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.
Wonderful Copenhagen
Danny Kaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Friendly old girl of a town
'Neath her tavern light
On this merry night
Let us clink and drink one down
To wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen
Salty old queen of the sea
Once I sailed away
Singing Copenhagen, wonderful, wonderful
Copenhagen for me
I sailed up the Skagerrak
And sailed down the Kattegat
Through the harbor and up to the quay
And there she stands waiting for me
With a welcome so warm and so gay
Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen
Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen
Friendly old girl of a town
'Neath her tavern light
On this merry night
Let us clink and drink one down
To wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen
Salty old queen of the sea
Once I sailed away
But I'm home today
Singing Copenhagen, wonderful, wonderful
Copenhagen for me
The song "Wonderful Copenhagen" is a cheerful tribute to the city of Copenhagen, Denmark. The lyrics describe the city as a "friendly old girl of a town" and a "salty old queen of the sea." The singer of the song sings about sailing up the Skagerrak and down the Kattegat to reach Copenhagen and the warmth of its welcome as he arrives. Against the backdrop of the city's tavern lights on a merry night, the singer raises his glass in celebration of the wonderfulness of Copenhagen.
The lyrics of "Wonderful Copenhagen" capture the sentiment of someone returning home after having been away for some time, and the joy of being back in familiar surroundings. The song's upbeat melody and catchy lyrics create a sense of excitement and anticipation of what the city has to offer. The reference to Copenhagen as a "salty old queen of the sea" pays homage to its maritime history and its relationship to the sea.
Line by Line Meaning
Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen
Copenhagen is an amazing city, full of wonder and excitement.
Friendly old girl of a town
Copenhagen is a welcoming, familiar place where everyone feels at home.
'Neath her tavern light
In the cozy atmosphere of local taverns, the true essence of Copenhagen is revealed.
On this merry night
On nights like these, when the drinks are flowing and the laughter is loud, Copenhagen is at its best.
Let us clink and drink one down
Let's raise our glasses and toast to the joy of living in Copenhagen.
To wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen
Once again, celebrating the amazingness of the city.
Salty old queen of the sea
Copenhagen is like a seasoned, wise and experienced queen ruling over the sea in this part of the world.
Once I sailed away
Speaker is reminiscing about a past journey they took across the sea, away from Copenhagen.
But I'm home today
The journey in the previous line was just temporary, as now the artist has come back and is able to appreciate the city even more.
Singing Copenhagen, wonderful, wonderful
As the artist basks in the greatness of Copenhagen, they express their appreciation in song.
Copenhagen for me
For the singer, Copenhagen is the perfect city, and there's nowhere else they'd rather be.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Shemaroo Entertainment Limited, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN LIVINGSTON, BILLY MAY, WARREN FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@happidork
My boyfriend just jumped out of bed to this song. He’s dancing and spinning around. He says he should have been a dancer.
@RickHauptman
1953. I remember it well!
@abbye8482
Woke up singing this this morning for some reason. Such a nice song!
@MarthalieThurstonSachemPiper
As a little girl I thought what a wonderful song. Mother and I went to the 5 and ten store. The lady got the sheet music and played the entire song on the piano, and went happily home to play and sing. Wonderful memories of mother and daughter.
@hoorootv1
Fairy tales are made of truly wondrous classic songs such as this ❗ A fitting tribute to this wondrous city ❕
@gallan671
WOW I had this on a record as a small child - loved it
@smokeyallanritter3211
Me too!!
@Rebecca236
Danny Kayes voice is superb on this song.
@G6JPG
Why is hardly any modern pop music in three-time? The swing of it makes one like it.
@fisherpeter695
This song brings back memories of my early years growing up in the 1950s.
Along with the many songs from the musical classics of the 50s it shows that after the 197Os there is little music that came from musicals that enjoy widespread appeal.
Strangely there seemed to be more green spaces and parks in the UK back then.
And cities and towns had busy high streets and choice before the advance of large supermarkets decades later. Only the development of medical treatment seems an improvement on the 50s and 60s. Has everything else seemed to work back then.