Frank Henry Loesser (June 29, 1910, New York City – July 26, 1969, New York… Read Full Bio ↴Frank Henry Loesser (June 29, 1910, New York City – July 26, 1969, New York City) was an American composer and lyricist. He died of lung cancer at age 59.

During World War II, he wrote 1942's "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition". Formerly a successful lyricist in collaboration with other composers, this was the first song for which Loesser composed the melody in addition to the lyric.

Loesser was awarded a Grammy Award in 1961 for Best Original Cast Show Album for How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

He wrote the following Broadway musicals:

* Where's Charley? (1948) (starring Ray Bolger)
o "Once in Love With Amy"
* Guys and Dolls (1950)
o "A Bushel and a Peck"
o "Fugue for Tinhorns"
o "I'll Know"
o "If I Were A Bell", a favorite of Miles Davis, featured in recordings with John Coltrane
o "Luck Be a Lady Tonight"
* The Most Happy Fella (1956)
o "Standing on the Corner"
o "Big D"
o "Somebody Somewhere"
o "Joey, Joey"
* Greenwillow (1960)
* How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (1961)
o "I Believe In You"
o "The Brotherhood Of Man"
* Pleasures and Palaces (1965)

Some well-known songs he composed for movies and Tin Pan Alley:

* "Baby, It's Cold Outside" from Neptune's Daughter (1949). This was originally a song which Loesser and his wife Lynn (born Blankenbaker) performed at parties for the private entertainment of friends. They also recorded the song for Mercury Records. Under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to supply a full score for Neptune's Daughter, Loesser included this song which he had created in 1944, originally for their housewarming party.
* "Heart and Soul" (from the Paramount Short Subject A Song is Born) -- lyrics
* "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" (from the Paramount Pictures motion picture Sweater Girl)
* "Inch Worm" (from the motion picture Hans Christian Andersen)
* "(I'd Like to Get You on a) Slow Boat to China"
* "Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year" (from the motion picture Christmas Holiday)
* "Thumbelina" (from Hans Christian Andersen)
* "Two Sleepy People" (music by Hoagy Carmichael, 1938)
* "What are You Doing New Year's Eve?"
* "Wonderful Copenhagen" (from Hans Christian Andersen), which is now the official song of the city of Copenhagen.

He was also the author of "The Ballad of Rodger Young".

2006 saw the release of the PBS documentary, Heart & Soul: The Life and Music of Frank Loesser.

My Time Of Day
Frank Loesser Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My time of day is the dark time
A couple of deals before dawn
When the street belongs to the cop
And the janitor with the mop
And the grocery clerks are all gone.

When the smell of the rainwashed pavement
Comes up clean, and fresh, and cold

And the streetlamp light
Fills the gutter with gold

That's my time of day
My time of day

And you're the only doll I've ever wanted to share it with me.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of My Time of Day by Frank Loesser describe a very specific time of day, which the singer considers his favorite. It's the dark time, just before dawn, when the streets are almost completely deserted. At this hour, the only people around are the cop, the janitor, and the grocery clerks who have finished their night shifts. The singer loves this time because he feels like he has the whole city to himself. He enjoys the quiet and the stillness that surrounds him.

One of the things that the singer especially loves about this time of day is the way the rainwashed pavement smells. Everything is clean and fresh and cold, and the streetlamp light glimmers in the gutters, giving them a golden hue. For the singer, this is a magical time, and he feels like everything is just waiting to come to life again. He has a sense of expectation and anticipation, as though something wonderful is about to happen.

The last two lines of the song take on a more romantic tone. The singer addresses someone he calls "doll" and says that she's the only one he's ever wanted to share this special time with. The two of them would have the city to themselves, and they could bask in the magic of the dark time together. The song is a beautiful tribute to a very specific time of day and the feelings it evokes in the singer.

Line by Line Meaning

My time of day is the dark time
I prefer the hours of darkness

A couple of deals before dawn
Just a short period of time before sunrise

When the street belongs to the cop
When the only people on the street are law enforcement officers

And the janitor with the mop
And the service workers who tidy up the streets

And the grocery clerks are all gone.
And the workers who run the stores have all finished their work

When the smell of the rainwashed pavement
During times when the roads smell fresh after a rain shower

Comes up clean, and fresh, and cold
The air is crisp and refreshing

And the streetlamp light
The glow of the streetlights

Fills the gutter with gold
Light reflecting off of the wet pavement looks golden

That's my time of day
These are the moments when I am the happiest

My time of day
My ideal time of the day