Lyr Req: Now's the Time to Fall in Love

Subject: Now's the time to fall in love
From:
Date: 05 Jan 02 - 07:17 PM

Does anyone know all the lyrics to the song that begins:

"Tomatoes are Cheaper, Potatoes are Cheaper, Now's the time to fall in love" ?

If you do, could you email me? Thanks SO MUCH!

Subject: RE: Now's the time to fall in love
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 05 Jan 02 - 08:02 PM

It was written by Al Sherman and Al Lewis in 1931 and was popularized by Eddie Cantor. (Al Sherman's sons wrote the music for "Mary Poppins" and lots of other Disney songs.) A search on Google did not yield the lyrics, and the Levy collection doesn't have them because the song is not yet in the public domain. (Information about the song from the Levy site is here.)

Sorry not to be more helpful, but at least now you (and others) know where not to look! Maybe somebody else has the music or knows the song.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Now's the time to fall in love
From: GUEST,hrothgar
Date: 05 Jan 02 - 08:12 PM

Is that Al Sherman any relation to Alan Sherman who (amongst lots of good things) did that great LP "My Son, the Folk Singer?"

Subject: RE: Now's the time to fall in love
From: Deda
Date: 05 Jan 02 - 09:44 PM

And who came up with the fabulous lyric "Mine eyes have seen the warehouse where the drapes of Roth are stored," among a lot of others?

Subject: RE: Now's the time to fall in love
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 06 Jan 02 - 01:53 AM

Al Sherman and Al Lewis wrote "Now's the Time to Fall in Love" in 1931...probably around the time Allan Sherman was born. The Sherman Brothers who wrote so many songs for Disney were Richard and Robert. Maybe Allan was a cousin. He certainly was a genius.

Oh, and Deda, the line is, "He was trampling through the warehouse where the drapes of Roth are stored." If you're interested, I have the words to most of "My Son, the Folksinger" stored in memory. My memory, that is!

But we still have to find Mr. or Ms. Kleinstein the words to "Potatoes Are Cheaper"!

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Now's the time to fall in love
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 06 Jan 02 - 04:09 AM

Well, Google didn't find it but Lycos did! Here's a link to a Real Audo file of Potatoes are Cheaper, Tomatoes are Cheaper, Now's the Time to Fall in Love, recorded by Ben Selvin and his Orchestra in 1931. All the lyrics are here, including a comic pseudo-British verse, and the music is top-drawer! Rick Fielding should know about this one. I'll send an email to our Guest with the link.

Aloha,
Mark
who really should get back to work...or to sleep....

Subject: Lyr Add: NOW'S THE TIME TO FALL IN LOVE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 06:19 PM

I found several recorded versions:

At the Red Hot Jazz Archive:
The Ben Selvin Orchestra

At the Internet Archive:
Ed Parker & His Orchestra, with Dick Robinson, vocalist

At YouTube:
Phil Spitalny
Jack Payne and his Band
Lawrence Welk
Max Lindsey

The following transcription was taken mainly from Max Lindsey's version, because his seems most complete, but I have interpolated lines from other sources, which are marked accordingly:


NOW'S THE TIME TO FALL IN LOVE
Words and music by Al Lewis & Al Sherman, ©1931.

VERSE 1: Two can live as cheap as one; that used to be a fake,
But it's true now
[I'm] telling you now.
If you think it can't be done, you're making a mistake.
Mister Gloomy,
Listen to me:

CHORUS 1: Potatoes are cheaper.
Tomatoes are cheaper.
Now's the time to fall in love.
The butcher, the baker,
The candlestick maker,
Gave their price a downward shove.
Grab yourself someone to fry your eggs and bacon.
She can live just like a queen on what you're makin'.
You'll find that marriage is cheaper,
A carriage is cheaper,(*)
So now's the time to fall in love.

[* Possible substitutions for these 2 lines:

"'Cause this 'n' that's lot cheaper
A flat's a lot cheaper"

"You'll even find it's delicious
To help with the dishes"]

VERSE 2: If you care for sound advice, you're going to get a lot.
Little to it.
Little to it.
Why be single when the price of matrimony's cheap?
Ev'rybody
Ought to do it.

CHORUS 2: Pajamas are cheaper
And nighties are cheaper.
Now's the time to fall in love.
Bananas are bargains.
Pianos are bargains
You should take advantage of.
You can pay a little, owe a little, maybe.
You can even start to think about a baby.
You'll find that bibs are much cheaper,
And cribs are much cheaper,
Now's the time to fall in love.

CHORUS 3: Spaghetti is longer
And ...(?**) is stronger
Now's the time to fall in love
There isn't much costing
A nice baby Austin.
You should take advantage of.
Get a partner who'll keep you from oversleeping.
Just put down a pound and start right in housekeeping.
The bills they keep flowing at you
You'll pay when they catch you
Now's the time to fall in love

[** I don't know what this word is, but you could use "garlic."]

CHORUS 4: My honest advice is
At these current prices
Now's the time to fall in love
A preacher will splice you
For less than he used to
Now's the time to turtle dove
If you can't afford a flat just do like Yuba
He's that guy in Cuba who lives in a tuba
...(?)
...(?)
Now's the time to fall in love.

[The following 2 verses are from the singing of Maurice Peckman. I didn't find them anywhere else.]

Sweets are much cheaper.
Movies seats are much cheaper.
Now's the time to fall in love.
The movies are tender
To make her surrender
You should take advantage of
When the movie's over, take her where it's quiet
Just remember what the hero did and try it.
You're not a Coleman or Gable,
But do what you're able.
Now's the time to fall in love.

Potatoes are dearer.
Tomatoes are dearer,
But what's that got to do with love?
If you've got a shoulder,
A shoulder to hold her,
She'll know what you're thinking of.
When you've tried out ev'ry trick you know to win her,
Don't you worry 'bout the cost of any dinner.
Love may not be nutritious,
But, boy, it's delicious!
Now's the time to fall in love.