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Lyr Req: Till We Meet Again: 'Smile the while...'

14 Sep 00 - 05:00 PM (#297439)
Subject: Smile Awhile
From: lloyd64

They say number one song to be sung in a Nursing Home is Smile Awhile. Is that true? What are the words? What songs would you recommend for a Nursing Home ?

14 Sep 00 - 09:17 PM (#297630)
Subject: Lyr Add: TILL WE MEET AGAIN (chorus only)
From: DougR

Is this the one you are thinking about?

TILL WE MEET AGAIN

Smile the while you kiss me sad adieu,
When the clouds roll by, I'll come to you.
Then the skies will be more blue,
Down in lover's lane, my dearie,
Wedding bells will ring so merrily,
Every kiss will be a memory,
So wait and pray, each night for me,
'Til we meet again.

I can understand why this song would be popular with those populations. It was popular when many of those folks were of courting age.

Hope this is the one you are looking for.

DougR

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 3-Sep-02.

14 Sep 00 - 10:19 PM (#297707)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Smile Awhile
From: GUEST,guest still

Yes, courting age and their sweethearts were leaving for the world war. A very popular song indeed.

14 Sep 00 - 11:30 PM (#297783)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Smile Awhile
From: lloyd64

Thanks, thats the song I am looking for, it is requested at every Nursing Home I go to.

lloyd

15 Sep 00 - 12:04 AM (#297813)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Smile Awhile
From: Musicman

Lloyd.... Hmmmm.... where do I start,, maybe with the "A" (your adorable).... It was my profession (job) doing music for elderly for about 7 years.. I know about 300 songs of pre 1950 (and I'm only 44!) I can see if I can find a list somewhere ( I might have on file somewhere ), the best thing is to go armed with a LOT of song books from the era, and ask for requests... they know what they like, and most of them are fairly easy to sight read (although you might have to change keys from Eb and the like, not very easy on guitar), but hey, not a problem, right? If you get stuck for songs/music/words, or really need a list, let me know, either direct message here or email at: pevenden@home.com and I'll come up with something for you....

btw... sons of the pioneers stuff, wilf carter etc... works great too.....

Musicman

15 Sep 00 - 07:42 PM (#298322)
Subject: Lyr Add: TILL WE MEET AGAIN^^
From: Tiger

Here are all the words. I sing it in a medley with Lili Marlene, representing the most popular songs from WWI and WWII.

TILL WE MEET AGAIN
as sung by Charles Hart & Louis James
Words by Raymond B. Egan, music by Richard Whiting, 1918

There's a song in the land of the lily,
Each sweetheart has heard with a sigh.
Over high garden walls this sweet echo falls,
And a fond lover* whispers good-bye.

    CHORUS
    Smile the while you kiss me sad adieu,
    When the clouds roll by, I'll come to you.
    Then the skies will seem more blue,
    Down in Lovers' Lane, my dearie.

    Wedding bells will ring so merrily.
    Ev'ry tear will be a memory.
    So wait and pray each night for me,
    'Till we meet again.

Tho' good-bye means the birth of a teardrop,
Hello means the birth of a smile,
And the smile will erase the tear-blighting trace,
When we meet in the after a while.

    CHORUS

[* The sheet music has "soldier boy" instead of "fond lover."]

15 Sep 00 - 07:46 PM (#298326)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Smile Awhile
From: DougR

Thanks, Tiger. I've known that song for years, but didnt' really all of know it. I had never heard the verses.

DougR

16 Sep 00 - 12:17 AM (#298477)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Smile Awhile
From: rabbitrunning

Mitch Miller songs would probably work very well with that population as well. That's where I first heard this one.

15 Apr 06 - 07:10 PM (#1719192)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Smile Awhile
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

The main reason why it is so popular in the Maritimes, and probably in most of Canada, is that the chorus part of the song was the final waltz/closing theme for the Don Messer show. Even after it has been off the air for over 30 years, you can start the first few notes of it, and bring back fond memories for everyone in the audience. (Unless you're under the age of 35....)

11 Nov 06 - 07:19 PM (#1883484)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Till We Meet Again: 'Smile the while...'
From: Jim Dixon

The sheet music is in Indiana University Sheet Music Collections. There, the last line of the first verse is:

As a soldier boy whispers goodbye.

11 Nov 06 - 07:40 PM (#1883498)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Till We Meet Again: 'Smile the while...'
From: masato sakurai

The sheet music is also at Levy:

Title: Till We Meet Again. Song.
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Lyric by Raymond B. Egan. Music by Richard A. Whiting.
Richard A. Whiting Publication: Detroit: Jerome H. Remick & Co., 1918.

And at American Memory:

Till we meet again. (Detroit, Michigan, Jerome H. Remick, 1918)

The following vintage recordings are at Digital History (both with the verses):
"Till We Meet Again," Performed by: Vernon Dalhart and Gladys Price
"Till We Meet Again," Performed by: Henry Burr

11 Nov 06 - 09:39 PM (#1883577)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Till We Meet Again: 'Smile the while.
From: Ferrara

My mother was born in 1913. During WWI her father, a gregarious sort, used to invite servicemen to the house for a home-cooked meal. These evenings often ended with singing around the piano. This song was a favorite and always brought back those memories for her.

11 Nov 06 - 10:13 PM (#1883601)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Till We Meet Again: 'Smile the while...'
From: Genie

I've been doing music full-time primarily for senior facilities (nursing & rehab. centers, retirement communities, senior centers, etc.) for about 13 years, and this song is, indeed, one of the more popular ones. Probably not as popular as You Are My Sunshine, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Home On The Range, and God Bless America, but right up there on the list.

Here's a link to several other Mudcat forum threads that should be of help in finding good songs for nursing home residents and related populations:
Music for nursing homes

11 Nov 06 - 10:14 PM (#1883605)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Till We Meet Again: 'Smile the while...'
From: Genie

Try this link too:
Music for retirement homes

11 Nov 06 - 10:16 PM (#1883606)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Till We Meet Again: 'Smile the while.
From: GUEST,Dale

One of the treasured old 78s I recently mentioned in another thread was a Victor recording of Nicholas Orlando's Orchestra doing Till We Meet Again.   It was mostly an instrumental waltz with the chorus twice.

You can find it at archive.org http://www.archive.org/details/NicholasOrlandosOrchestra

Even now, hearing it again slips me back 50 years, though I have to close my eyes to block out the computer.

11 Nov 06 - 10:21 PM (#1883610)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Till We Meet Again: 'Smile the while.
From: GUEST,Dale

I should have mentioned that a search at archive.com will turn up several other versions, the cleanest of which is by Charles Hart and Lewis James. Best is in the ear of the beholder, though.

11 Nov 06 - 10:38 PM (#1883620)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Till We Meet Again: 'Smile the while.
From: Sandy Mc Lean

I, along with several friends, was invited to perform at our local legion this afternoon. This was one of the half dozen songs that I sang. There are no WW1 veterans left here but four of the songs I did were related to The Great War. This one, Homesick, and The Ghost of Bras D'or. I also did one which I had written years ago dedicated to my grandfather, a WW1 veteran.
As George stated this song remains popular due to the Don Messer Show.

08 Jun 08 - 04:49 PM (#2360925)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Till We Meet Again: 'Smile the while...'
From: GUEST

I have been searching for this song for years. My mother remembers her Grandmother singing it to her and only knew a few lines.
Great
Thanks
B

09 Jun 08 - 09:41 AM (#2361364)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Till We Meet Again: 'Smile the while...'
From: GUEST,Guest

Here are some that have gone down well

RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET
WHO'S SORRY NOW
A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELEY SQUARE
YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU
PADDY REILLY
DON'T FENCE ME IN
HEY GOOD LOOKIN'
LIVIN' DOLL

31 Oct 09 - 12:51 PM (#2756707)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Till We Meet Again: 'Smile the while.
From: GUEST,Harold

Thanks for the update, I am touching '80' in one month, and have been singing the first line, and humming the rest because I did not know the rest of the song.

Is there a CD or record available? My sister is 86 and in an assisted living home, and I am sure she and others would enjoy hearing it.

Thanks again.

31 Oct 09 - 02:51 PM (#2756825)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Till We Meet Again: 'Smile the while...'
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Harold, type in the name at amazon.com or amazon.co.uk and several are listed.

31 Oct 09 - 03:17 PM (#2756846)
Subject: WWI song: Till We Meet Again (Smile the while ...)
From: Genie

This is from an old 78 RPM record, so the sound quality isn't great, but you can hear the tune for the verses as well as the well-known chorus:

YouTube: Till We Meet Again - with verses

31 Oct 09 - 03:26 PM (#2756851)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Till We Meet Again: 'Smile the while.
From: Genie

And here is a much better recording, but with just the chorus:

Joni James: Till We Meet Again

And, even better, here is mezzo soprano Patricia Hammond, singing the whole song. It's a recent performance, but you can hear her clearly and she has a lovely voice.