I Can Dream, Can't I? (1939)

S. Fain/I. Kahal

"I'm aware my heart is a sad affair

There's much disillusion there, but I can dream, can't I?"

The Andrews Sisters had a hit with this, yet another song of desperate love, but I prefer Tommy Dorsey 's version with the somewhat forgotten Jo Stafford singing the vocals. Karen Carpenter, perhaps oddly, also sang this tune, which becomes that much more poignant when you are aware of her too short, too sad life. And another twist: the great Cass Elliot sings it, too, if somewhat blandly.


VERSE
As we eye the blue horizon's bend
Earth and sky appear to meet and end
But it's merely an illusion
Like your heart and mine
There is no conclusion...

CHORUS

I can see

No matter how near you'll be

You'll never belong to me

But I can dream, can't I?

Can't I pretend that I'm locked in the bend of your embrace?

For dreams are just like wine

And I am drunk with mine

I'm aware

My heart is a sad affair

There's much disillusion there

But I can dream, can't I?

Can't I adore you

Although we are oceans apart?

I can't make you open your heart

But I can dream, can't I?

I Want a Little Girl (1930)

Moll/Mencher

There must be someone who is all alone

Just a little girl/boy to fall in love with me.

A classic blues (though originally a foxtrot), this song has been recorded by everyone from Louis Armstrong to Eric Clapton, though the version that plays in my head is by T-Bone Walker. It's such a good song, I think, why can't it be sung by a lady? Of course it can. Just do a online search and find the amazing "girl" version sung by Ernestine Anderson, who Time Magazine called "the best-kept jazz secret in the land" upon her first LP release in 1958.  Despite thirty albums and multiple Grammy nominations, Ernestine never became recognized in the larger world of jazz. Quincy Jones paid off her mortgage so she wouldn't lose her home. A friend of mine, Chris Flory, an amazing guitarist, plays his version here, with the great drummer, Chuck Riggs, in the background.

CHORUS - Male vocals

I want a little girl to love a lot,
I'd give her everything that I've got
For a little girl who'd fall in love with me

I want a little girl, she may not look
Like the kind in the picture book
But if she can cook, she'll suit me to a 'T'

She don't have to wave her hair
Or dress in fancy clothes
And I wouldn't even care
If she don't wear silken hose

I want a little girl to call my own
There must be someone that's all alone
Just a little girl who'd fall in love with me

CHORUS - Female vocals

I want a little boy to call my own to love a lot
Must be someone who is all alone

Just little boy who'd fall in love with me

I want a little boy may not look
Like the pictures in a story book
But if she can cook, he'll suit me to a 'T'

He don't have to wave her hair
Or get dressed up in fancy clothes
And I would not even care
If he didn't buy me nylon (silken) hose

I want a little boy to love a lot

I'm gonna give him everything I've got 

Just a little boy who'll fall in love with me

I'll be home for Christmas (1943)

Ram/Gannon/Kent

"I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams."

This was written at the height of World War II, giving the song a built-in melancholy. After all, in the end, the singer will only be home "in my dreams." And for families whose loved ones were service members, there was a special poignancy, particularly if the loved one would not be returning home, not at Christmas and perhaps enver. Bing Crosby remains the definitive singer on this – as well as on some other classic holiday songs, and he manages to make this original version sound pretty cheerful, or at least pretty hopeful. Other worthy renditions are Elvis' version, and more recently, Kelly Clarkson, who does the song as a nice, slow waltz.

I'll be home for Christmas;
You can count on me.
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree.
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love-light gleams.
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.

Autumn in New York (1934)

Vernon Duke

"Glittering crowds

and shimmering clouds 

in canyons of steel
They're making me feel I'm home"

A love song to the City. This autumn has been especially spectacular in New York since the leaves have lingered on, in swirls of red, orange, purple, green, yellow, brown. Amazing. As a song, Autumn in New York is popular as a jazz instrumental, perhaps because Charlie Parker recorded it in 1949. However, a quick online search proves that all the great singers (Ella, Frank, Bing, etc. etc.) have a version as well. And the lyrics are so poetic; they deserve to be heard more frequently.

CHORUS

Autumn in New York
Why does it seem so inviting?
Autumn in New York
It spells the thrill of first-nighting

Glittering crowds and shimmering clouds in canyons of steel
They're making me feel I'm home

It's autumn in New York
That brings the promise of new love
Autumn in New York
Is often mingled with pain

Dreamers with empty hands
They sigh for exotic lands

It's autumn in New York
It's good to live it again

Lovers that bless the dark
On benches in Central Park

It's autumn in New York
It's good to live it again

Dream (1944)

Johnny Mercer

"Things never are as bad as they seem
So dream, dream, dream."

Johnny Mercer dashed out this little, lovely tune out as a theme for his radio program. There are many versions of Dream out there, and rightfully so. But the one that stays with my is Roy Orbison's slightly honky-tonk yet hopeless version from 1963.  Why does everything he sing always sound so sad? Orbison's Dream is not to be confused with another of his songs, In Dreams. 

VERSE

Get in touch with that sundown fellow
As he tiptoes across the sand
He's got a million kinds of stardust
Pick your fav'rite brand, and

CHORUS

Dream, when you're feeling blue
Dream, that's the thing to do
Just watch the smoke rings in the air
You'll find your share of memories there

So dream when the day is through
Dream, and they might come true
Things are never as bad as they seem
So dream, dream, dream

A Kiss to Build a Dream On (1935)

Ruby/Kalmar/Hammerstein

"Give me a kiss before you leave me
And my imagination will feed my hungry heart."

This week, New York City is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1964 World's Fair: the few colossal structures still standing were opened up to the public; volunteers worked to spruce up some of the badly neglected areas to make it more attractive. Over 50 million visitors went to the World's Fair in Flushing, Queens, the two seasons it was open, including my family - I remember my sister and I had to wear white kid gloves and hats. Many of the original structures were destroyed after the Fair ended; rumors have been circulating that the remaining ones will be razed as well. How might this connect to the song, Give Me a Kiss to Build a Dream On, other than a slight reference to building? Well, Louis Armstrong, who had a big hit with the song in 1951, lived in Queens - not far from the World's Fair site. 

CHORUS

Give me a kiss to build a dream on
And my imagination will thrive upon that kiss
Sweetheart, I ask no more than this
A kiss to build a dream on

Give me a kiss before you leave me
And my imagination will feed my hungry heart
Leave me one thing before we part
A kiss to build a dream on

When I'm alone with my fancies
I'll be with you
Weaving romances
Making believe they’re true

Oh, give me your lips for just a moment
And my imagination will make that moment live
Mmm, give me what you alone can give
A kiss to build a dream on

The Very Thought of You (1934)

Ray Noble



"The mere idea of you, the longing here for you..."

I think perhaps it's the melody, but I find this song, especially the Nat King Cole version, to be one of the greatest and sexiest love songs ever written. That said, one of the most tragic, greatest of couples somehow comes to mind: Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Yes, it's stream of consciousness, but aren't we all living in a kind of daydream, anyway?

VERSE

I don't need your photograph, to keep by my bed,
your picture is always in my head.
I don't need your portrait, dear, to call you to mind,
for sleeping or waking, dear, I find...


The very thought of you and I forget to do
The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
I'm living in a kind of daydream
I'm happy as a king
And foolish though it may seem
To me that's everything
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love

VERSE TWO

I hold you responsible, I'll take it to law,
I never have felt like this before.
I'm suing for damages, excuses won't do,
I'll only be satisfied with you.

Out of Nowhere (1931)

J. Green

"You came to me from out of nowhere. . .

wonderful schemes, wonderful dreams from nowhere . . ."

"Greetings my friend! We are all interested in the future, for this is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives!" Immortal words from the Amazing Criswell, who was a famously inaccurate psychic. But this is the kind of lyric to which I can really relate:  less romance and more existential life questions. In what matter does the flow of events occur; why do things often seem to come from nowhere at all, with no rhyme or reason?  Things do seem to come Out of Nowhere, as sung by Lena Horne. 

VERSE

When I least expected
Kindly fate directed
You to make each dream of mine come true.
And if it's clear or raining
There is no explaining
Things just happen and so did you.

CHORUS

You came to me from out of nowhere,
you took my heart and found it free.
Wonderful dreams, wonderful schemes from nowhere
made every hour sweet as a flower for me.

If you should go back to your nowhere,
leaving me with a memory,
I'll always wait for your return out of nowhere,
hoping you'll bring your love to me.

There Will Never Be Another You (1942)

Gordon/Warren



There will be other songs to sing,
another Fall, another Spring,
But there will never be another you."

This first post is dedicated to the great Max Roach, who was a neighbor in our building and a friend. Attending his memorial service at the Riverside Church, the magnitude of the crowd in and waiting outside the church underlined again how significant Max was to the world, both as musician and human rights activist. Jimmy Heath played an saxophone solo of this song at the service. How true.

LYRICS
There will be many other nights like this
And I'll be standing here with someone new
There will be other songs to sing,
another Fall, another Spring
But there will never be another you

There will be other lips that I may kiss
But they won't thrill me like yours used to do
I may dream a million dreams but
how can they come true
If there will never ever be another you