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.
Thumbelina
Danny Kaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thumbelina dance, Thumbelina sing
Thumbelina what's the difference if you're very small?
When your heart is full of love you're nine feet tall
Though you're no bigger than my thumb
Than my thumb, than my thumb
Sweet Thumbelina don't be glum
Thumbelina, Thumbelina tiny little thing
Thumbelina dance, Thumbelina sing
Thumbelina what's the difference if you're very small?
When your heart is full of love you're nine feet tall
Though you're no bigger than my toe
Than my toe, than my toe
Sweet Thumbelina keep that glow
And you'll grow and you'll grow and you'll grow
Thumbelina, Thumbelina tiny little thing
Thumbelina dance, Thumbelina sing
Thumbelina what's the difference if you're very small?
When your heart is full of love you're nine feet tall
The lyrics to Danny Kaye's song "Thumbelina" convey a message of self-love and confidence. Thumbelina, a tiny little thing, is encouraged to dance and sing, regardless of her size. The lyrics suggest that the size of one's heart and the amount of love inside is far more valuable than physical size. Thumbelina is reminded that she can be nine feet tall with a full heart of love, no matter how small she is physically.
The song is based on the Danish fairy tale "Thumbelina" by Hans Christian Andersen. The story is about a tiny girl who is born from a flower and goes on a journey to find her place in the world. The song's lyrics capture the essence of the story, emphasizing the importance of inner beauty and self-acceptance.
Overall, Danny Kaye's "Thumbelina" is a heartwarming and uplifting song that emphasizes self-love and inner beauty over physical appearance.
Line by Line Meaning
Thumbelina, Thumbelina tiny little thing
Oh, Thumbelina, you are a mere speck in this vast world.
Thumbelina dance, Thumbelina sing
But even though you are small, don't be shy Thumbelina, dance and sing with joy.
Thumbelina what's the difference if you're very small?
You may be small, but really, does that matter in the grand scheme of things?
When your heart is full of love you're nine feet tall
As long as you have love in your heart, Thumbelina, you will tower above all others.
Though you're no bigger than my thumb
Even though you are small, Thumbelina, you are still important.
Sweet Thumbelina don't be glum
Don't be sad about being small, my dear Thumbelina.
Now now now, ah ah ah, come come come
Instead, be happy and come dance and sing with me!
Than my thumb, than my thumb
You are even smaller than my thumb, Thumbelina!
Sweet Thumbelina keep that glow
But don't let your size dim your bright spirit.
And you'll grow and you'll grow and you'll grow
In fact, Thumbelina, your spirit will grow and flourish beyond measure!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TRACY K. BONHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MzFlowerchild
Wonderful quality, great sound & tune from Mr Kaye, thank you for keeping the music alive...............peace
Jackie
Had this album as a kid.
Tearing up, listening to this.
Such sweet memories. ❤️
Kit's pics
No clue why this song came to mind after all these decades. But it did and here it is, thank you!
Shpater
Because it is a great one from a wonderful life period.
Candice Roy
Love, love, love old Danny Kaye movies. I saw this when I was a young girl and I'm not young any more, but for some reason the song has stuck with me for 6 decades!
Cora Kowal
What a great talent Danny Kaye was. When I was young I watch all of is movies.
Nicola Eggleton
My daughter , who is 7 , said she really likes it . 😊
Roger M
Beautiful song, listened to this as a child.
What Beautiful memories
Declan Kearns
Ok.... I've just traveled back in time to when I was 5 years old. Thank you, thank you, thank you! ❤️
marcmel7
Thank you very much for sharing this jewel! I love it!