Edwards was born Clifton A. Edwards in Hannibal, Missouri. He left school at age 14 and soon moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he entertained as a singer in saloons. As many places had pianos in bad shape or none at all, Edwards taught himself to play ukulele (then often spelled "ukelele") to serve as his own accompanist (selecting that instrument as it was the cheapest in the music store). He got the nickname "Ukelele Ike" from a club owner who could not remember his name. He got his first break in 1918 at the Arsonia Cafe in Chicago, Illinois, where he performed a tune called "Ja Da", written by the club's pianist, Bob Carleton. Edwards and Carleton made the tune a hit on the vaudeville circuit. Vaudeville headliner Joe Frisco hired Edwards as part of his act, which was featured at the Palace in New York City, the most prestigious theater in vaudeville, and then in the Ziegfeld Follies.
Edwards made his first phonograph records in 1919. He recorded early examples of jazz scat singing in 1922. The following year he signed a contract with Pathé Records. He became one of the most popular singers of the decade, and appeared in several Broadway shows. He recorded, in his distinctive style, many of the pop and novelty hits of the day, such as "California, Here I Come", "Hard Hearted Hannah", "Yes Sir, That's My Baby", and "I'll See You in My Dreams".
In 1925, his recording of "Paddlin’ Madeleine Home" would reach number three on the pop charts. In 1928, his recording of "I Can't Give You Anything but Love" was number one for one week on the U.S. pop singles chart. In 1929, his recording of "Singin' in the Rain" was number one for three weeks. Edwards's own compositions included "(I'm Cryin' 'Cause I Know I'm) Losing You", "You're So Cute (Mama O' Mine)", "Stack O' Lee", "Little Somebody of Mine", and "I Want to Call You 'Sweet Mama'". He also recorded a few "off-color" novelty numbers for under-the-counter sales, including "I'm a Bear in a Lady's Boudoir".
More than any other performer, Edwards was responsible for the soaring popularity of the ukulele in the 1920s. Millions of ukuleles were sold during the decade, and Tin Pan Alley publishers added ukulele chords to standard sheet music. Edwards always played American Martin ukuleles favoring the small soprano model in his early career. In his later years Edwards moved to the sweeter, large tenor ukulele more suited to crooning which was becoming popular in the 1930s.
Edwards' continued to record until shortly before his 1971 death. His last record album, Ukulele Ike, was released posthumously on the independent Glendale label. He reprised many of his 1920s hits, but his then failing health was evident in the recordings
Give a Little Whistle
Cliff Edwards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you don't know right from wrong
Give a little whistle, give a little whistle
When you meet temptation
And the urge is very strong
Give a little whistle, give a little whistle
And if you're whistle is weak, yell
Jiminy Cricket
Right
Take the strait and narrow path
And if you start to slide
Give a little whistle, give a little whistle
And always let your conscience be your guide
Take the strait and narrow path
And if you start to slide
Give a little whistle (yoo-hoo)
Give a little whistle (yoo-hoo)
And always let your conscience be your guide
And always let your conscience be your guide
The song "Give A Little Whistle" by Cliff Edwards and Dickie Jones is an uplifting, joyful tune that encourages listeners to seek the guidance of their conscience when faced with difficult decisions. The main message of the song is that when we find ourselves in trouble or faced with temptation, we should give a little whistle to help us stay on the "strait and narrow path."
The first verse of the song tells listeners that when they are in trouble and don't know right from wrong, they should give a little whistle. The second verse continues this theme, encouraging listeners to whistle when they are faced with temptation and the urge to stray from the "strait and narrow path." However, the song is not just about whistling - the lyrics also remind listeners to let their conscience be their guide at all times.
The use of the character Jiminy Cricket in the song is significant, as he is a moral compass in the Disney film "Pinocchio" and encourages the wooden puppet to always let his conscience guide him. This reinforces the importance of following our own moral compass and staying true to our values.
Line by Line Meaning
When you get in trouble
Whenever you find yourself in hot water
And you don't know right from wrong
When you're unsure what's the right thing to do
Give a little whistle, give a little whistle
Just give a little signal, and help will come your way
When you meet temptation
When you face alluring opportunities
And the urge is very strong
And your desire is overwhelming
Give a little whistle, give a little whistle
Don't hesitate to ask for assistance
Not just a little squeak, pucker up and blow
Don't be shy, make a loud and clear sound
And if you're whistle is weak, yell
If you can't whistle, shout instead
Jiminy Cricket
A phrase conveying encouragement to take action
Right
Emphatically indicating agreement
Take the strait and narrow path
Choose the honest and principled way
And if you start to slide
And if you start to stray from your path
Give a little whistle, give a little whistle
Remind yourself to seek guidance
And always let your conscience be your guide
And trust your inner sense of right and wrong
Take the strait and narrow path
Choose the honest and principled way
And always let your conscience be your guide
And trust your inner sense of right and wrong
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Leigh Harline, Ned Washington
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TexasPieHole
Any opportunity to see live footage of Cliff singing is pleasure. To see him singing one of the songs that first brought him to my attention in my childhood is a special gift.
@hotwax9376
I find it cool to see him performing one of his Jiminy Cricket songs with his trademark ukulele. One of the best performances I've ever seen him give.
@LittleMongoosie
This is too much! I just love Cliff Edwards, and this performance had got to be about the most delightful thing I've ever seen. It's really been cheering me up lately-- thank you for sharing it with us!
@kiamclean8407
Seeing cliff edwards sing as Jinimy cricket is really Mindblowing🎸
@jrc340
This is Cliff Edwards Guest Star Day performance during Disney's Mickey Mouse Club's first season, 1955/56. November 15, 1955 to be exact. I'm guessing Jose Oliveira arranged this calypso style routine of Give A Little Whistle from the 1940 Disney movie, Pinocchio in which Edwards was the voice of Pinocchio's conscience, Jiminy Cricket.
Everyone in this routine looks and sounds like they're having a blast. What is amazing to me about it is that, despite the tortuous path he took to reach 1955 including long bouts of drug and booze addiction, 3 divorces and bankruptcies, Edwards' voice is as strong and leading edge as it ever was altho he's 60yo; and his comic timing and projection, never better. You'd think all of his self destructive troubles would have cost him his most valuable assets by this time. . i.e. That inimitable voice; his signature skill with his ukelele; and ability to make anyone watching and hearing him, smile or laugh with his trademark "eefing". But it didn't.
What you're watching here is brilliant stuff by everyone involved, Mickey Mouse Club or no Mickey Mouse Club.
Sad to think he died dead broke, alone, forgotten and presumably unloved .... his grave without a marker for 20 years after his death in 1971. But this performance and another a year later for The Club were among the best of many during an amazing career that had deserved the smiles, laughs and applause of millions for more than 40 years until this wonderful 1955 performance of a little ditty about the powerful value of one's conscience that he apparently didn't take seriously enough to abide during the time he lived to perform it..... for others.
@hotwax9376
Correction: it's spelled Pinocchio, not "PInnochio." Very common mistake, and one I often made when I was younger.
@jrc340
Yeah. But now I'm old. No excuse for screwing it up. lol. Thanks for the heads up, especially because Pinocchio, that movie and its music still connect with me. Saw it first when I was about 4 ....70 long years ago. Probably senility kickin' in as I still love it and anything Cliff Edwards.
@lavoe71
Yes, it’s José Oliveira the voice of Zê Carioca
@JonnokNZ
@Harvey3rdman Indeed. Either they have changed the video since I commented or I meant to comment on another video i.e. this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AGL3tdw0T8
@disneyfan94themuppetsforev95
I like to believe that deep down Cliff wished that he was able to live up to the ideals of Jiminy Cricket but sadly he was unable to overcome his inner demons