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.
Standing on the Corner
Frank Loesser Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
Brother, you don't know a nicer occupation
Matter of fact, neither do I
Than standing on the corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls
Go by
Haven't got a girl, but I can dream
Haven't got a girl, but I can wish
So I take me down to Main Street and that's where I select my imaginary dish
Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
Standing on the corner giving all the girls the eye
Brother, if you've got a rich imagination
Give it a whirl, give it a try
Try standing on the corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls
Go by
Saturday, and I'm so broke
Haven't got a girl, and that's no joke
Still I'm living like a millionaire
When I take me down to Main Street and I review the harem parading for me there
Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
Standing on the corner underneath the springtime sky
Brother, you can't go to jail for what you're thinking
Or for the "Woo!" look in your eye
You're only standing on the corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls
Go by
"Standing on the Corner" is a song written by Frank Loesser in 1956. The song describes a man standing on the street corner, watching all the girls go by. He suggests that it is a pleasant and harmless way to spend his time. He also acknowledges the fact that he does not have a girlfriend but can dream about being with one. The singer encourages others to try watching the girls go by, since it requires no effort and anyone can do it.
The song is primarily about the male gaze and objectification of women. The singer watches the girls go by and makes them into objects of his desire. He imagines them as his "imaginary dish" and reviews "the harem parading for me there." The song presents the viewer as passive and the viewed as an object of his gaze. It also suggests that it is perfectly acceptable to objectify women in this way.
Despite this problematic aspect, the song has been popular for its catchy melody and upbeat tempo. It has been covered by many artists and featured in several films and shows. The song has also been satirized for its sexist and objectifying lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
Observing girls pass by on a street corner
Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
Observing girls pass by on a street corner
Brother, you don't know a nicer occupation
There's nothing better than standing there watching the girls go by
Matter of fact, neither do I
There's really nothing better to do with your time
Than standing on the corner watching all the girls
Doing nothing beats watching the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls
Observing and paying attention to all the girls
Go by
Walk past
I'm a cat that got the cream
I'm in a really good position
Haven't got a girl, but I can dream
I don't have a girl at the moment, but I can imagine having one
Haven't got a girl, but I can wish
I don't currently have a girl, but I can hope to have one someday
So I take me down to Main Street and that's where I select my imaginary dish
I go to the main street in my mind and choose an imaginary girl to fantasize about
Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
Observing girls pass by on a street corner
Standing on the corner giving all the girls the eye
Looking at and particularly noticing the girls as they pass by
Brother, if you've got a rich imagination
If you have a vivid imagination
Give it a whirl, give it a try
Try it out for yourself
Try standing on the corner watching all the girls
Try observing girls pass by on a street corner
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls
Observing and paying attention to all the girls
Watching all the girls go by
Observing girls pass by on a street corner
Saturday, and I'm so broke
It's Saturday and I don't have any money
Haven't got a girl, and that's no joke
I'm currently single, and it's not funny
Still I'm living like a millionaire
Despite not having any money or a girlfriend, I feel rich in mind
When I take me down to Main Street and I review the harem parading for me there
In my mind's eye, I review all the beautiful women walking down the main street for my enjoyment
Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
Observing girls pass by on a street corner
Standing on the corner underneath the springtime sky
Enjoying the beautiful spring sky while observing girls pass by on a street corner
Brother, you can't go to jail for what you're thinking
There are no legal consequences for having certain thoughts
Or for the "Woo!" look in your eye
Or for the expression of delight on your face
You're only standing on the corner watching all the girls
You're just standing there, observing the girls as they pass by
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls
Observing and paying attention to all the girls
Watching all the girls go by
Observing girls pass by on a street corner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILLIAM 'COUNT' BASIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind