Lullaby of Broadway
Doris Day Lyrics
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The lullaby of Broadway
The hip hooray and ballyhoo
The lullaby of Broadway
The rumble of a subway train
The rattle of the taxis
The daffodils who entertain
At Angelo's and Maxi's
When a Broadway baby says good night
It's early in the morning
Manhattan babies don't sleep tight
Until the dawn
Good night, baby
Good night, the milkman's on his way
Sleep tight, baby
Sleep tight, let's call it a day
Hey
The band begins to go to town
And everyone goes crazy
You rock a bye your baby round
'Til everything gets hazy
Hush a bye, I'll buy you this and that
You hear a daddy saying
And baby goes home to her flat
To sleep all day
Good night, baby
Good night, the milkman's on his way
Sleep tight, baby
Sleep tight, let's call it a day
Listen to the lullaby
Of old Broadway
The lyrics of Doris Day's "Lullaby of Broadway" are a tribute to the vibrant and bustling city of New York. The song speaks about the heart and soul of Broadway, where the city never sleeps and the entertainment never stops. The first verse sets the stage for the sights and sounds of the city with the "rumble of a subway train and the rattle of the taxis." It goes on to describe how even the flowers, the daffodils, play a role in the entertainment at Angelo's and Maxi's.
The second verse talks about the life of a Broadway baby, someone who is a part of the showbiz world that thrives in New York City. The song explains that when a Broadway baby says goodnight, it's early in the morning. This is a reference to how the entertainment industry keeps going on even late into the night, and how the life of a Broadway baby is all about chasing the spotlight. The final verse is a lullaby to put the baby to sleep. It's a metaphor for the end of a long day in New York, where everyone finally sleeps "all day."
Line by Line Meaning
Come on along and listen to
Join me on this journey and pay close attention to
The lullaby of Broadway
The soothing yet exciting sounds and rhythms of Broadway
The hip hooray and ballyhoo
The crowd's joyous cheers and attention-grabbing antics
The lullaby of Broadway
Once again, the comforting and mesmerizing sounds of Broadway
The rumble of a subway train
The deep vibration of the train as it rushes through the underground tunnels
The rattle of the taxis
The sound of the many taxis racing through the busy streets
The daffodils who entertain
The street performers who bring joy and entertainment to all who pass by
At Angelo's and Maxi's
At the popular restaurants and hotspots on this bustling street
When a Broadway baby says good night
At the end of the night when the performers bid farewell
It's early in the morning
Despite the late hour, it's actually very early in the morning
Manhattan babies don't sleep tight
The city that never sleeps extends to the youngest residents as well
Until the dawn
Sleep doesn't come until the sun begins to rise
Good night, baby
A sweet farewell to those heading home for the night
Good night, the milkman's on his way
Even as the night ends, the day begins for others, like the milkman making deliveries
Sleep tight, baby
Sweet dreams await for those who finally get to rest
Sleep tight, let's call it a day
With the night over, it's time to end the day and rest your body
The band begins to go to town
The energetic band starts to play, getting everyone excited
And everyone goes crazy
The crowd becomes wild and ecstatic with the music
You rock a bye your baby round
To calm a baby, one might rock them back and forth
'Til everything gets hazy
The movement becomes so repetitive that it starts to blur your surroundings
Hush a bye, I'll buy you this and that
To soothe the baby, one might promise them gifts and treats
You hear a daddy saying
A loving father whispers sweet nothings to his baby, lulling them to sleep
And baby goes home to her flat
Finally, the baby is brought home to their cozy apartment
To sleep all day
Even though it's daytime, the baby will sleep soundly until nightfall
Listen to the lullaby
Once again, take note of the gentle and captivating sounds of Broadway
Of old Broadway
The timeless allure of this iconic street and its many delights
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Warren, Al Dubin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cup
Her distinct voice makes this the best version for me. Always was and always will be. I think I was born in the wrong time period 😭
Billy
Cup Her viice is terrible. Ada Jones ( most popular female singer in the 1900sand the 1910s) and Aileen Stanley ( most popular female singer in the periode 1920-1930) voices is beautiful. Doris Day is very very very terrible. I find not a good thing to say about her. Sorry,but she reminds me of the devil
WolfDog
@Billy uh...
Margaret Adami
Ohhh I feel the same way!
ReneeDeborah
This isn’t one of her big hits but I have always loved this musical and this finale to the film is just great. She was an excellent dancer, as well as singer.
Anea Marlivana
Since nobody here is saying anything about the incomparable Gene Nelson, I will. I always thought he combined the elegance of Astaire with the athleticism of Gene Kelly, and danced better than either one of them. He was an acrobat, gymnast, tap dancer, ice skater, and had ballet training...and it all showed in his dancing. I don't think I've ever seen a more graceful person. He could also sing (Although his voice was dubbed in this Lullaby of Broadway, he did his own singing in a number of other films.) and was an excellent actor. You can have Astaire and Kelly. I'll take Gene Nelson any day.
MinstrelSurfer { MovieMusicals }
Absolutely, Anea! I have been saying this for years. There is a marked difference in Gene Nelson's dancing to the two 'greats' Astaire and Kelly. Both A & K were marvellous dancers but I always feel there is 'effort' behind everything they do. Just watch Gene Nelson and everything is effortless and natural as if the dancing is coming from him instantaneously without thought or contrivance. His natural acrobatic and balletic talents shine through. I agree with you....the word is 'graceful'! Thank you for giving me the chance to highlight this, sometimes under-rated, artiste.
dana winsor
Wow, thank you for your comment! I was not familiar with Gene Nelson, but I will say this: his dancing in this excerpt was fabulous. He had tremendous grace and style, and the fact that he was really hot didn't hurt either.
Anea Marlivana
@MinstrelSurfer { MovieMusicals } Exactly! Astaire and Kelly were always firmly planted on the ground, and you can see the effort in their dance moves. When you watch Nelson, however, you look for the "wire", because he's so light on his feet and effortless that you think he's somehow being levitated...but of course he's not. He was just so effortless and natural, as you say, that it all looked so easy. I don't think I've ever seen a more natural athlete or dancer, and when you come right down to it, dancers ARE athletes. And you're welcome! Thank you too for posting his videos.
BoyzInTheHoo
We sang this in one of my childhood school plays 40 yrs ago Announced her passing on the news today. RIP Doris Day...