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.
Inchworm
Danny Kaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigold
You and your arithmatic
You'll probably go far
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigold
How beautiful they are
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigold
You and your arithmatic
You'll probably go far
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigold
Seems to me you'd stop and see
How beautiful they are
Two and two are four, four and four are eight, eight and eight are sixteen, sixteen and sixteen are thirty two
Seems to me you'd stop and see
How beautiful they are
Seems to me you'd stop and see
How beautiful they are
The song Inchworm by Danny Kaye has a simple melody with a profound meaning. The lyrics talk about an inchworm measuring a marigold using arithmetic. The first part of the song lists the basic mathematical sequence of two, four, eight, sixteen, and thirty-two; laying the foundation of the importance of arithmetic in our lives. The second half of the song emphasizes the beauty that the inchworm measures and encourages people to stop and appreciate the beauty in the world around us.
The song suggests that the application of arithmetic will help us go far in life; this could mean that by implementing simple arithmetic in our everyday tasks, we can achieve a lot. The mention of the marigold symbolizes the beautiful things in life that we often ignore, but if we take a moment to appreciate them, they can bring joy, peace, and happiness. One interpretation of the song is that it encourages us to value both the practicality and the beauty of life.
Overall, the song Inchworm invites us to celebrate the beauty of life and to acknowledge the power of arithmetic in our daily lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Two and two are four, four and four are eight, eight and eight are sixteen, sixteen and sixteen are thirty two
Repetition and accumulation of basic mathematical principles that lay the foundation for complex calculations
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigold
You and your arithmatic
You'll probably go far
Using the metaphor of the inchworm measuring a marigold, the song praises the value of basic arithmetic skills for success in life
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigold
Seems to me you'd stop and see
How beautiful they are
The song encourages taking time to appreciate the beauty in the world, represented by the marigold being measured by the inchworm
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigold
You and your arithmatic
You'll probably go far
Reiterating the importance of basic arithmetic skills for achieving success
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigold
Seems to me you'd stop and see
How beautiful they are
Reemphasizing the need to appreciate the beauty in the world
Contributed by Sarah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@brainscott8198
My mom used to sing this to me as a lullaby....back in the early 1960's...i was 3 or 4 yrs old....this and "Eidelweiss" i remember most. She passed away this past February a day shy of her 87th birthday. I hope today's kids have sweet moms who sing them lullabies. Miss u, mom.
@domainofthesun4400
Please accept my condolences.
@georgephinn822
I saw “Hans Christan Anderson” with Danny Kaye when I was 11 years old and even though I felt as if I was too old - I enjoyed the simplicity of the movies - It’s a good movies for children - It was years later that I realized how talented he was - Actor - Signer - Comedian - Dancer - Producer - Pilot - Ambassadors
@georgephinn822
Danny Kaye - was a Tallented Man - I enjoyed “White Christmas” with - Danny Kaye - Bing Crosby - Rosemary Clooney - Vera Lynn. It’s a Christmas Standard on TV every Christmas. I have the DVD. It’s a must for anyone who has a DVD Collection. Danny Kaye - will always be with us as long as there is Children
@kira-mz1mb
Me too :(
@shewho333
I’m here right now because this song reminds me of being safe as a child, and I used to sing this and Eidleweiss, and a few other tunes to my kids when they were little. My dad sang the lullabies in my home and I still miss him every day.
I’m very sorry about your Mom. ❤
@HeidiSue60
Danny Kaye is my favorite of all time. I even wrote him a letter when I was four, and got a letter back from him! This is so sweet...
@pfox6843
What?? He wrote back?? Thats way cool! Here we have all this social media, and popular celebs cant even be bothered to give a simple "like", but a classic Hollywood star wrote you? Thats incredible!
@lilyr6755
Aware wow. Cool. Lucky. Yes I liked him too, but the only diff I was it a very diff generation. Born 73, 80's kid teen.
@angelajohnson9812
I grew up watching him...his Voice was so beautiful....Inch worm is one of my favourite songs....and lm lucky ...l was born on his birthday.....