Lyr Req: Shine On Harvest Moon (Norworth/Bayes)

Subject: Shine On Harvest Moon
From: CBjames
Date: 01 Jan 00 - 10:24 PM

"The night's were pretty dark, and it was hard to see; 'cause the moon refused to shine ...."

This is the start of "Shine on Harvest Moon" the way Leon Redbone sang it some years ago. I can't find the recording and I am not sure if this was an intro or the first of a couple of verses?

My copy of the 1908 Bayes & Norworth song, unfortunately only includes the best remembered chorus "Shine on, shine on harvest moon, ... etc."

I know this is not a folk song - and no I don't want to spin the "what is a folksong?" thread yet again {I agreed with the Gottlieb/Yarborough/Hasilev definition over thirty 30 years ago} but it's getting pretty darn close.

Does anyone out there have the rest of the words for this classic?

I apologize for being out of season - although maybe the aussie crowd is into campfires now.

Subject: Lyr Add: SHINE ON HARVEST MOON (Norworth, Bayes)
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 01 Jan 00 - 10:46 PM

Try this link. Or see the sheet music at University of Illinois at Chicago.

---

Shine On, Harvest Moon
Words by Jack Norworth, Music by Nora Bayes-Norworth, ©1908.

1. The night was mighty dark so you could hardly see,
For the moon refused to shine.
Couple sitting underneath a willow tree,
For love they pine.
Little maid was kinda 'fraid of darkness,
So she said, "I guess I'll go."
Boy began to sigh,
Looked up at the sky.
Told the moon his little tale of woe.

CHORUS: Oh, shine on, shine on, harvest moon up in the sky.
I ain't had no lovin' since April, January, June or July.
Snow time ain't no time to stay outdoors and spoon,
So shine on, shine on, harvest moon,
For me and my gal.

2. I can't see why a boy should sigh when by his side
Is the girl he loves so true.
All he has to say is "Won't you be my bride?
For I love you.
Why should I be telling you this secret
When I know that you can guess?"
Harvest moon will smile,
Shine on all the while,
If the little girl should answer "Yes." CHORUS.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shine On Harvest Moon
From: CBjames
Date: 01 Jan 00 - 11:24 PM

Mary You are a true sweetheart. Many, many thankyous. I love you till the cows come home. And I ain't got any cows.

jb

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shine On Harvest Moon
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 02 Jan 00 - 02:51 PM

Of course, you could have found it in the DigiTrad database--cleverly concealed under the title Harvest Moon.

Subject: Shine On Harvest Moon: audio of both verses
From: Genie
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 04:05 PM

Yes, it's in the DT - and with the original words (April, January, June and July), including both verses, too.   The DT doesn't give the original copyright date, though, which was at least as early as 1908.

Here's the blurb I found at YouTube alongside Ruth Etting's recording of Shine On, Harvest Moon."

Shine On, Harvest Moon
(from Ziegfield Follies of 1931
Words and music by Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth
Ruth Etting, vocal. Recorded July 19, 1935, in New York. Originally issued on Columbia 3085D.

This song was first introduced by Nora Bayes and songwriter-husband, Jack Norworth in the Ziegfield Follies of 1908. Ruth Etting's performance of the song in the Ziegfield Follies of 1931 was a tribute to Nora Bayes. The 1931 production of the Follies was the last to be produced under the direction Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr.; he died shortly thereafter in 1932. It's interesting to note that Nora Bayes recorded this song for Victor in 1910 but it was never released.
---------------

The DT does have a MIDI link, but sometimes it's hard to fit MIDI tunes to printed lyrics if you haven't heard the song. YouTube has several postings of singers doing one or both verses of the song, but this one is the one I think is best in terms of both verses being heard loudly and clearly:

Marion Lapham sings "Shine On, Harvest Moon"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shine On Harvest Moon
From: Artful Codger
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 08:17 AM

Notes in my copy of the lyrics state "Copyrighted Nov. 7, 1908" and "Sung by Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth in 'The Follies of 1908'". The latter note appears verbatim on the cover of the original sheet music, which can be viewed at the John Hopkins Lester S. Levy Sheet Music Collection site.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shine On Harvest Moon
From: Rasener
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 08:41 AM

Well would you believe it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRS0uQCDUeA

Subject: Chord Req: Shine On, Harvest Moon
From: Genie
Date: 25 Sep 10 - 11:03 PM

The lyrics, credits, and chords to this song are in Rise Up Singing (the dreaded "blue book").

Here's a very nice rendition of the song by Marion Lapham, who sings both verses:

Marion Lapham sings "Shine On, Harvest Moon"


I don't have a copy of RUS handy, so I'm wondering if anyone has the chords to the verses handy.   I'm sure they're easy to figure out if you're sure of the tune, but I'm trying to prevent 'tune drift', which sometimes happens when I'm learning a new tune with no sheet music or chords.

Subject: Shine On, Harvest Moon - public domain now?
From: Genie
Date: 25 Sep 10 - 11:21 PM

Since this song was published in 1908, is it now in public domain, or have the copyright holders managed to figure out a way to keep the copyright in force for another 50 years?

Subject: Chords Add: Shine On, Harvest Moon
From: Genie
Date: 26 Sep 10 - 12:45 AM

OK
I think I've got 'em.

INTRO: Bm
                                                                                                                                   
The ni(Bm)ght was mighty dark so you could hardly see, cause the moon refused to sh(F#)ine.
Th(Bm)ere's a couple sittin 'neath the willow tree, for lo(E7)ve they p(A7)ine.
Lit(Em)tle ma'am was kinda 'fra(A)id of darkness, so she sa(D)id, "I think I'll g(Bm)o."
B(E)oy began to s(E7)igh, lo(E)oked up in the s(E7)ky and told the moon his little tale of w(A)oe, "O(F#)h,

CHORUS:
Shi(B7)ne on, shine on harvest mo(E)on, up in the s(E7)ky.
I ain't h(A)ad no lo(A7)vin since Jan(D)uary, February, Ju(D7)ne or July.*
Sno(B7)wtime ain't no time to sta(E)y outdoors and sp(E7)oon,
So sh(A)ine o(A7)n, shi(A)ne on harvest mo(D)on for m(G) e an' my g(D)al.

*Original line "… April, January, June or July."