Helen O'Connell joined the Jimmy Dorsey band in 1939 and achieved her best selling records in the early forties with "Green Eyes", "Amapola", and "Tangerine". In each of these Latin-influenced numbers, Bob Eberly crooned the song which Helen then reprised in an up-tempo arrangement. Helen won the 1940 Metronome magazine poll for best female vocalist. She was one of the first "girls" on NBC's The Today Show, and at one point had her own television show.
Helen retired from show business upon her first marriage in 1943. Helen had four daughters and eight grandchildren. When the first marriage failed, she embarked on a solo career in 1951, achieving some chart success and becoming a regular television performer. Helen has married a total of four times.
She co-hosted the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants with Bob Barker from 1972 to 1980.
In her last marriage, she was married to arranger/conductor/composer Frank De Vol when she died in San Diego, California from a battle with hepatitis C resulting in primary liver cancer (hepatoma).
Amapola
Helen O'connell Lyrics
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A maid with a way of whisp'ring "si senor."
Each night while guitars would softly play,
The tune seemed to dance 'round the words that he'd say:
Amapola, my pretty little poppy
You're like that lovely flow'r so sweet and heavenly,
Since I found you, my heart is wrapped around you
Amapola, the pretty little poppy
Must copy it's endearing charm from you.
Amapola, Amapola, how I long to hear you say "I love you."
The boy left his love upon a distant shore
And sailed from the one his arms were longing for.
He vowed he'd return one sunny day,
Once more to repeat what his heart had to say
The lyrics to Helen O'Connell's song "Amapola" tell the story of a boy who falls in love with a maid on a distant shore. The maid has a way of whispering "si senor" that enchants the boy. Each night, while guitars softly play, the boy finds himself drawn to the tune and the words he speaks to his beloved. He compares her to a "pretty little poppy," a flower that is "sweet and heavenly," and declares that his heart is wrapped around her. He loves her so much that it feels like a rhapsody is beating in his heart.
Despite his love for the maid, the boy must sail away from her and leave her on the distant shore. He promises to return one day to repeat the words that his heart still longs to say to her. The lyrics of "Amapola" express the power of love to transcend distance and time and the deep longing that can result from being separated from one's beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
A boy found a dream upon a distant shore
There was a boy who found a dream on a faraway shore.
A maid with a way of whisp'ring 'si senor.'
He met a girl who whispered 'yes sir' in a unique way.
Each night while guitars would softly play,
Every night while listening to soft guitar music,
The tune seemed to dance 'round the words that he'd say:
he noticed that the music seemed to complement the words he spoke:
Amapola, my pretty little poppy
He called her 'Amapola', which means 'poppy flower' and compared her to one.
You're like that lovely flow'r so sweet and heavenly,
He says that she's just like the poppy flower: beautiful and heavenly.
Since I found you, my heart is wrapped around you
Since he found her, his heart belongs to her and he's deeply in love.
And loving you, it seems to beat a Rhapsody.
Being in love with her makes his heart beat like an elaborate and intense musical composition.
Amapola, the pretty little poppy
He repeats the name 'Amapola', calling her the pretty little poppy again.
Must copy it's endearing charm from you.
He believes that the actual poppy flower must have learned its charming quality from her.
Amapola, Amapola, how I long to hear you say 'I love you.'
He longs to hear her say 'I love you', and repeats her name for emphasis.
The boy left his love upon a distant shore
The boy had to leave his love on a faraway shore.
And sailed from the one his arms were longing for.
He sailed away from the one he desperately wanted to embrace.
He vowed he'd return one sunny day,
He promised to come back one bright day.
Once more to repeat what his heart had to say.
So he could repeat everything he had said in his heart - his declarations of love.
Lyrics © SEMI, CARLIN AMERICA INC, Tratore, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Albert Gamse, Joseph Lacalle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@calebbunch8111
Lyrics:
A boy found a dream upon a distant shore
A maid with a way of whispering "Si, señor."
Each night while guitars would softly play
The tune seemed to dance 'round the words that he'd say
Amapola, my pretty little poppy
You're like that lovely flower so sweet and heavenly
Since I found you, my heart is wrapped around you
And loving you, it seems to beat a rhapsody
Amapola, the pretty little poppy
Must copy it's endearing charms from you
Amapola, Amapola
How I long to hear you say, "I love you."
Amapola, my pretty little poppy
You're like that lovely flower so sweet and heavenly
Since I found you, my heart is wrapped around you
And loving you, it seems to beat a rhapsody
Amapola, the pretty little poppy
Must copy it's endearing charms from you.
Amapola, Amapola
How I long to hear you say "I love you."
@martinleibenguth5412
I'm one of the fortunate ones old enough to see Jimmy Dorsey in person my memories are as Vivid as yesterday I Am 98 years old
@AndreasKoutris
ΑΑπο την μακρινη Ελλαδα, σου στελνω χαιρετισμους και σου ευχομαι να παρεις τα χρονια του Μαθουσαλα! Δηλαδη 1000 χρονια! Σου ευχομαι υγιεια και ο θεος μαζι σου. 🇬🇷🏛👍
@user-xz6qh5ec7t
God bless, brother. I am nostalgic for a period of time I never knew, but you did. My father is 90, and this is his style of music. And now, it is mine too.
@user-xz6qh5ec7t
God bless. God wants you around. You come from a generation of class and values. My father is 90, and he is still reliving his past and lamenting how things have changed. Yes, you were fortunate to have seen this true artist. Hold on to your memories. All we really ever own are our experiences.
@NoRockinMansLand
Wow that's amazing
@annewhite3691
I was a child 4 or 5 and had teen cousins. I remember this song was played over and over. Still love the memories, they're gone but I'm 88.
@pauljulian5986
I was 6 years old but had two brothers 15 and 17. Thats all the music l heard. Still love it and I'm 83.
@jincoolcool4019
Awesome ~ you're still 6 years old kid. I think you mind stil young whenever you listen to this song.
Also I can image your brothers.
Thank so much~
@michelleleeschaeffer3482
That’s awesome❤️ there was nothing more awesome than to have him sing to me when ide visit him on the weekends. My grandfather Bob Eberly. I miss him still so so much!
@happyturkeyy2086
Paul dou you remember world war?