Moon River (1961)

J. Mercer/H. Mancini

"Two drifters, off to see the world, there's such a lot of world to see..."

Affable Andy Williams died last week, age 84. He always seemed to be popular with the older set somehow; he was square at a time when it was no longer hip to be square. And yet, he had a variety show that we used to watch every Saturday night while Mrs. Kravolka, our babysitter, laughed at his skits while teaching us canasta.

Moon River won the 1961 Academy Award for Best Original Song when it was sung by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Another great set of lyrics by Johnny Mercer.... Henry Mancini is even better well-known for another iconic piece of music from the sixties.
Is it too much of a non-sequitur to mention here that Andy's ex-wife, the beautiful Claudine Longet, was acquitted for the murder of ski champion Spider Sabich?


CHORUS

Moon river, wider than a mile

I'm crossing you in style some day

Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker

Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way

Two drifters, off to see the world

There's such a lot of world to see

We're after the same rainbow's end,
Waitin' 'round the bend

My huckleberry friend,
Moon River, and me