Born to Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn, red-haired Kaye became one of the world's best-known comedians. He learned his trade in his teen years as a tummler in the Catskills. In 1941 he appeared in the Broadway show, Lady in the Dark and performed the famous number "Tchaikovsky," by Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin, in which he sang the names of a whole string of Russian composers at breakneck speed, seemingly without taking a breath.
According to The New York Times, when he appeared at the London Palladium music hall In 1948, he "roused the Royal family to shrieks of laughter and was the first of many performers who have turned English variety into an American preserve." Life magazine described his reception as "worshipful hysteria" and noted that the royal family, for the first time in history, left the royal box to see the show from the front row of the orchestra.
Kaye made his film debut in a 1935 comedy short subject, entitled Moon Over Manhattan. His feature film debut was Up in Arms (1944). He starred in several movies with actress Virginia Mayo in the 1940's, and is well known for his roles in films such as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947), The Inspector General (1949), White Christmas (1954), Knock on Wood (1954), The Court Jester (1956), and Merry Andrew (1958). Kaye starred in two pictures based on biographies, Hans Christian Andersen (1952) about the Danish story-teller, and The Five Pennies (1959) about jazz pioneer Red Nichols. His wife, Sylvia Fine, wrote many of the songs Danny Kaye became famous for. Some of Kaye's films included the theme of doubles, two people who look identical (both played by Danny Kaye) being mistaken for each other, to comic effect.
Kaye starred in a radio program of his own, The Danny Kaye Show, on CBS in 1945-1946. Despite its clever writing (radio legend Goodman Ace, Sylvia Fine, and respected playwright-director Abe Burrows were the writers for the show) and performing cast (including Eve Arden, Lionel Stander, and big bandleader Harry James), the show lasted only a year.
He hosted his own variety hour on CBS, The Danny Kaye Show, from 1963 to 1967. Kaye also did a stint as one of the What's My Line? Mystery Guests on the popular Sunday Night CBS-TV program. Later, Kaye also served as a guest panelist on that quiz show. Years later, Kaye also guest-starred in episodes of The Cosby Show and of the 1980's remake of The Twilight Zone (see The New Twilight Zone).
Kaye's influence was felt beyond the entertainment world in the world of professional sports as well. Kaye was the original owner of the Seattle Mariners along with his partner Lester Smith, from 1977-81.
During the 1950s, Kaye also acted in a pantomime production of Cinderella, in Sydney, Australia, where he played the role of "Buttons", Cinderella's stepfather's servant, and also Cinderella's friend.
In many of his movies, as well as on stage, Kaye proved to be an able actor, singer, dancer and comedian, often having his comedic talents showcased by special material written by his wife, Sylvia Fine. He showed quite a different and serious side as Ambassador for UNICEF, and in one of his few dramatic roles in the memorable TV-movie Skokie, in which he played a Holocaust survivor. Before he died in 1987, Kaye also demonstrated his ability to conduct an orchestra during a comical, but technically sound, series of concerts organised for UNICEF fundraising. Kaye received two Academy Awards, an honorary award in 1955 and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1982. In his later years he took to entertaining at home as chefโhe had a special stove installed in his patioโand host. He specialized in Chinese cooking.
Kaye died in 1987 from a heart attack, following a bout of hepatitis. He left a widow Sylvia Fine and a daughter Dena. He is interred in the Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York. His grave is adorned with a bench that contains friezes of a baseball and bat, an aircraft, a piano, a flower pot, musical notes, and a glove.
Deck the Halls
Danny Kaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
See the blazing Yule before us.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Follow me in merry measure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Fast away the old year passes.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing we joyous, all together.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
heedless of the wind and weather.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
The iconic Christmas carol โDeck the Hallsโ was originally a Welsh New Yearโs Eve carol, with the melody dating back to the 16th century. The English lyrics were added in the 19th century, and the song has become a standard Christmas tune. The lyrics are an invitation to celebrate the holiday season by decorating with holly, being jolly, and wearing festive clothing. The line โdon we now our gay apparelโ would have meant something different at the time the lyrics were written (before the word โgayโ acquired its current meaning), but today it has taken on a new meaning of acceptance and celebration of diversity.
The second verse encourages musicians to join in by striking the harp and singing along, and the third and final verse reflects on the passing of the old year and the excitement of welcoming the new. The phrase โtroll the ancient Yule-tide carolโ means something closer to โsing out joyfullyโ than โmock ridicule,โ despite the negative connotations the word โtrollโ has today.
Overall, the song is an uplifting and festive tune that encourages people to come together to celebrate and make merry during the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Let's decorate the halls with fresh green holly branches, to signify new life and new beginnings.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Let's sing this joyful, repetitive tune to uplift our spirits and bring us closer together.
'Tis the season to be jolly
This is the time of year when we should feel happy and content, surrounded by loved ones and good cheer.
Don we now our gay apparel
Let's dress up in our best and most colorful clothing, to celebrate the festive spirit of the season.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Let's sing a traditional song of the winter solstice, with its roots in pagan folklore and mythology.
See the blazing Yule before us
Let's light the Yule log and gather around it, to chase away the darkness and welcome the new light and warmth of the coming year.
Strike the harp and join the chorus
Let's make music together, with the harp as a symbol of peace and harmony, and sing along with others who share our joy.
Follow me in merry measure
Let's dance in a lively and spirited way, moving to the beat of the music and rejoicing in the moment.
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure
Let's share stories of the season's magic and wonder, and appreciate the precious gifts of life and love that come with it.
Fast away the old year passes
Let's acknowledge the passage of time, and bid farewell to the past while embracing the new opportunities that await us.
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Let's welcome the dawn of a new year with open hearts, and look forward to all the possibilities and potentials it holds.
Sing we joyous, all together
Let's join our voices in a chorus of happiness and gratitude, celebrating the connections we share and the blessings we have.
Heedless of the wind and weather.
Let's revel in the moment and not worry about the challenges or difficulties that may lie ahead, confident in our ability to face them together.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Bluewater Music Corp.
Written by: Thomas Oliphant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@markherron1407
Danny Kaye is 9 of Diamonds ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ Happy ๐ Birthday ๐ to Danny Kaye REST IN POWER Blessings and Hugs ๐
@christianhardtofind6349
Missing from Spotify for some reason! I know it was on there at some point!
@markherron1407
Happy birthday to Danny Kaye his birthday verse is James 1:18 rest in peace โฎ๏ธ๐๏ธ Merry Christmas โ๏ธ๐ Blessings and Hugs ๐๐ค๐๐ค๐๐ค๐!
@ramonparedes9401
Qqertyyi de la cruz del norte y de la maรฑana en casa con l๐๐๐๐๐
@ramonparedes9401
Qqertyyi y no me prende el telรฉfono del telรฉfono y el. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ que no se te olviden las cosas de mi vida y te b. ,๐๐๐๐