Lyr/chords: Summertime (Gershwin)

Subject: Lyr Add: SUMMERTIME (Heyward, Gershwin, Gershwin)
From: Genie
Date: 01 Jul 06 - 06:20 PM

Couple corrections to the lyrics Ted posted above (including the one Alfie mentioned:

The original line was "... you'll spread your wings and take the sky." No "to."

The song's done a lot of morphing and folkifying as it's become a standard.


SUMMERTIME
Lyrics, DuBose Heyward & Ira Gershwin. Music, George Gershwin. 1935
(from Porgy & Bess)

Summertime an' the livin' is easy.
Fish are Jumpin' an' the cotton is high.
Your daddy's rich an' your momma's good lookin',
So hush, little baby, don't you cry.

One of these mornin's you're gonna rise up singin'.
You'll spread your wings
An' take the sky,
But till that mornin', nothin' can harm you
With daddy an' mammy standin' by.


There are always slight variations in the printed (and sung) lyrics, e.g. "mammy" vs. "mama, but I am sure of the "take the sky" (without the "to"), the "nothin'" (instead of "nobody") and that there's no "the" before "fish" in the second line in the original.

Subject: RE: Summertime
From:
Date: 13 May 01 - 01:25 AM

I can let you have a really nice guitar tab for it. e-mail me,

Mel

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: dr soul
Date: 12 May 01 - 11:21 PM

M. Ted wrote, "It always struck me that the song was really "St. James Infirmary"" . . .

Interesting comment. "Summertime" and "St. James Infirmary" are both minor blues, so your observation has a lot of truth, as all blues are built around the same basic formula (i.e. 1-4-5 riff, which as Chet W. pointed out above, are Dm-Gm-Am for this tune. I play both of these on harmonica in what they call 3rd position, which is well suited for minor blues.) There are differences between the two of course - St. James has an intro and outro verse, and I think of it as a "hot jazz" tune, while Summertime is a slow, smouldering vocal. But yeah, they're the same riff in many ways.

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: GUEST,nyborder
Date: 12 May 01 - 10:07 PM

Oops! I did this wrong the first time, sorry. Thanks everyone for all the great info on this song. It's definintely one of the greatest songs of all time!! Robyn

Subject: Lyr Add: SUMMERTIME (parody)
From: GUEST,Frogmore
Date: 12 May 01 - 02:26 PM

About a year ago, before the economy got screwey) I was singing this version:

"Summertime, and the livin' is easy.
Stock market's up and the interest rate's low.
Your lawyer is honest and your ex-spouse respects you.
So hush little baby, your portfolio's surely gonna grow."

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 May 01 - 08:33 AM

Will do, Jon. I still see Ted occasionaly though he isn't very well so I don't know when.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: alison
Date: 12 May 01 - 01:54 AM

never even ocurred to me.... but you are right about them being very similar......... I feel a medley coming on..... *grin*

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: M.Ted
Date: 12 May 01 - 01:49 AM

It always struck me that the song was really "St. James Infirmary"--

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: Tom D.
Date: 12 May 01 - 12:37 AM

This tune has been a great canvas for numerous artists. One of my favorites is Herbie Mann's version on his classic "Live at the Village Gate" album. I never take an extended drive without a playable version of it in the car.

Tom D.

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 11 May 01 - 09:44 PM

I don't mean to argue with Fox, but Dave, if you find it, please post it, I'd love to read it.

(And I will still love the splendid real version)

Jon

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: fox4zero
Date: 11 May 01 - 08:46 PM

Dave I think it's fortunate for us that your memory fails you. Fox

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 11 May 01 - 04:13 AM

Ted Edwards, Lancashire singer, songwriter, raconteur and explorer extraordinaire used to do a parody on it based on his works canteen!

Started "Suppertime and the liver is greasy. Fish are jumping and the sausage is high." Shame I can't remember the rest.

Dave the Gnome

Subject: Lyr Add: SUMMERTIME ^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 May 01 - 02:54 AM

Summertime

Summertime and the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high
Oh your Daddy's rich and your ma is good lookin'
So hush little baby, don't you cry

One of these mornings
You're goin' to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll take the sky
But till that morning
There's a nothin' can harm you
With daddy and mammy standin' by

Words and music by George Gershwin, DuBose & Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin
Copyright 1935 by George Gershwin Music, administered by Warner (WB Music Corp)^^

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: Kara
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 04:14 PM

Great song, but a bit short maybe we should give it a go on the song challenge???
Kara

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: Grab
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 06:41 AM

The Sarah Vaughan version, she does the second verse twice, and there's a bit of orchestral stuff in between. I do think it sounds better as her alto than the typical soprano part - as Chicalta says, that "trained" warble tends to trash the whole feeling of the song.

Grab.

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: M.Ted
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 12:39 PM

Langston Hughes wrote the lyrics to "Street Scene" (or most of them, Rice contributed some). Although it is nearly forgotten now, "Street Scene"was a great Broadway opera, with a powerful social message--another bit of Kurt Weill/Porgy and Bess convergence is that Todd Duncan, who was the original Porgy, was also the lead in "Lost in the Stars".

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 03:22 PM

This song rocks my world

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: summertime
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 06:34 AM

in Australia

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: summertime
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 06:33 AM

Yeah, but it was late

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: summertime
From: alison
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 04:59 AM

you are right Alfie

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: summertime
From: Alfie
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 01:21 AM

I actually believe the last line of the 2nd verse is "with your daddy & your mama standing by"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: summertime
From: MMario
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 09:47 AM

One of the best renditions I ever heard of this was at a campfire, from a couple who had just found out "they" were pregnant. Done as a duet, with about 60 people coming at various times...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: summertime
From: JedMarum
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 09:30 AM

less filling

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: summertime
From: JedMarum
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 09:29 AM

sounds great on harmonica; play straight harp with the major to the relative minor you sing (ie., C for Am). Play the melody up high and use power and angle for the bends ... sounds great!

Subject: Chords Add: SUMMERTIME
From: Grab
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 08:27 AM

It's actually a soprano song, but it sounds much better lower down. The classic version has to be the Sarah Vaughan one (she's an alto). She does 2 verses, then there's one verse of instrumental, then she repeats the last verse.

Some chords on the last thread as well. My preferred version though is played a little more blues than jazz:-

(Intro) Em B7 A7 B7

(Summertime...) Em Esus4 B7 A7
(easy...)Em B7 A7 B7
(fish are...)Am Am7 A7sus4 C7
(high...)Em B7 A7 B7
(Your...) Em Esus4 B7 A7
(good-lookin...)Em B7 A7 B7
(So hush...) Am C B7 B7
(cry...)Em B7 A7 B7

Sounds cool with guitar doing rhythm, and either violin or guitar doing the instrumental and fills.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: summertime
From: alison
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 07:47 AM

Here's an earlier thread about summertime

Hi Ted.. long time no see.

good luck with the A levels, and welcome to mudcat, guest..

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: summertime
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 07:40 AM

G'Day Guest"

"so hush little baby don't you cry"
is the last line of the chorus (and the song)

Summertime and the living is easy
The fish are Jumpin' and the cotton is high
Your Daddy's rich and your momma's good lookin'
So hush little baby don't you cry

One of these mornin's you'r go'na rise up singin'
Your Go'na spread your wings
And you'l take to the sky
But till that mornin' there's nobody go'na harm you
so hush little baby don't you cry
Regards Ted

Subject: summertime
From:
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 07:25 AM

Looking for lyrics to Gershwins' Summertime. what follows after "Hush little baby don't you cry" needed for 'A' level school work. Grateful for any help reply to e-mail address stated.

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: fox4zero
Date: 08 Nov 99 - 08:41 PM

I think that the lyrics and the music make Summertime one of the most beautiful songs I know. I love the poetry in the line..."Summertime and the living is easy"...do you know how many descriptive pages of what summertime is like would have to be written to replace that simple phrase?

Dubose Heyward was not only a writer-poet, but was a social activist. He also wrote the lyrics to Elmer Rice's Street Scene,(Kurt Weil wrote the music)which was the musical predecessor to West Side Story I love Summertime when it is sung by a soprano. I think it is desecration to meddle with the these lyrics.

Paris

Subject: Chords Add: SUMMERTIME
From: Chet W.
Date: 08 Nov 99 - 07:51 PM

Here's the ones I use, drawn basically from the Doc Watson version.

(/****/ is one measure)

/Dm7 Am7/Dm7 Am7/Dm7 Am7/Dm7 Am7/

/Gm7 /Gm7 /A7 Bb7/A7 /

/Dm7 Am7/Dm7 Am7/Dm7 Am7/Dm7 Am7/

/F Dm/Gm7 A7/Dm7 Am7/Dm7 Am7/

I play this one with the capo on the second fret so it sounds in Em (better for my voice). I also play a harp break on it with a Lee Oskar D natural minor, which makes it sort of in an E dorian mode. All the notes are there. Being from the vicinity of Charleston we always considered this a local tune. I'm glad it's being appreciated in other places.

Good luck, Chet

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: Dan Evergreen
Date: 08 Nov 99 - 04:57 PM

How 'bout the cords? Anyone?

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: JedMarum
Date: 07 Nov 99 - 07:52 PM

this is one my my favorites as well ... it's a great harp tune! These are the only words, as others have said, and I also repeat the second verse after an instrumental break (or two).

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: chicalta
Date: 07 Nov 99 - 04:26 PM

I love this song summertime...Its not so much the lyrics but the music. Very smooth...However it always freaks me out no matter how many times I hear it because tradidtionally it is sung in the style of opera (on broadway) instead of jazz...But like anything in life the style in which this great song is sung all depends on who is singing it...I love to listen to it in the style of opera weather it is a baratone or soprano, but I like to sing it like an old smooth jazz tune.

Subject: Lyr Add: SUMMERTIME (Roger Miller)
From: Paul
Date: 04 Apr 99 - 11:27 AM

Or do you mean the Roger Miller song?

SUMMERTIME
(Roger Miller)

in the summertime
when all the trees and leaves are green
and the red bird sings i'll be blue
'cause you don't want my love

some other guy
has taken up all your love
and you don't care much for me
'cause you don't want my love

you don't seem to care a thing about me
rather live without me
than to have my arms around you
when the nights are cold and you're so all alone


There are more verses, but that's all that comes to mind. A very silly song.

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: Da^Master
Date: 04 Apr 99 - 05:22 AM

Cool song

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: DonMeixner
Date: 04 Apr 99 - 12:21 AM

When my sister Martha used to sing with here friend Lisa Doyle un the name Martha and Lisa. Unusual ain't it? They thot that the song was too short so they would intertwine "Fever" with it. It worked very efectively.

Don

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: Anne
Date: 03 Apr 99 - 09:14 PM

Hey, go back into the old threads and you'll find a long discussion of this song. What a grear song! There is a ne wversion sung by Joni Mitchell on the Grammy winning GERSHWIN CD by Herbie Hancock from this year. I highly recommend it! It's Smoking! Anne

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: Riven
Date: 03 Apr 99 - 01:28 PM

Ok there is a Carlsberg Advertisement (The beer) witht he song summertime on...Does anyone know who sings that version? Pleaz if you do just send me an e-mail at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: chet w
Date: 28 Feb 98 - 07:20 PM

Those are the complete lyrics. When I do it, I usually sing the first verse again after the second verse and a break. Or sometimes I combine the first two to make a third:

one of these mornings
you gonna rise up singing
you'll spread your wings
and take to the sky
your daddy's rich
and your mama's good looking
So hush little baby don't you cry (last line very slow)

There is a wonderful version (from which I derived mine) by Doc Watson. It's on one of his old albums, but was recently redone even better maybe on the "Doc and Dawg" CD with David Grisman. Another great version is the one by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong on their album "Porgy and Bess"

Good luck,
Chet W.

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 28 Feb 98 - 02:43 PM

I have the movie soundtrack, with the above being all that was sung.

Lyrics were attributed to DuBose Heyward (who wrote the original book, "Porgy" and the screenplay for the movie) AND Ira Gershwin. On the soundtrack album, Cab Calloway stands in for Sammy Davis, Jr. as Sportin' Life.

I've been looking for the movie video for a long time, if anyone has seen it. The music (especially Dorothy Dandridge) is spectacular.....Tiger

Subject: RE: Summertime
From:
Date: 28 Feb 98 - 02:02 PM

thanks all. Chet W., is that the COMPLETE lyrics? I know those lines, but figured there was more. It's one of my favorite songs also...sing it while mowing the lawn. Rebecca

Subject: Lyr Add: SUMMERTIME (Gershwin & Heyward)^^
From: chet w
Date: 27 Feb 98 - 11:42 PM

SUMMERTIME
(Gershwin & Heyward)

summertime and the living is easy,
catfish jumping, and the cotton is high
your daddy's rich and your mama's good-looking
so hush little baby, don't you cry

one of these mornings you gonna rise up singing
you'll spread your wings and take to the sky
until that morning ain't nothing to harm you
with your daddy and your mammy standing by

Dubose Heyward wrote the original novel, entitled "Porgy", from which the opera was spawned. George Gershwin lived on an island just outside of Charleston while he was composing the music. Some of the places mentioned in Porgy and Bess are still there, such as Rainbow Row, where Porgy lived, but the houses now cost over a million dollars. Come on down in the spring, it is beautiful.

My favorite song,
Chet W.

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: dani
Date: 27 Feb 98 - 03:29 PM

You can go here:

http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/works/gershwin/porgy&bess.html

to find out more about DuBose Heyward and how Porgy and Bess was born.

Shortly after Hurrican Hugo wreaked havoc there in 1989, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra gave a performance on the waterfront just to cheer everyone up. Some fine singers did pieces of Porgy and Bess which, of course, features a hurricane right there. It was moving, to say the least...

DuBose is not forgotten in Charleston!

Subject: RE: Summertime
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Feb 98 - 07:03 PM

Hi - the best place to go for the "old standards" is Rabid Squirrel's Jazz Archive. Check our links page, and you'll find other good sources for pop lyrics. "Summertime" is at Rabid Squirrel, fer sure.
It's from "Porgy and Bess," and I knew the tune was by George Gershwin. I assumed the lyrics were by his brother Ira, but I was wrong. Ira wrote syrics for some of the songs for the show, but this one was by DuBose Heyward. I don't know anything else about Heyward, other than that he wrote most of the lyrics for this one show.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Summertime
From:
Date: 26 Feb 98 - 03:05 PM

Need complete lyrics to "Summetime."