He went solo in 1946, and recorded his biggest seller the following year. The song was "Mam'selle", written by Mack Gordon (lyrics) and Edmund Goulding (melody). This gramophone record was #1 in the U.S. Billboard magazine chart and earned a gold disc. Other hits for Lund were "(I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China", "What'll I Do", "You Call Everybody Darlin'" and "Peg O' My Heart". Blue Skies, My Blue Heaven. He also recorded Mona Lisa.
Lund had lead roles on Broadway in The Most Happy Fella (1956); Destry Rides Again (1959), as a replacement for the plot's villain, Scott Brady; Donnybrook! (1961); and Sophie (1963). Lund also worked in two shows that closed before scheduled Broadway openings, We Take the Town (1962), as Robert Preston's standby; and Breakfast at Tiffany's (1966). He appeared in The Molly Maquires and Greatest American Hero.
Mam'selle
Art Lund Lyrics
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It was midnight Come to think of it
It was spring
There was music I was listening
Then in the room somewhere someone began to sing
This serenade made for remembering
A small cafe, Mam'selle
The violins were warm and sweet
And so were you, Mam'selle
And as the night danced by
A kiss became a sigh
Your lovely eyes seemed to sparkle
Just like wine does
No heart ever yearned the way mine does for you
And yet I know too well
Some day you'll say goodbye
Then violins will cry
And so will I, Mam'selle
A small cafe, Mam'selle
Our rendezvous, Mam'selle
The violins were warm and sweet
And so were you, Mam'selle
And as the night danced by
A kiss became a sigh
Your lovely eyes seemed to sparkle
Just like wine does
No heart ever yearned the way mine does for you
And yet I know too well
Some day you'll say goodbye
Then violins will cry
And so will I, Mam'selle
The lyrics of Art Lund's song "Mamselle" speak of a romantic encounter in Montmartre, Paris. Lund describes the scene of a small café, violins playing warm and sweet music, and himself rendezvousing with a woman named "Mamselle." As the night progresses, the two fall in love, sharing kisses and sighs. The song is a bittersweet tale of two lovers enjoying their time together, knowing that their romance will be ephemeral.
The lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia and longing, characteristic of the romantic ballads of that era. Lund's voice offers a gentleness and melancholy that add poignancy to the lyrics. The serenade in the room may be a metaphor for the song itself, meant to be a remembrance of times past and loves lost.
Line by Line Meaning
It was Montmartre
The song's setting was in Montmartre.
It was midnight Come to think of it
The time was midnight and the singer realized it in retrospect.
It was spring
The season was spring.
There was music I was listening
The artist was listening to music.
Then in the room somewhere someone began to sing
In the same room, someone started to sing.
This serenade made for remembering
The song was a serenade that was meant to be remembered.
A small cafe, Mam'selle
The singer and the subject of the song, Mam'selle, met in a small cafe.
Our rendezvous, Mam'selle
The meeting was their rendezvous.
The violins were warm and sweet
The violins played warm and sweet music.
And so were you, Mam'selle
The subject, Mam'selle, was also warm and sweet.
And as the night danced by
As the night progressed.
A kiss became a sigh
The kiss turned into a sigh.
Your lovely eyes seemed to sparkle
Mam'selle's eyes were sparkling and lovely.
Just like wine does
They were compared to how wine sparkles.
No heart ever yearned the way mine does for you
The singer's heart yearned for Mam'selle more than any other heart did.
And yet I know too well
The artist knew, despite his feelings.
Some day you'll say goodbye
Mam'selle will someday say goodbye.
Then violins will cry
The violins will play a sad song.
And so will I, Mam'selle
The singer will also be sad when Mam'selle leaves.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edmund Goulding, Mack Gordon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Bigbadwhitecracker
Wow! So many mamselles, so little time. Art's is iconic, however.
@D2A962
wrong! There aren't nearly enough versions of this song lol
@byron5151
Absolutely Beautiful!!
@goldendreams3437
I need to start a play list
@andrewbaby5308
Art Lund is my Great Grandfather!
@the78prof72
A fine artist! Thanks for checking in.
@1mrstutt
You might also like Art’s rendition of ‘What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?’ Just love it!
@danielhurley2894
He played Jeff Bridges' father in one of my favorite movies "The Last American Hero" in 1973. I had no idea about his "past life" as a singer in the '40's.