Berlin, who was Jewish, was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, he composed over 3,000 songs. Many of his songs, including "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and "There's No Business Like Show Business," left an indelible mark on American music and culture. He produced 17 film scores and 21 Broadway scores, in addition to his individual songs.
Play A Simple Melody
Irving Berlin Lyrics
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Like my mother sang to me
One with a good old-fashioned harmony
Play some simple melody
Musical demon, set your honey a-dreamin',
Won't you play me some rag
Just change that classical nag to some sweet beautiful drag
That is choppy you'll get all my applause
And that is simply because I wanna listen to rag
Play for me
That good old-fashioned harmony
Oh, won't you play for me
A simple melody
Play from a copy of a tune that is choppy
You'll get all of my applause because
I wanna rag it
Ragtime melody
The lyrics to Irving Berlin's "Play A Simple Melody" are a request for a musician to play a nostalgic, old-fashioned tune that brings back memories of childhood. The singer wants to hear a song with a clear and uncomplicated harmony that hearkens back to a simpler time. The song emphasizes the power of music to evoke emotions and memories, and the importance of playing music just for the joy of it.
The second verse moves away from the simple melody and requests a ragtime tune instead. The singer wants to hear something that is more modern and exciting, but still has a hint of nostalgia. The lyrics imply that music has the power to transform moods and create a sense of joy and excitement.
Overall, "Play A Simple Melody" is a song that celebrates the role of music in our lives. It reminds us of the power of music to evoke emotions and memories while also providing entertainment and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you play some simple melody
Can you please play an uncomplicated tune?
Like my mother sang to me
Just like the song my mom used to sing for me when I was a kid
One with a good old-fashioned harmony
A melody with a traditional and pleasant harmony
Play some simple melody
Kindly perform an uncomplicated tune for me
Musical demon, set your honey a-dreamin',
Hey, musician! Please play me a captivating tune
Won't you play me some rag
Can you please play some energetic and lively music?
Just change that classical nag to some sweet beautiful drag
Transform that dull classical melody to a more upbeat and pleasant tune
If you will play from a copy of a tune
If you play a song that you read from a music score
That is choppy you'll get all my applause
I will appreciate and applaud you if you play a bouncy melody
And that is simply because I wanna listen to rag
That's just because I'm in the mood to listen to lively music
Play for me
Perform for me
That good old-fashioned harmony
A melody with a traditional and plain harmony
Oh, won't you play for me
Hey, can you perform for me?
A simple melody
An easy, uncomplicated tune
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