz to a face on the wall when she's gone.
It's a waltz to the rodeo. the damn thing it rides him.
It's a waltz to a waltz.

Now the waltzing fool, he just might be crazy,
Because the waltzing fool, he keeps the moon in his car,
And the waltzing fool, he says it's running
On waltzes and waltzes.

And it's a waltz to a woman who's lying beside him
It's a waltz to a face on the wall when she's gone
It's a waltz to the rodeo the damn thing it rides him
It's a waltz to a waltz
Just a waltz to a waltz

Now the waltzing fool, they say he's been drinking,
But the waltzing fool, he's just got mud on his shoes,
And the waltzing fool, he knows they're all thinking.
He's only an old waltzing fool.

But the waltzing fool, he's got lights in his fingers.
The waltzing fool, he just don't never say.
The waltzing fool, he keeps his hands in his pockets,
And waltzes the evening away.
The waltzing fool, his hands in his pockets,
He's waltzing the evening away.


[From the album "Lyle Lovett" (1986).]

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Artful Codger
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 07:23 AM

Joe: That explains it. I wondered if one might be a maiden name, but since Jean wasn't a maiden...

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Joe_F
Date: 22 Sep 09 - 06:39 PM

Codger: It appears from Google that Jean Lenoir and Jean Neuberger are one and the same, the former being the pseudonym under which "Parlez-moi d'amour" first appeared.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: moongoddess
Date: 22 Sep 09 - 11:33 AM

I like the original "Tennessee Waltz"

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 22 Sep 09 - 10:19 AM

Nice compositin, olddude. Thanks for posting.

Subject: Lyr Add: TOO FAR GONE (Billy Sherrill)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Sep 09 - 08:38 AM

Lyrics copied from http://www.lpdiscography.com/w/West/west_countrygirl-rca.htm


TOO FAR GONE
(Billy Sherrill)
« © '67 Al Gallico Music, BMI »

I can tell that somewhere there's someone you love more than me,
Someone you love more than me,
And it hurts to say it but you have the right to be free.
I know that's the way it should be.

My friends would console me by sayin' go find someone new,
Go out and find someone new,
But the longer I try, the harder I cry over you.
I go home and cry over you.

'Cause I'm too far gone, too far gone.
I guess I've loved you too much for too long,
And I'm too far gone.

If ever your new love should hurt you or make you feel blue,
Hurt you or make you feel blue,
Just remember your old love will still be around loving you.
I'll be around loving you.


[Recorded by David Houston on "You Mean the World to Me" (1967); Waylon Jennings on "Only the Greatest" (1968); Dottie West on "Country Girl" (1968); Tammy Wynette on "Tammy's Greatest Hits" (1969); Roy Drusky on "I'll Make Amends" (1970); Joe Stampley on "Soul Song" (1973); Emmylou Harris on "Pieces of the Sky" (1975); Elvis Costello & the Attractions on "Almost Blue" (1981); also by Bobby "Blue" Bland, Mindy Jostyn, and Lucille Starr.

[Note: there are several other songs with the same title.]

Subject: Lyr Add: THEY WERE YOU (Tom Jones, Harvey Schmidt)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Sep 09 - 07:27 AM

Copied from http://www.geocities.com/merrystar3/allysongs/TheyWereYou.htm


THEY WERE YOU
Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt
From "The Fantasticks" (1960)

When the moon was young, when the month was May,
When the stage was hung for my holiday,
I saw shining lights, but I never knew
They were you. They were you. They were you.

When the dance was done, when I went my way,
When I tried to find rainbows far away,
All the lovely lights seemed to fade from view.
They were you. They were you. They were you.

Every secret prayer, every fancy-free,
Everything I dreamed for both you and me,
All my wildest dreams multiplied by two,
They were you. They were you. They were you.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Janie
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 11:11 PM

Can't find a link to it that provides either lyrics or the tune, but "Mississippi Moon" by Jimmy (Jimmie) Rodgers is a nice one. I think the Carter Family recorded it, but I have it on a Carl Jones-Beverly Smith CD.

Subject: Lyr Add: NO KINDA DANCER (Robert Earl Keen, Jr)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 10:47 PM

Copied from http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/r/robert_earl_keen_jr/no_kinda_dancer_crd.htm


NO KINDA DANCER
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.

1. The first of the month brings back the notion
Of a big round white dance hall and a cool summer night.
Red cherry faces set black shoes in motion
To the oom-pa-pa rhythm of a German delight.

CHORUS: And I tried hard to tell you I was no kinda dancer.
You took my hand to prove I was wrong.
You guided me gently though I thought I could never.
We were dancing together at the end of the song.

2. A taut little bald man like a German war hero
With buxom old matrons to a quick John Paul Jones,
Drapes of crepe paper, a ball made of mirror
Cast shiny reflections on a brass slide trombone. CHORUS.

3. A man was still dancing with his phantom partner
Though the band had quit playing at the evening's end,
And it made me feel lucky that I had a partner
To teach me the dance steps and come back again. CHORUS TWICE.

Subject: Lyr Add: LIVING TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND (Everly)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 10:05 PM

Copied from http://lyrics.wikia.com/lyrics/The_Everly_Brothers:Living_Too_Close_To_The_Ground


LIVING TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND
As sung by the Everly Brothers

1. Listen and hear each word.
Stop, or you'll miss the birds.
They sing in the top of the trees.
Sometimes when you look, you can't see,
But up there you will know that it's round.
You're living too close to the ground.

2. Come where the lights are grand.
Leave now without a plan.
You can get away if you choose.
Confess it: you've nothing to lose,
And I can show you where it's found.
You're living too close to the ground.

3. Rush so you'll pass it by.
Don't let it catch your eye.
Don't stop; you might look a fool,
Standing with love in your eyes,
Trying hard to believe what you've found.
You're living too close to the ground.

4. I once held her close to me,
Listened and heard her breathe,
Just like I have done all my life.
Her heart was the image of mine.
Ah, but my wings just couldn't be found.
I was living too close to the ground.

Subject: Lyr Add: KITTY WALTZ (A. P. Carter)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 09:50 PM

Copied from http://www.bluegrasslyrics.com/all_song.cfm-recordID=c116.htm


KITTY WALTZ
A. P. Carter

1. Waltz, Kitty, waltz. Let everybody waltz.
Waltz, Kitty, waltz. Let everybody waltz.
Waltz, Kitty, waltz. Let everybody waltz.
The guitars are ringing. Come on and waltz.

2. The girls are singing. The guitars are ringing.
Their steps are so neat, their music so sweet.
Waltz, Kitty, waltz. Let everybody waltz.
The guitars are ringing. Come on and waltz.

3. Boys, come on and join our band.
The guitars are ringing. The music's so grand.
Waltz, Kitty, waltz. Let everybody waltz.
The guitars are ringing. Come on and waltz.

4. Waltz, Kitty, waltz. Let everybody waltz.
Waltz, Kitty, waltz. Let everybody waltz.
Waltz, Kitty, waltz. Let everybody waltz.
The guitars are ringing. Come on and waltz.

Subject: Lyr Add: COLD RIVER WALTZ (Christopher Shaw)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 09:43 PM

Copied from http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/coldrive.htm


COLD RIVER WALTZ
Christopher Shaw

1. In the heart of the forest you can stand 'neath the pines,
Feel the time-honored battle of a trout on the line,
See the view from the high peaks 'bove the timber line,
Dancing to the Cold River Waltz.

/ C - F C / F Dm Fm C / C C7 F Dm / G G7 C G /

CHORUS: Ah-dee-ay, ah-diddly-aye-doe, hear the woods as they sing
As we step to the tune of an old fiddler's strings,
Glide 'cross the floor like a hawk on the wing,
Dancin' to the Cold River Waltz.

2. You can hear all the stories the old timers can tell,
Hear the wind in the pines, hear the old village bell.
You'll be captured forever 'neath the north-country spell,
Dancin' to the Cold River Waltz. CHORUS TWICE.

[From "Adirondack" (1988).]

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Cool Beans
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 05:14 PM

"Come Take a Trip in My Airship."

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: olddude
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 11:29 PM

I wrote one called Spring Waltz if you are interested
Spring Waltz

Subject: Lyr Add: ROZHINKES MIT MANDLEN / RAISINS AND ALMON
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 11:19 PM

From The Complete Idiot's Guide to Learning Yiddish by Benjamin Blech (Indianapolis, IN: Alpha Books, 2000), page 295:

ROZHINKES MIT MANDLEN

In dem beys-hamikdosh, in a vinkl-kheyder,
Zitst di almone Bas-Tsioyn aleyn.
Ir ben-yokhidl, Yidele, vigt zi keseyder
Un zingt im tsum shlofn a lidele sheyn:

"Unter Yidele's vigele
Shteyt a klor-vays tsigele,
Dos tsigele iz geforn handlen,
Dos vet zayn dayn baruf:
Roshinkes mit mandlen;
Shlof-zhe, Yidele, shlof!

In dem lidl, mayn kind, ligt fil nayes
Az du vest a mol zayn tsezeyt oyf der velt,
A soykher vestu zayn fun ale tvues
Un vest fardinen in dem oykh fil gelt."

Un az du vest vern raykh, Yidele,
Zolstu zikh dermonen in dem lidele:
Rozhinkes mit mandlen
Dos vet zayn dayn baruf,

Yidele vet alts handlen.
Shlof zhe, Yidele, shlof!

Es vet kumen a tsayt fun vertpapirn,
Kantorn veln zayn in der gantser velt;
Der grester vestu zayn fun ale bankirn
Un vest in dem oykh fardinen fil gelt.

RAISINS AND ALMONDS

In the Holy Temple, in a quiet nook,
I see the widowed daughter of Zion rock
Her little infant Judah. I
Hear her sing this lullaby:

"Under little Judah's cot
Stands a snow-white little goat,
The goat goes selling merchandise,
Which is what you, my child, will do.
Almonds and raisins
Sleep, my baby, sleep.

In this song, my child, it is prophesied
That you will be scattered far and wide,
A big corn merchant you will be,
And will earn a lot of money."

And when you are rich I hope you may
Remember this song I sing today:
Almonds and raisins are very nice,
You will sell all kinds of merchandise,

This is what you my child will do.
Sleep, my baby, sleep.

There will come a time of stocks and shares,
Big offices for exchanging wares,
And a big banker you will be,
And will have lots of money.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Ron Davies
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 11:04 PM

Lustige Witwe (Merry Widow) Waltz is great--especially auf Deutsch. Translations often seem insipid, unfortunately.

Subject: Lyr Add: GOODNIGHT MY SOMEONE (Meredith Willson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 10:21 PM

GOODNIGHT MY SOMEONE
Meredith Willson, from "The Music Man" 1957.

Goodnight, my someone. goodnight, my love.
Sleep tight, my someone. sleep tight, my love.
Our star is shining its brightest light,
For goodnight, my love, for goodnight.

Sweet dreams be yours, dear, if dreams there be;
Sweet dreams to carry you close to me.
I wish they may and I wish they might.
Now goodnight, my someone, goodnight.

True love can be whispered from heart to heart,
When lovers are parted, they say;
But I must depend on a wish and a star
As long as my heart doesn't know who you are.

Sweet dreams be yours, dear, if dreams there be;
Sweet dreams to carry you close to me.
I wish they may and I wish they might.
Now goodnight, my someone, goodnight.

Goodnight! Goodnight!

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: cptsnapper
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 03:29 PM

How about Living Too Close To The Ground as recorded by the Everly Brothers?

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 02:50 PM

Alan Bell's "Windmills" makes a great waltz, as any Clam Chowder fan will tell you.

-- Gary

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Artful Codger
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 02:37 PM

Hmm, my recent post to this thread seems to have disappeared!

Joe: According to the liner notes to Adieu False Heart, by the Zozo Sisters (Linda Rondstadt and Ann Savoy), 2005, "Parlez-moi d'amour" was written by Jean Bernard Neuburger, and is copyrighted by Southern Music Publishing, Inc. Beautiful recording.

There are also several clips of this song on YouTube, dating back to the 30's (Lucienne Boyer and, separately, Carlos Gardel).

Although the verses are sung rather freely, it is clearly in waltz time throughout (as the accompaniment in most versions demonstrates), with only a ritardando/stopping at the end of each verse, for dramatic effect. Such tempi changes are hardly foreign to waltz music for dancing--just listen to Strauss. And you would tone them down if you were performing this song for dancing.

Subject: Lyr Add: DONAU SO BLAU / DANUBE SO BLUE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 01:28 PM

The original music was described thus:

AN DER SCHÖNEN BLAUEN DONAU (ON THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE DANUBE), Opus 314, 1866
by Johann Strauss (1825-1899)

These versions with English words were listed at the Indiana University web site, but images of the sheet music are not available:

SUMMER WINDS, BLOW
Lyrics by Edith S. Tillotson, 1925:
"Blow, soft winds, blow. Blow, soft winds, blow...."

BEAUTIFUL BLUE DANUBE
Lyrics by Max C. Freedman, 1932:
"Danube so blue, my heart is with you, as I sit once more...."

BLUE DANUBE WALTZ
Lyrics by Jerry Castillo, 1935:
"Beautiful theme music supreme reminds me of the one I love...."

BLUE DANUBE REVERIE
Lyrics by Louis O'Connell, 1946:
"Oft in my lonely hours I stray, in phantom dreams Blue Danube...."

These are the closest thing to "official" lyrics I could find, from Wikipedia:

Lyrics by Franz von Gernerth:

DONAU SO BLAU

Donau so blau, so schön und blau,
durch Tal und Au wogst ruhig du hin,
dich grüßt unser Wien, dein silbernes Band.
knüpft Land an Land und fröhliche Herzen
schlagen an deinem schönen Strand.

Weit vom Schwarzwald her
eilst du hin zum Meer,
spendest Segen allerwegen,
Ostwärts geht dein Lauf,
nimmst viel Bruder auf:
Bild der Einigkeit für alle Zeit!
Alte Burgen Seh'n nieder von den Höh'n,
grüssen gerne dich von ferne
und der Berge Kranz,
hell vom Morgen glanz,
spiegelt sich in deiner Wellen Tanz.

Die Nixen auf dem Grund,
die geben's flüsternd kund,
was alles du erschaut,
seit dem über dir der Himmel blaut.
Drum schon in alter Zeit
ward dir manch Lied geweiht;
und mit dem hellsten Klang preist
immer auf's Neu dich unser Sang.

Halt an deine Fluten bei Wien,
es liebt dich ja so sehr!
Du findest, wohin du magst zieh'n,
ein zweites Wien nicht mehr!
Hier quillt aus voller Brust
der Zauber heit'rer Lust,
und treuer, deutscher Sinn streut
aus seine Saat von hier weithin.

DANUBE SO BLUE

Danube so blue, so bright and blue,
through vale and field you flow so calm,
our Vienna greets you, you silver stream
through all the lands you merry the heart
with your beautiful shores.

Far from the Black Forest
you hurry to the sea
giving your blessing to everything.
Eastward you flow,
welcoming your brothers,
A picture of peace for all time!
Old castles looking down from high,
greet you smiling from their steep
and craggy hilltops,
and the mountains' vistas
mirror in your dancing waves.

The mermaids from the riverbed,
whispering as you flow by,
are heard by everything
under the blue sky above.
The noise of your passing
is a song from old times
and with the brightest sounds
your song leads you ever on.

Stop your tides at Vienna,
it loves you so much!
Whenever you might look
you will find nowhere like Vienna!
Here pours a full chest
the charms of happy wishes,
and heartfelt German wishes
are flown away on your waters.

Subject: Lyr Add: BEAUTIFUL OHIO (Macdonald, Earl)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 11:54 AM

From the sheet music at Indiana University:


BEAUTIFUL OHIO
Words, Ballard Macdonald. Music, Mary Earl.
New York: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., 1918.

VERSE: Long, long ago
Someone I know
Had a little red canoe
In it room for only two
Love found its start
Then in my heart
And like a flower grew.

CHORUS: Drifting with the current down a moonlit stream
While above the heavens in their glory gleam
And the stars on high
Twinkle in the sky
Seeming in a paradise of love divine
Dreaming of a pair of eyes that looked in mine
Beautiful Ohio, in dreams again I see
Visions of what used to be.

[When the above chorus is repeated, it is sung as counterpoint to a simpler version of the chorus:]

Drifting in the moonlight
While the heavens gleam
Ah——
Ah——
Seeming deep in love
Dreaming of your eyes
Beautiful Ohio
In my dreams used to be.

[Recorded by Glenn Miller, Chet Atkins, Percy Faith, Kate Smith, Hank Snow, and many others.]

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Ron Davies
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 11:47 AM

I'm very partial to "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight".   A great story, good melody, and the waltz tempo seems to heighten the poignancy.

Subject: Lyr Add: ANNIE'S SONG (John Denver)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 11:39 AM

ANNIE'S SONG
John Denver
Cherry Lane Music Co., 1974.

You fill up my senses like a night in a forest,
Like the mountains in springtime, like a walk in the rain.
Like a storm in the desert, like a sleepy blue ocean,
You fill up my senses. Come fill me again.

Come let me love you. Let me give my life to you.
Let me drown in your laughter. let me die in your arms.
Like a storm in the desert, like a sleepy blue ocean,
Come let me love you. Come love me again.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Joe_F
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 11:32 AM

A curious partial example is "Love's Old Sweet Song", in which the stanzas are 4/4 but the refrain is 3/4. Does that ever get played at dances, with the dancers shifting nimbly from a foxtrot to a waltz? My experience with dances is small.

Subject: Lyr Add: ALLEGHENY MOON (Manning, Hoffman)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 11:27 AM

ALLEGHENY MOON
Dick Manning, Al Hoffman

Allegheny moon, I need your light
To help me find romance tonight,
So shine, shine, shine.
Allegheny moon, your silver beams
Can lead the way to golden dreams,
So shine, shine, shine.

High among the stars so bright above,
The magic of your lamp of love
Can make him mine.
Allegheny moon, it's up to you.
Please see what you can do
For me and for my one and only love.

Shine, shine, shine.
Shine, shine, shine.

Shine on me tonight, Allegheny moon.

[Recorded by Patti Page (1956) and Anne Murray (1993).]

Subject: Lyr Add: SOUS LES PONTS DE PARIS/UNDER THE BRIDGES
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 02:15 AM

The French version is much more serious than the English

UNDER THE BRIDGES OF PARIS
English words, Dorcas Cochran; 1952.

How would you like to be
Down by the Seine with me?
Oh, what I'd give for a moment or two,
Under the bridges of Paris with you!

Darling, I'd hold you tight,
Far from the eyes of night,
Under the bridges of Paris with you.
I'd make your dreams come true.

[Recorded by Eartha Kitt, Dean Martin, and several others.]


SOUS LES PONTS DE PARIS
Words: Jean Rodor; music, Vincent Scotto; 1914.

Pour aller a Surennes,
ou bien à Charenton
Tout le long de la Seine,
on passe sous les ponts
Pendant le jour,
suivant son cours,
Tout Paris en bateau défile,
L'coeur plein d'entrain,
ça va, ça vient,
Mais l'soir, lorsque tout dort tranquille,

Sous les ponts de Paris,
lorsque descend la nuit,
Tout' sortes de gueux
se faufilent en cachette
Et sont heureux
de trouver une couchette.
Hôtel du courant d'air,
où l'on ne paye pas cher,
L'parfum et l'eau c'est pour rien,
Sous les ponts de Paris

A la sortie d'l'usine,
Julot rencontr' Nini
Ça va t-il la Rouquine,
c'est la fête aujourd'hui.
Prends ce bouquet,
quelqu's brins d'muguet
C'est peu mais c'est tout' ma fortune,
Viens avec moi,
j'connais l'endroit
Où l'on craint mêm' pas l'clair de lune

Sous les ponts de Paris,
lorsque descend la nuit
Comm' il n'a pas d'quoi
s'payer un' chambrette
Un couple heureux vient
s'aimer en cachette
Et les yeux dans les yeux,
faisant des rêves bleus
Julot partag' les baisers de Nini,
sous les ponts de Paris

Rongée par la misère,
chassée de son logis
L'on voit une pauvre mère,
avec ses trois petits
Sur leur chemin,
sans feu ni pain
Ils subiront leur sort atroce,
Bientôt la nuit
la maman dit :
Enfin ils vont dormir mes gosses

Sous les ponts de Paris,
un' mère et ses petits
Viennent dormir là
tout près de la Seine
Dans leur sommeil
ils oublieront leur peine
Si l'on aidait un peu,
tous les vrais miséreux
Plus de suicid's
ni de crim's dans la nuit,
sous les ponts de Paris.

To go to Surennes
or to Charenton
all along the Seine
one passes under the bridges
during the day
following its course
all of Paris, in a line of boats
the cheerful heart
goes and comes
but at night while everyone tranquilly sleeps,

under the bridges of Paris
when night falls
all kinds of rogues
sneak into hiding
and are happy
to find a berth
in a drafty hotel
where one doesn't pay much
the perfume and the water are for nothing
under the bridges of Paris

on leaving the factory
Julot meets Nini
the redhead is OK(?)
It's a party today
take this bouquet
someone's stalks of lily
it's not much, but it's my fortune
come with me
I know a place
where one fears not even the moonlight

under the bridges of Paris
when night falls
as he doesn't have enough
to afford a bedroom
a happy couple goes
to make love in secret
and in each other's eyes
making blue dreams
Julot exchanges kisses with Nini
under the bridges of Paris

plagued by poverty
driven from her lodgings
one sees a poor mother
and her three little ones
on their way
without heat or bread
they suffer their terrible fate
soon that night
the mother says:
finally they go to sleep, my kids

under the bridges of Paris
a mother and her little ones
go to sleep there
near the Seine
in their sleep
they forget their pain
if we would help them a little
all the real needy
no more suicides
or crimes in the night
under the bridges of Paris

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Joe_F
Date: 16 Sep 09 - 08:43 PM

It's a bit late to follow up on this, but (open mike:) "Parlez-moi d'amour" was written by Jean Lenoir, who was French, not French-Canadian.

I looked up the words to it some time ago because a couple of lines were (mis)quoted in Arthur Koestler's _Age of Longing_. I was startled by the news that it is a waltz, and looked up a couple of performances on the Web (I had never heard the tune). It is true that the refrain is in 3/4 time, but the rest is irregular in meter, and it's hard to imagine anyone waltzing to it.

<<
    Across the street the woman was now singing full blast:

      "Parlez-moi d'amour
      Dites-moi [sic] des choses tendres..."

    To judge by the voice she must have been an elderly, wispy-haired charwoman, probably engaged in sweeping the dust and the cigarette stumps from the threadbare carpet down under the cupboard, where they could not be seen, only smelled.
>>

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: sharyn
Date: 15 Sep 09 - 10:43 PM

Way back in this thread Pam mentioned my song, "The Wallflower Waltz." Joe Offer has kindly posted a link to a recent recording of this on the thread "New CD:'Paris' by Sharyn Dimmick" If you want to hear me sing it, check it out.

Sharyn

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: open mike
Date: 26 Apr 09 - 01:46 AM

back in 2002, glen Reid wrote:
"For my money,the old time waltz, that literally sends chills up my spine is the beautiful "Parlez-Moi D'amour" (Speak To Me Of Love).
I could be wrong,but I think its French-Canadian in origin and the best version I ever heard was recorded by Catherine McKinnon in her Singalong Jubilee days, on an album called "Voice of an Angle"

i presume he meant Voice of an Angel....

I just realized that the old camp tune that we used to sing in
Girl Scouts, RISE UP O FLAME is in waltz tempo.
Rise up, oh flame, by thy light glowing.
Show to us beauty, vision, and joy. ...

i think it is sung as a round.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: GUEST,DANJOE
Date: 25 Apr 09 - 09:18 PM

'THE BRIDGES OF PARIS'
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE ETC.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Joe_F
Date: 25 Apr 09 - 08:05 PM

"The Loveliest Night of the Year" is *not* singable TTTO "Blue Danube". However, the latter, in my childhood did have some rather insipid English words, of which I remember the following fragments:

River so blue,
Of marvelous hue,
. . .
. . .
You open my eyes
To ... paradise,
Alive is my soul,
Is my soul,
To my heart the spring has come.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: CupOfTea
Date: 25 Apr 09 - 12:26 AM

And the band played Waltzing Matilda. is one *I* would never use for dancing. I don't know where you'd find an audience where no one would know the lyrics, or the story in the lyrics. This is a powerful song. (In the thread about songs that have touched/moved people -don't remember exactly how it was listed - there's a significant viceral response to this song listed there.)

That the tune is "pretty" doesn't make where it comes from any the less significant, nor make it any more suitable for dance anywhere the song is known. YMMV

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Abdul The Bul Bul
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 02:09 AM

......AND THE BAND PLAYED WALTZING MATILDA

Al

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: GUEST,CupOfTea, no Cookies
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 06:29 PM

Waltzing's for Dreamers is just one of Richard Thompson's songs in waltz time, though the most apropros for waltzing. Others of his include HOW WILL I EVER BE SIMPLE AGAIN as well as somewhat facetious: We'll Sing Halleluia .

Along with Waltzing's for Dreamers , I'm very fond of songs ABOUT dancing, as well, like LOG DRIVER'S WALTZ, and DIDN'T I DANCE

Constitutionally, I just prefer to sing in 3/4 time - it's the bulk of what I sing. Not all are great for waltzing, because of the lyrics, but I have fond memories of when Dick Swain used to sing (the song that now makes me cringe, but it was NEW and FUN! in those days) Waltzing with Bears at the end of contra dances. I wish more contra dance bands and English Country Dance bands (and, yes, those for waltz dances) would sing waltzes. They make the dancing even more memorable, IMHO.

Awhile back I tried to start a thread about dance tunes that have lyrics. It's more difficult to get those across to a group of dancers who need to hear/listen to the caller. Yet, over a decade since his death, many of us have vivid memories of our friend Josh Stier singing the lyrics to Liliburlero as we danced it on autopilot.

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Mark Ross
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 10:48 AM

Utah Phillips wrote some heartbreaking lyrics to a fiddle tune called WHISTLERS' WALTZ, which he learned from hanging out at the fiddle contest in Weiser,Idaho. It's sometimes called RUSTY McDRELL after the fiddler who he heard play the tune(or maybe McDrell wrote it). Rosalie Sorrels put it in her fine collection WAY OUT IN IDAHO. Unfortunately, my copy is still buried in a box under my bed, impossible to reach at the moment. Anyway, the tune is a Hestitation Waltz and Utah wrote some beautiful words.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 04:58 AM

If you go back to the original version of ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT? and sing slowly it with the original verse (which no-one ever sings), you'll find it's a delightful sentimental waltz from the 1920s. The only version of the complete thing that I know of on record is by Leon Redbone. Well worth a listen.

Performing it live is fun, because no-one ever knows what the verse is leading into and, when you launch into the chorus, you can almost hear them thinking, "Oh - that's what it is!"

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: cptsnapper
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 04:49 AM

" Living Too Close To The Ground " by the Everly Brothers

Subject: Pretty waltzes with lyrics: Annie's Song
From: Genie
Date: 21 Apr 09 - 08:17 PM

John Denver's "Annie's Song" is another waltz with lovely tune and lyrics.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Apr 09 - 12:43 AM

sheet music to waltzing with you

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 04:05 PM

OLD FLAMES (CAN'T HOLD A CANDLE TO YOU) as sung by by Dolly Parton

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: bfdk
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 02:13 PM

Australian Wongawilli do a little beauty called 'And When They Dance'. It's on their MySpace.

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Artful Codger
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 01:53 PM

Also, I would appreciate pointers to lyrics for "Cabri Waltz", like first line or chorus, who's sung it...

Subject: RE: Pretty waltzes with lyrics
From: Artful Codger
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 01:31 PM

"Waltzing with You" is delightful, in both the instrumental and vocal versions. It's from the soundtrack music Jay Ungar and Molly Mason provided for the movie Brother's Keeper. The soundtrack CD is also titled "Waltzing with You".

I caught a brief quotation from "Ashokan Farewell" snuck into it; a sort of inside joke?