Lyr Req: Wand'rin' Star / Wandering Star

Subject: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering sta
From:
Date: 24 May 97 - 12:20 PM

Hello

Cant find this song, which Lee Marvin sang in a Western the 70ies: "Cat Ballou" or "Paint your Wagon".

Thanks for your help in Advance

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering sta
From:
Date: 24 May 97 - 12:38 PM

sorry forgot to fill in the "from field" when i started this thread

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering sta
From:
Date: 24 May 97 - 02:49 PM

It's from "Paint Your Wagon", one of my favorite movies. I don't know of any recordings(but that does'nt mean there aren't any).

Bob S.

Subject: ADDPOP: I Was Born Under a Wandering Star
From:
Date: 24 May 97 - 04:34 PM

I Was Born Under a Wandering Star
(Alan Jay Lerner)

I was born under a wand'rin' star.
I was born under a wand'rin' star,
Wheels are made for rollin'
Mules are made to pack,
I never seen a sight that didn't look better lookin' back;
I was born under a wand'rin' star.
Mud can make you pris'ner and the plains can make you dry.
Snow can burn you eyes but only people make you cry.
Home is made for comin' from,for dreams of goin' to
Which, with any luck will never come true.
I was born under a wand'rin' star.
I was born under a wand'rin' star.

Do I know where hell is? Hell is in hello.
Heaven is "Goodbye forever. It's time for me to go."

When I get to heaven, tie me to a tree,
Or I'll begin to roam and soon you'll know where I will be.

I was born under a wand'rin' star.
A wand'rin', wand'rin' star.

Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering sta
From:
Date: 24 May 97 - 05:34 PM

Dear vissjoy

Thank you very much indeed. You really helped me a lot.

Ruedi Mueller, [e-mail] (Switzerland)

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 02:10 PM

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cool Beans
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 03:54 PM

Both the original Broadway cast recording and the movie soundtrack recording of "Paint Your Wagon" are available form Amazon and probably elsewhere. The song's official title is "Wand'rin Star," or something close. My books say Lee Marvin's rendition was a Top 40 hit in the U.K. Nobody in the U.S. knows it exists.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 04:51 PM

I knew this song from the time I was a kid in Detroit in the 1950's (or maybe it was after we moved to Wisconsin in 1957), so it must have had some popularity on the radio stations since we didn't have a record player. My dad listened to WJR in Detroit, and WMAQ in Chicago after we moved to Wisconsin - and of course, we listened to whatever Dad listened to.
I don't think if it was the Lee Marvin 1969 recording I remember, though - I think the singing I recall was a lot more musical. It's more likely I heard the 1951 Broadway cast version. Could be I learned it from my dad's singing, too. But anyhow, I think it must have charted in the U.S.
This is a song that should have been recorded by John Raitt. I wonder if he did.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 05:05 PM

And by god, if Lee Marvin can 'sing' it so can I! LOL

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 07:14 PM

There were plenty of us in the US who knew it existed in the late 60's when Lee Marvin did the movie. Later on, in the 80's it was the one song requested for a childhood friend's untimely death, so it meant even more to those of us who knew him.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 07:44 PM

The song is, indeed, a beautiful one, but should only be listened to as sung by Lee Marvin only as a curiosity. Several recordings were made during the '60s folk music boom. I believe Joe and Eddie may have recorded it.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 08:21 PM

Ahem...Clint Eastwood chimed in, too, if I remember correctly.:-)

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: GUEST,Mike Miller
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 12:08 AM

Yes, Clint Eastwood sang in that movie, too. His big solo number was "I Talk to the Trees". He has a pleasant, albeit weak and shakey, baritone. He sounded out of place among the better singers.
Lee Marvin, on the other hand, has a voice like the chain smoker he is, but his "Wandering Star" was wonderful because his voice was in agreement with his character. Sometimes, an actor with a trained singing voice can sound ridiculous like when Gomer Pyle would sing and he sounded more like Jim Nabors.
Reading the lyrics for "Wandering Star" makes one realise the genius of Alan J Lerner. What a well constructed song that is. Can anyone doubt that the Golden Age of American songwriting is long gone?

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 01:37 AM

The Golden Age of everything, is by definition, long gone.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 10:56 AM

"Nobody in the U.S. knows it exists."

Wrong! I have known of the song for at least 30 years.

Take that! cool beans   :)

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cool Beans
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 12:20 PM

I stand corrected. Three people in the U.S. know it exists. It would have been four but Lee Marvin passed away.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 12:50 PM

"Paint Your Wagon" film soundtrack, and DVD (featuring Lee Marvin) still in print- all-time favorites.
"Wandrin' Star" by Marvin the best rendition since it is in keeping with the character and- cough, cough- suited to my voice (flat).
Cool Beans is Cold Beans on this one.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Amos
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 12:53 PM

Four.

A

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: MMario
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 12:58 PM

five - and if you include my b-i-l, my parents, my sibs, my nieces and nephes....

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 01:38 PM

6,7,8,9
Me, Mr, my mom and dad.
Come on, this song is quite well known.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 02:09 PM

Hey, you skipped me. Excellent for bathroom acoustics.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cool Beans
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 02:50 PM

The SONG is very well known. The Lee Marvin version, I maintain, is not.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cruiser
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 03:36 PM

I could not find where the song ever charted in the U.S. in Joel Whitburn's books. Some websites say it reached #1 and was awarded a Gold Record.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 03:54 PM

I disagree with you, Cool Beans; I don't know where you get that idea. Everyone I knew, growing up in the West, knew of it. The movie was a huge hit and the first time most people had ever heard the song. It was a recording of the Lee Marvin version which was played at my friend's funeral. It was also a BIG favourite among my family and friends.

Also, I liked the way Eastwood his song, too. Even if he didn't have much a voice, it fit with all of the personas he's ever portrayed, imo.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cruiser
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 04:27 PM

"Wand'rin Star" has been around since at least 1951 when "Paint Your Wagon" first appeared on Broadway. The songs were sung by the the original cast and if I can find my CD I will find who sang the tune on Broadway. That would have been the version Joe likely heard.

The song was popular in U.K. because it charted, but I do not think either rendition charted in the U.S.

BTW, ever notice how the same not-so-good songs chart in U.K. but not the U.S.?

So Cool Beans is partially correct, because if was very popular outside of the soundtrack it would have made the U.S. music charts.

"Wand'rin' Star"
Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Music by Frederick Loewe
Sung By Lee Marvin and Chorus
1969 Movie rendition

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cruiser
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 04:51 PM

Thanks to Answers.com and International Playground Lyrics the Broadway rendition was sung by:

James Barton & Chorus.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 05:05 PM

"Wandrin' Star" Marvin

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cool Beans
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 05:25 PM

Like Lee Marvin, James Barton was known as an actor, not a singer. He played Hickey in the original Broadway production (1946) of Eugene O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh."

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cruiser
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 05:52 PM

Q:

I guess you are questioning the spelling?

SoundtrackCollector, Amazon, IMDb etc. have it as Wand'rin' Star. However, there are various spellings on many sites.

Only Mr. Alan Jay Lerner could confirm the correct spelling.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 06:02 PM

Looks like Cruiser checked the Billboard books-
Joel Whitburn, "Billboard Hot 100 Charts- the Sixties (The Decade Series)."
Joel Whitburn, Billboard Hot 100 Charts- The Seventies (The Decade Series)."

These two volumes are available from Amazon for $100.74, too much for me to consider.
If the Movie Sound Track album or a recording of "Wandrin' Star" by Lee Marvin made the list, the answer would be in these volumes (I list both; the movie was released in 1969, but I think very late).

Anyhow, like Kat, it is on my all time list.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Padre
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 06:04 PM

In 1960, I was in the cast of "Paint Your Wagon" in college - I DID NOT play the Lee Marvin role! The 'most famous' song from PYW is probably "They Call the Wind Mariah" which was sung by a lot of singers in the early 'Folk Scare' scene.

Padre

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: GUEST,Mike Miller
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 06:53 PM

Back in the olden days, we used to sing gag versions of "They Call the Wind Mariah". Some were pseudo-Jewish takeoffs like, "They Call the Fire, Meyer" and "They call the Wind Makhiah (miracle)".
But my favorite was,

"Away out here, they've got a name
For rain and wind and fire.
The rain is Rain, the wind is Wind
And they call the fire, Fire."

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cruiser
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 07:04 PM

Q:

Thanks for those references. I do not have either of those volumes, but have 8 of Whitburn's other books.

In Top Pop Albums 1955-2001 Billboard on page 1037 (a big book!):

"Paint Your Wagon" Soundtrack Paramount

Debut: 10/25/69

Peak:   28

Weeks: 56

Original Cast version charted in 1952 (#7) on RCA Victor 1006.

All the soundtrack tracks are listed, but no indication that any of them charted as a single. The spelling of the track in question is "Wand'rin Star" in this volume.

I also checked Whitburn's Pop Annual 1955-1999 which includes the All Time Top 100 Hits for each year and each song's rank.

Cruiser

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 07:06 PM

Yes, dad used to sing Mariah too....

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cruiser
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 08:51 PM

The Top Pop Albums book I referenced above has all the Hot 100 hits including the 2 volumes Q mentioned above.

Tracks from an Album or Soundtrack that made the Hot 100 charts are listed in Bold in this 1188 page volume. "Wand'rin Star" is not in Bold, so based on what I've read in Whitburn's detailed books, I would conclude "Wand'rin Star" DID NOT Chart in the U.S.

Mantovani (1970) [spelled "Wand'ring Star"] and Roger Williams (1971) [spelled "Wanderin' Star"] had instrumentals of the song, but neither charted on the Hot 100.

There is obviously a lot of variability in the spelling of the song title; choose your favorite.

Now, I am tired of reading big music books with small print...

Cruiser

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Slag
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 11:59 PM

Everybody I know and all the people I've ever worked with know the song, primarily the Lee Marvin version. The Play was a huge hit and the movie was also enormous. You've got to give Marvin his due: as a singer he was a good actor!

So, was it Robert Gulette (sp?)(Goo-lay) that sung "They Call the Wind Mariah"?

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 12:36 AM

I never saw this film. But I'm gonna get it through Netflix. Thanks for letting me know about it.

Art

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cool Beans
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 08:06 AM

The play was not a huge hit. It ran for 8 months on Broadway, 288 performances, not even a blip when it comes to long runs. However, it gave the world three memorable songs that far outlasted its stage run: "Wand'rin' Star," "They Call the Wind Mariah" and "I Talk to the Trees."

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 10:23 AM

Oh, Art! You are gonna enjoy it!!

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: fat B****rd
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 12:03 PM

Thread drift. I prefer Spike Milligan's "I talk to the trees, that's why they took me away"

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: GUEST,EnfieldpeteUK
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 12:06 PM

This song was a big hit in the UK in the 1970s.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Slag
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 01:03 PM

Well, to a West Coast kid it sounded like a big hit. It got a lot of press.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cool Beans
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 02:16 PM

Those songs are certainly hits in the sense that they've stood up over time--if not in the Top 40 singles sense. The show actually lost money.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 02:43 PM

I suppose you could say there were "problems" with the plot and script of Paint Your Wagon, but it certainly had enduring popularity here in Northern California. It's one of the few musicals that tell our story, and it's quite a story to tell.
Directors have fiddled with this play since its inception, attempting to iron out some of those problems. I've always enjoyed the show, but I've never seen a production that has completely satisfied me.
There's no question at all about the songs from Paint Your Wagon - they're terrific.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 03:30 PM

There is a long article about the making of this movie musical with quotes from other commentaries on it on this site about Clint Eastwood. Just scroll down a bit or use the find function with "paint."

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cruiser
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 03:41 PM

"I could not find where the song ever charted in the U.S. in Joel Whitburn's books. Some websites say it reached #1 and was awarded a Gold Record".

So, if "Wand'rin Star" was never released as a single then it could not have make #1 on any music chart and it certainly could not have been awarded a Gold Record! Correct??

The soundtrack only peaked at #28 and I am not sure how many copies it sold, but I doubt it went Gold either.

Cruiser

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cruiser
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 04:46 AM

I played the "Paint Your Wagon" DVD tonight using Enabled Caption when the song was playing. The correct spelling of the tune for the musical and movie, at least, is:

"Wand'rin' Star" (with 2 apostrophes)

That is also the way lyricist Alan Jay Lerner wrote the lyrics.

The disyllabic spelling, emphasized with the dual apostrophes, has more meaning after listening to Marvin put stress on the first syllable of the lyric by holding it twice as long as the second syllable.

Marvin's voice sounds better to me when coupled with the scene in the movie versus just listening to a recording without the visual cues; somewhat, I guess, like a music video enhances a song (if you like modern music videos, which I don't).

BTW, I do like the song notwithstanding Marvin's bearish, almost bass, low range baritone.

Cruiser

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cruiser
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 11:17 AM

Correction:

"…put stress on the first syllable of the lyric by holding it twice as long as the second syllable".

Actually the time signature for the song is 4/4 so the first syllable is held 3 times (3 beats) as long as the second syllable (one beat).

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cruiser
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 09:04 PM

I posted a request on the Oldies Music board and a reply gave me the idea to check on the various record sales sites to see if a USA. single was ever released.

Only a Promo was made in the USA. Other 7" 45 RPMs were make in the United Kingdom, Niger, Australia, France, Canada, Germany and "Europe".

The Paramount Promo vinyl is only $11.50 for VG+

Look at the GEMM site


Cruiser

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 02:41 AM

***Remember Mudcatters***

You can still request songs at The Record Lady's site

including the Wand'rin' Star by the Inimitable Lee Marvin.

http://b5.boards2go.com/boards/board.cgi?&user=recldy&user2=record&pass2=lady&

Subject: Film Clip of Lee Marvin
From: Cruiser
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 02:57 PM

This film clip link was provided by a Oldies Music BB poster:


Flimclip of Marvin Singing "Wand'rin' Star"


You will likely need broadband; the file is approximately 17 megs. My video played in RealPlayer.

Cruiser

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Slag
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 03:31 AM

FYI, the word "Planet" means wandering star, so not only was 'Partner' born under a wand'rin' star, he was born ON a wand'rin' star, same as the rest of us.

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cruiser
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 11:56 AM

So, worldwide I guess the song was a million seller and did reach #1 in the U.K., regionally in Australia, and little doubt elsewhere. However, that was not the case in the USA.

The following quotes are from the Oldies Music Bulletin Board posts in reply to my questions:

{Quotes}
Sydney - reached #14 and stayed on the charts for 16 wks
Melbourne - #9 and stayed on charts for 11 wks
Brisbane - #2 and stayed on charts for 12 wks
Adelaide - #1 [2wks] and stayed on charts for 12 wks

Sydney - "The BOOK Top 40 Research 7th Edition 1956-2005" by Barnes & Scanes [Barscan Music Research]

Melbourne, Brisbane & Adelaide Chart Books by Gavin Ryan [Moonlight Press]

Here in Perth Western Australia it reached No. 6 on the local singles chart

Took over from Edison Lighthouse at # 1 on U.K. charts. Stayed at # 1 for 3 weeks then knocked off by Bridge Over Troubled Water

I am often surprised at the number of records sung and written by Americans that don't even make a single, or at best a Promo, here yet make #1 in the U.K.
: Ron, I would think it would be classed million seller, # 1 for those 3 weeks and official rank of 6 th biggest selling single in U.K in 1970 ( ref official U.K. records chart book by Tony Jasper ) It can work in reverse remember how To Sir With Love was one of the biggest U.S. hits of 1967 ? In the U.K. I think it may have been just a B - Side.
{End Quotes}

I learned a lot about musical charts from posters in other countries and may have to purchase the definitive U.K. music book that would be comparable to Whitburn's Pop Annual 1955-1999 Billboard book.

Anyone know the one U.K. book I should have if I only purchased one?

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 12:43 PM

Cruiser, thanks for the film clip. Great to see and hear that, again!

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cruiser
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 01:52 PM

You are welcome ma'am.

Even though I have the DVD, that clip is more convenient when I want to hear the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Was Born under a Wandering Star (Lerner
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Oct 06 - 12:34 PM

This is my theme song. Here is a link for the soundtrack for Paint Your Wagon:

http://www.amazon.com/Paint-Your-Wagon-1969-Film/dp/B000002PEY

Enjoy

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Throttleman
Date: 28 Dec 06 - 01:28 AM

My wife and I saw the film at the Midway Drive-In, with a Mesa College classmate/Air Force Vet, (Bob Byrne, from Davis, CA), in San Diego, in 1970. I bought the L.P. and gave it to her for Christmas. I heard Lee Marvin interviewed on PBS. He said that no one heard it in this country, but that it was a hit in Australia. Lee said some one down there said that it was the first 33 1/3 recorded at 45.

I saw the film again on TCM last evening. While the show was running, I downloaded the lyrics and added it to my "Lead Sheets" in D flat, which is the key Lee used, and suits my 40yr smoker's range quite nicely.

Throttleman, Detroit

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Tom Hamilton frae Saltcoats Scotland
Date: 28 Dec 06 - 06:49 AM

the song got to number one in Britain

tom

Subject: RE: Lee Marvin: I was born under a wandering star
From: Cluin
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 01:38 AM

I hate musicals as a rule, but I do like this movie.

And "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (that poofy "Lonesome Polecat" part notwithstanding).

---

Thread closed temporarily because it's been a target for Spam. If you have something to add to the discussion, contact me and I'll reopen it.
-Joe Offer-