Her recording of Tico Tico was her best-known hit. It reached No. 14 on the U.S. pop charts in November 1944 and sold over one million copies worldwide. She also recorded it for the 1944 film, Bathing Beauty. She was married to Ralph Bellamy from 1945 to 1947. She died on May 10, 1996.
Tico Tico
Ethel Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
oh, tico tico, tock!
this tico tico, he's the cuckoo in my clock.
and when he says "cuckoo,"
he means it's time to woo,
it's tico time for all the lovers on the block.
i've got a heavy date,
so speak, oh, tico, tell me if it's getting late?
if i'm on time, cuckoo,
but, if i'm late, woo-woo!
the one my heart is gone to may not want to wait!
for just a birdie, and a birdie who goes
nowhere,
he knows of every lover's lane and how to go
there;
for in affairs of the heart
my tico's terribly smart,
he tells me: "gently, sentiment'ly at the
start!"
oh, oh, i hear my little tico tico calling
because the time is right and shades of night
are falling.
i love that not-so-cuckoo cuckoo in the clock,
tico tico tico tico tico tock!
The song "Tico Tico" by Ethel Smith is a fun, playful tune with lyrics that are just as lighthearted. The titular "Tico Tico" is a reference to a bird, specifically a cuckoo bird that the singer claims is "the cuckoo in my clock." This bird, it seems, is an expert in affairs of the heart, and knows all about lovers' lanes and how to woo a potential love interest. When the bird says "cuckoo," the singer is reminded it's time to woo, and it's "Tico time" for all the lovers on the block.
The singer also talks about a heavy date and a tete a tete at eight, and is worried about being late. If she's on time, the bird says "cuckoo," but if she's late, it's "woo-woo." She's concerned that the person her heart is gone to won't want to wait for her. Despite being just a bird, Tico is terribly smart in affairs of the heart, according to the singer, and advises her to be gentle and sentimental at the start of any romantic relationship. The song ends with the singer loving that not-so-cuckoo cuckoo in the clock, and Tico Tico calling as night falls.
Line by Line Meaning
oh, tico tico, tick!
The sound of the bird Tico Tico's tick sound in the clock.
oh, tico tico, tock!
The sound of the bird Tico Tico's tock sound in the clock.
this tico tico, he's the cuckoo in my clock.
Tico Tico is the one that provides time with its cuckoo sound in the clock.
and when he says "cuckoo,"
When Tico Tico sounds "cuckoo" in the clock, it means it's more than just telling the time.
he means it's time to woo,
The cuckoo sound of Tico Tico is a reminder that it's time to woo someone.
it's tico time for all the lovers on the block.
The time when Tico Tico sounds cuckoo is the time for all couples in the neighborhood to spend time with their loved ones.
i've got a heavy date,
I have an important appointment.
a tete a tete at eight,
A private conversation planned for 8 o'clock.
so speak, oh, tico, tell me if it's getting late?
Asking Tico Tico for the time to know if they are running out of time for their appointment.
if i'm on time, cuckoo,
If they arrive on time, Tico Tico will sound cuckoo on schedule.
but, if i'm late, woo-woo!
If they are running late, there will be an extra woo-woo sound from Tico Tico that may cause them to miss the appointment.
the one my heart is gone to may not want to wait!
If they are late, the person they love may not want to wait for them.
for just a birdie, and a birdie who goes nowhere,
Tico Tico may just be a bird and go nowhere, but it's powerful in reminding people of their appointments and love.
he knows of every lover's lane and how to go there;
Tico Tico is knowledgeable about every romantic place and how to get there.
for in affairs of the heart my tico's terribly smart,
Tico Tico knows a lot about love and is very skilled in helping people achieve it.
he tells me: "gently, sentiment'ly at the start!"
Tico Tico advises to start romantic relationships gently and sentimentally.
oh, oh, i hear my little tico tico calling
The artist hears Tico Tico's cuckoo sound in the clock.
because the time is right and shades of night are falling.
Tico Tico sounds cuckoo because it's the right time and nighttime is approaching.
i love that not-so-cuckoo cuckoo in the clock,
The singer loves Tico Tico's sound despite not being a typical cuckoo bird.
tico tico tico tico tico tock!
The repetition of Tico Tico's sound signifies the importance of its role in love and appointments.
Writer(s): DRAKE ERVIN M, DE OLIVEIRA ALOYSIO, ABREU JOSE GOMES DE
Contributed by Jackson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Juares de Marcos Jardim
...TICO-TICO NO FARELO - 1917
O centenário choro Tico-Tico no Fubá foi composto no Interior do estado de São Paulo, por Zequinha de Abreu e se tornou uma das canções brasileiras mais conhecidas do mundo.
Suas notas se revelaram expressão da música enquanto linguagem universal, fazendo com que sua melodia evocasse usos e costumes de todo o planeta. Em qualquer cultura que tenha sido executada, por músicos locais, encantou, emocionou e fez todos dançarem no embalo do chorinho brasileiro.
(...)
José Gomes de Abreu, mais conhecido como Zequinha de Abreu (Santa Rita do Passa Quatro-SP, 19 de setembro de 1880 / Capital-SP, 22 de janeiro de 1935), músico, compositor e instrumentista, tocava flauta, clarinete e requinta. Zequinha Abreu foi organizador e regente de orquestras e bandas no interior paulista.
Com seis anos de idade já mostrava que tinha vocação para a música, tirando melodias da flauta. Ainda durante o curso primário organizou uma banda na escola, da qual ele mesmo era o regente. Com 10 anos, já tocava requinta, flauta e clarineta na banda e ensaiava suas primeiras composições.
Zequinha de Abreu se casou aos 18 anos com Durvalina Brasil, de 14 anos. O casal morou por alguns meses no Distrito de Santa Cruz da Estrela, atual Jacerandi, próximo a Santa Rita. Cuidavam de uma farmácia e de uma classe de ensino primário. De volta a Santa Rita, Zequinha coordenou o trabalho da orquestra com os cargos de secretário da Câmara Municipal e de escrevente da Coletoria Estadual.
(...)
Foi apresentada pela primeira vez em um baile da cidade de Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, em 1917, com o título "Tico-Tico no Farelo". A canção recebeu o nome atual em 1931, já que existia outra de mesmo título, composta por Canhoto. No mesmo ano foi incluída pela primeira vez em disco, gravado pela Orquestra Colbaz.
Foi gravada pela organista Ethel Smith em 1941, que fez grande sucesso internacional, e também por Ray Conniff.
Em 1942, regravada pela Rainha do Chorinho Ademilde Fonseca.
Carmen Miranda gravou em 1945, pela Decca Records, uma versão criada por Aloísio de Oliveira.
Atingiu o ápice de sua popularidade nos anos 1940, quando fez parte de nada menos do que seis filmes em Hollywood, inclusive filmes estrelados por Esther Williams. A canção aparace com duas letras, uma feita no Brasil, e outra versão escrita nos Estados Unidos por Aloísio de Oliveira para Carmen Miranda que a gravou pela Decca Records em 1945, e a apresentou no filme Copacabana de 1947, no qual contracena com o Groucho Marx.
Parte da história sobre a canção foi contada no filme Tico-tico no Fubá de 1952, dirigido por Adolfo Celi.
Tico-tico no Fubá possui centenas de regravações, sendo a de Carmem Miranda a mais popular e executada por dezenas de orquestras e filarmônicas internacionais, além de ser trilha de 7 filmes.
(Pesquisa/colaboração de Juares de Marcos Jardim - Santo André / São Paulo-SP)
Steve W
This was one of my favorites my little 5 foot tall grandmother used to play. She could actually play it close to that tempo. Her little hands would fly across those keys and her feet would be flying over those bass pedals. A lot of great memories of her playing this on warm summer nights. She was a great musician. She and her mother played the theater organ in the silent movie era. Five of her nine children were musicians. Me and my brother carry on that legacy.
Mandolinic
I suppose having 5 feet helped a lot with playing the bass pedals. ;-)
david colin Tunstall
@Mandolinic 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
Charles Davis
Who was your grand - mother? Ethel Smith.
Very few people can actually play this mighty work... on the Hammond B-3 and Ethel played in high-heels. Wonder of wonders. History... was us. Don't tell anybody I said so.
Steve W
@Charles Davis My grandmother was barely 5 feet tall. She had tiny feet but I can still remember her little feet moving all over those bass pedals when she played this song on the organ. 4 of her sons were accomplished musicians - all keyboard players. The oldest of the 4 did a live album with legendary Rockabilly guitarist Danny Gatton around 1967.
Heath James Sr.
Please post videos of you guys playing these days
Mikaela Bowen
Absolutely epic! Anyone who can play like this in blue strappy heels is a true star.
Martha Beth Lewis
Ethel Smith could really play! She deserved much more adulation and and wide-spread fame than she received. I played this piece in her arrangement as a teenager, and it was a delight to find the real thing here. Thank you! mb
Dennis Errol Hawley
I am a diehard Ethel Smith fan!!!! I consider her as the greatest performer to ever play a Hammond organ!!!! I have always favored equipment like organs that use vacuum tubes!!!! I never liked anything that does not use vacuum tubes!!!! THANKS FOR POSTING THIS!!!!
Lvatopesado
Same here, except when I have to move it, then I use the much lighter solid state board.