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 chef—he had a special stove installed in his patio—and 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.
I'm Hans Christian Andersen
Danny Kaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've many a tale to tell
And though I′m a cobbler
I'd say I tell them rather well
I'll mend your shoes and I′ll fix your boot
When I have a moment free
When I′m not otherwise occupied
As a purple duck, or a mountain side
I'm Hans Christian Andersen
Andersen, that′s me!
I'm Hans Christian Andersen
I bring you a fable rare
There once was a table
Who said "Oh how I′d love a chair"
And then and there came a sweet young chair
All dressed in a bridal gown
He said to her in a voice so true
"Now I did not say I would marry you
But I would like to sit down"
I'm Hans Christian Andersen
Andersen′s in town
I write myself a note each day
And I place it in my hat
The wind comes by, the hat blows high
But that not the end of that
For 'round and 'round the world it goes
It lands here right behind myself
I pick it up, and I read the note
Which is merely to remind myself
I′m Hans Christian Andersen
Andersen, that′s me!
I'm Hans Christian Andersen
My pen′s like a babling brook
Pemit me to show you, Dear Sir
My very latest book
Now here's a tale of a simple fool
Just glance at a page or two
You laugh "Ha Ha" but you blush a bit
For you realize while you′re reading it
That it's also reading you
I′m Hans Christian Andersen
Andersen, that's who!
I'm Hans Christian Andersen
And this is an April day
It′s full of the magic I need
To speed me my way
My pocket book has an empty look
I limp on a lumpy shoe
Or if I wish I am a flying fish
Or a millionaire with a rocking chair
And a dumpling in my stew
I′m Hans Christian Andersen
The lyrics to Danny Kaye's song "I'm Hans Christian Andersen" portray Andersen as a free-spirited, imaginative storyteller who occasionally works as a cobbler on the side. Despite his humble job, he believes that he tells his tales very well. The first stanza acknowledges that he enjoys crafting fantastic stories while he goes about his daily business, which may involve dressing up like a duck or a mountain. The second stanza focuses on his talent as a writer, with him mentioning that his pen is like a babbling brook, and he has a new book to show off. He insists that his tales are not only enjoyable but also profound, as they can expose truths about readers that they may not have known before.
The song appears to be a tribute to Andersen himself, depicting him as a charismatic character with a boundless imagination. The first stanza emphasizes his whimsical nature as he shifts from one fantastical persona to the next. He calls himself a cobbler, but we get the impression that he spends very little time making shoes. Rather, he prefers to engage in imaginative play, much to the delight of those around him. The second stanza focuses on his creative writing abilities, with him claiming that he has learned to expose the deeper human truths through his writing. Overall, the song glorifies Andersen as a free-spirited, endlessly entertaining storyteller who has enriched many lives with his work.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm Hans Christian Andersen
I am the storyteller Hans Christian Andersen.
I've many a tale to tell
I have many stories to share.
And though I'm a cobbler
Despite being a shoemaker,
I'd say I tell them rather well
I believe I tell them quite skillfully.
I'll mend your shoes and I'll fix your boot
I will repair your shoes when I am free.
When I have a moment free
When I have some spare time.
When I'm not otherwise occupied
When I am not busy doing something else.
As a purple duck, or a mountain side
Such as pretending to be a purple duck or a mountain.
Or a quarter after three
At specific times like 3:15.
I'm Hans Christian Andersen
I am still the storyteller Hans Christian Andersen.
I bring you a fable rare
I have a special story to share with you.
There once was a table
Once, there was a table.
Who said 'Oh how I'd love a chair'
That expressed its desire for a chair.
And then and there came a sweet young chair
Suddenly, a charming chair appeared.
All dressed in a bridal gown
It was adorned in a bride's dress.
He said to her in a voice so true
He spoke to her sincerely.
Now I did not say I would marry you
But I never promised to marry you,
But I would like to sit down
But I would like to take a seat.
I'm Hans Christian Andersen
I am Hans Christian Andersen, the storyteller.
I write myself a note each day
I daily write myself a memo.
And I place it in my hat
I put it safely in my hat.
The wind comes by, the hat blows high
The wind blows my hat away.
But that's not the end of that
But the story isn't over yet.
For 'round and 'round the world it goes
For all-around the world traveling it goes.
It lands here right behind myself
It lands near me from behind.
I pick it up, and I read the note
I retrieve it and read my memo.
Which is merely to remind myself
It's just a reminder to myself.
I'm Hans Christian Andersen
I am still Hans Christian Andersen.
My pen's like a babbling brook
My pen flows like a chattering stream.
Permit me to show you, Dear Sir
Allow me to share with you, Dear Sir,
My very latest book
My newest publication.
Now here's a tale of a simple fool
Here is a story of a foolish person.
Just glance at a page or two
Just read a few pages.
You laugh 'Ha Ha' but you blush a bit
You laugh, but you also feel embarrassed.
For you realize while you're reading it
Because you realize
That it's also reading you
That it is reflecting you.
I'm Hans Christian Andersen
I am still the storyteller Hans Christian Andersen.
And this is an April day
Today is a beautiful day in April.
It's full of the magic I need
It has all the enchantment I require.
To speed me my way
To help me along my journey.
My pocket book has an empty look
My pocketbook is empty.
I limp on a lumpy shoe
I walk with discomfort on a worn-out shoe.
Or if I wish I am a flying fish
Or, alternatively, I can pretend to be a flying fish.
Or a millionaire with a rocking chair
Or I can imagine being a rich person relaxing on a rocking chair.
And a dumpling in my stew
And having a tasty dumpling in my stew.
I'm Hans Christian Andersen
I am still the renowned storyteller Hans Christian Andersen.
Writer(s): Frank Loesser
Contributed by Hailey S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Linda Manas
What an incredible singer Danny Kaye was. This song is incredibly difficult to sing in tune. Very difficult with odd intervals and large jumps. He could pitch anything while acting at the same time! Amazing!
Willie Woodburn
Yip a great talented man.
Alex Bensky
My mom went to high school with him.
Steve Peachey
@Alex Bensky
And then her alarm went off
Ginny Lorenz
What a gloriously, multi talented man. What joy he brought and still brings. Thank you for posting!!!
Rafet
How lovely, i am 50 and i used to watch this as a child. So decent and innocent compared to 2020 children stuff...
ian bentley
@Rafet i'm 71 and loved it as a child, think the film was made in 1952
Raz De Roze
@ian bentley how lovely
ian bentley
@Raz De Roze thanks
jslitton
@Rafet saw this at radio city when it first came out. as delightful today for an old man as it was for a kid 68 years ago.