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.
Mona Lisa
Art Lund Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
Is it only cause you're lonely they have blamed you
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile
Do you smile to tempt a lover Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there, and they die there
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art.
Do you smile to tempt a lover Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there, and they die there
Are you warm, are you real Mona Lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art.
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa.
Art Lund's song "Mona Lisa" is a contemplative reflection about the famous portrait painted by Leonardo da Vinci. The lyrics of the song are addressed to Mona Lisa, as if she were a living person, asking her haunting questions about her smile and her true nature. The first verse of the song sets the tone as Lund sings, "Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa men have named you, You're so like the lady with the mystic smile, Is it only 'cause you're lonely they have blamed you, for that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile."
The song is framed around the mystery of Mona Lisa's smile, which has been the subject of much fascination and interpretation. Lund sings, "Do you smile to tempt a lover Mona Lisa? Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?" He wonders if the smile is a sign of Mona Lisa trying to entice someone or if it's a mask hiding deep pain. Additionally, the song suggests that many people have had dreams and desires associated with Mona Lisa, but these dreams remain unrealized, and ultimately, Mona Lisa remains cold and distant: "Are you warm, are you real Mona Lisa? Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art."
Overall, "Mona Lisa" is a poignant exploration of the Mona Lisa's enigmatic nature and the ways in which this painting has captivated people's imagination. As a result, the song has become a classic, and its lyrics offer a thought-provoking lens through which to view one of the world's most famous works of art.
Line by Line Meaning
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa men have named you
You, Mona Lisa, have been given the name by men.
You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
Your appearance resembles the lady with an enigmatic smile.
Is it only cause you're lonely they have blamed you
People accuse you of being strange only because they think you're lonely.
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile
Your smile is considered strange and mysterious by many.
Do you smile to tempt a lover Mona Lisa?
Are you trying to seduce someone through your smile, Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Or is your smile just a way to conceal your emotional pain?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
People have come to you with many hopes and aspirations.
They just lie there, and they die there
However, those dreams end up fading away and never realized.
Are you warm, are you real Mona Lisa?
Are you a comforting and authentic individual, Mona Lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art.
Or are you simply a beautiful piece of art, devoid of warmth or companionship?
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa.
Repetition of the name for emphasis.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Ray Evans, Jay Livingston
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Linton-Smith
on Pity The Poor Lobster
I play this song on the guitar after learning it from the 78 record my Dad owned.