Clark was born Samuel Goldberg to Jewish parents in Boston, Massachusetts. He made his Big Band singing debut in 1934 with Benny Goodman on the Let's Dance radio program. In 1936 he started to perform on the show, Your Hit Parade, and lasted until 1938. In the mid-1930s he signed with Vocalion Records, having a top-20 hit with "Spring Is Here". He did not have another hit until the late 1940s, but continued recording, appearing in movies, and dubbing other actors' voices.
In 1946 he signed with Columbia Records and scored his biggest hit with the song "Linda" recorded in November of that year, but hitting its peak in the following spring. Linda was written especially for the six-year-old daughter of a show business lawyer named Lee Eastman, whose client, song-writer Jack Lawrence, wrote the song at Lee’s request. Upon reaching adulthood and becoming famous as a photographer, Linda was, for a while, something of a musician, later became a prominent spokeswoman for vegetarianism and animal rights, and broke a generation of teenage girls' hearts when she married Beatle Paul McCartney.[citation needed]
1947 also saw hits for Clark with such titles as "How Are Things in Glocca Mora" (from the musical Finian's Rainbow), which made the Top Ten, "Peg O' My Heart", "An Apple Blossom Wedding", and "I'll Dance at Your Wedding". The following year he had another major hit with "Love Somebody" (a duet with Doris Day, selling a million and reaching #1 on the charts) and nine more chart hits, and extended his success into 1949 with a number of hits, both solo and duetting with Day and Dinah Shore. He was fatally injured in a private plane crash in Los Angeles, returning from a college football game, when the craft ran low on fuel and crash-landed on Beverly Boulevard. A month after his death, his recording of "A Dreamer's Holiday" hit the charts.
Buddy Clark and five other friends had rented a small plane to attend a Stanford vs. Michigan football game. After the game on the way back to Los Angeles, the plane developed engine problem, due to lack of gas, and lost altitude and crashed on Beverly Boulevard, in California. Clark didn't survive the crash. At that time, he was 37 years old reaching new heights of popularity, when tragedy struck.
Winter Wonderland
Buddy Clark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight
In the meadow we can build a snowman
We'll pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say, Are you married?
We'll say, No man
Later on, we'll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid
The plans that we've made
Walking in a winter wonderland
Oooh Walking in a winter wonderland
We're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland
Gone away is the bluebird
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song
As we go along
Walking in a winter wonderland
In the meadow we can build a snowman
We'll pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say, Are you married?
We'll say, No man
But you can do the job while you're in town
Later on, we'll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid
The plans that we've made
Walking in a winter wonderland
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight
We're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland
Gone away is the bluebird
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song
As we go along
Walking in a winter wonderland
The lyrics to Buddy Clark's song "Winter Wonderland" depict the joy and delight of being in a snowy winter setting. The song begins with the sound of sleigh bells ringing, creating a festive atmosphere. The first verse describes the scene in a lane where the snow is glistening, painting a beautiful sight. It sets the stage for the rest of the song, emphasizing the magical ambiance of a winter wonderland.
In the second verse, the singer and their companion venture into a meadow where they decide to build a snowman. They playfully imagine the snowman as Parson Brown and humorously discuss their marital status, indicating that they are not yet married. They suggest that the snowman can perform the marriage ceremony while he is visiting the town, hinting at the whimsical nature of their imaginary world.
The chorus repeats the joyous experience of walking in a winter wonderland, emphasizing their happiness in the present moment. The lyrics acknowledge that the bluebird has left and a new bird has arrived, indicating the transition from the cold and melancholic nature of winter to a fresh start and the possibility of love. As they continue walking, the new bird sings a love song, adding a layer of romance to their wintry adventure.
Overall, "Winter Wonderland" captures the sense of excitement and merriment that comes with being in a snowy winter landscape. It paints a vivid picture of joy, love, and happiness amidst the beauty of a winter wonderland.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
The sound of sleigh bells fills the air, are you paying attention?
In the lane, snow is glistening
The snow in the lane shines brightly, creating a beautiful sight
A beautiful sight
The winter scenery is stunning and captivating
In the meadow we can build a snowman
We have the opportunity to construct a snowman in the open field
We'll pretend that he is Parson Brown
Let's imagine that the snowman represents Parson Brown
He'll say, Are you married?
Parson Brown, in our imagination, will ask if we are married
We'll say, No man
We'll respond with 'No' to Parson Brown's question
But you can do the job while you're in town
However, you can still officiate a marriage ceremony during your visit
Later on, we'll conspire
At a later time, we will plot and plan together
As we dream by the fire
While sitting by the warm fire, we will indulge in our dreams
To face unafraid
With courage and fearlessness
The plans that we've made
The strategies and arrangements we have devised
Walking in a winter wonderland
Strolling through the magical winter environment
Oooh Walking in a winter wonderland
Oh, what bliss to be walking in this enchanting winter wonderland
We're happy tonight
Tonight, our hearts are filled with joy
Gone away is the bluebird
The bluebird has flown away, leaving behind a different atmosphere
Here to stay is a new bird
Now, a new bird has arrived and will remain with us
He sings a love song
This new bird melodiously sings a song of love
As we go along
As we continue our journey
Walking in a winter wonderland
Strolling through the enchanting winter surroundings
In the meadow we can build a snowman
We have the opportunity once again to construct a snowman in the open field
We'll pretend that he is Parson Brown
Again, let's imagine that the snowman represents Parson Brown
He'll say, Are you married?
Parson Brown, in our imagination, asks if we are married
We'll say, No man
Once again, we respond with 'No' to Parson Brown's question
But you can do the job while you're in town
However, you can still officiate a marriage ceremony during your visit
Later on, we'll conspire
At a later time, we will plot and plan together
As we dream by the fire
While sitting by the warm fire, we will indulge in our dreams
To face unafraid
With courage and fearlessness
The plans that we've made
The strategies and arrangements we have devised
Walking in a winter wonderland
Strolling through the magical winter environment
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
The sound of sleigh bells fills the air, are you paying attention?
In the lane, snow is glistening
The snow in the lane shines brightly, creating a beautiful sight
A beautiful sight
The winter scenery is stunning and captivating
We're happy tonight
Tonight, our hearts are filled with joy
Walking in a winter wonderland
Strolling through the enchanting winter surroundings
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
William Gerbitz
Recorded 15 days before he died in a plane crash.