dearie
Jo Stafford & Gordon Macrae Lyrics
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Waltzed to the Sousa band
My wasn't the music grand
Chowder parties down by the seashore
Every Fourth of July, test your memory
My Dearie
Do you recall when Henry Ford couldn't even fix
The running board under a Chandler six
Dearie, life was cheery
In the good old days gone by
Do you remember?
Uh huh!
Well if you remember
Wonderful!
Well Dearie, you're much older than I
What? Hey, wait a minute, Honey, I just got a long memory that's all.
Dearie, do you remember when we
Stayed up all night to get
Pittsburgh on a crystal set
Keystone movies, Coogan and Chaplin
Made you laugh and then cry
Test your memory, my Dearie
Do you recall when Orville Wright flew at Kittyhawk
But take it from me I would rather walk
Dearie, life was cheery
In the good old days gone by
Do you remember
Uh huh!
Well if you remember
Well?
Well, Dearie, you're much older than I
Ha Ha! I'll kill you
Dearie, do you remember how they
Loved Harry Lauder's act
My wasn't the Palace packed
Jenny Lind presented by Barnum
Sang her sweet lullaby
Test your memory my Dearie,
Chicago all in flames
Sure caused a terrific row
They blamed it on Mrs. O'Leary's cow
Dearie, life was cheery
In the good old days gone by
Do you remember? Well if you remember,
Well, Dearie, you're much older than,
Quite a bit older than,
You're older than I.
The song "Dearie" by Jo Stafford is a lovely, nostalgic tune that reminisces about the good old days with a loved one. The singer fondly remembers a time when they danced to the Sousa band and attended chowder parties by the seashore. They ask their companion if they remember when Henry Ford couldn't fix the running board of a Chandler six, and when they stayed up all night to get Pittsburgh on a crystal set. The lyrics also mention Keystone movies, Charlie Chaplin, Orville Wright's flight at Kittyhawk, Harry Lauder's act, and Jenny Lind's performance presented by Barnum. However, the song's refrain is "in the good old days gone by," and it is clear that the singer is aware that those days are long gone.
The lyrics are full of charming details of the past, and the use of "Dearie" throughout the song gives it an endearing quality. The singer seems to be teasing their companion about their advanced age, adding a playful element to the song. Overall, "Dearie" is a heartwarming ode to the past and the memories we hold dear.
Line by Line Meaning
Dearie, do you remember when we waltzed to the Sousa band
Hey, do you remember that one time we danced to the music of John Philip Sousa?
My wasn't the music grand
Wow, the music was really great!
Chowder parties down by the seashore, every Fourth of July, test your memory, my Dearie
Remember those awesome clam bakes we had by the sea on the 4th of July? Can you recall?
Do you recall when Henry Ford couldn't even fix the running board under a Chandler six
Can you believe that time when Henry Ford couldn't even fix that car part on a Chandler six? Crazy, right?
Dearie, life was cheery, in the good old days gone by
Life used to be so good and cheerful back in the day.
Uh huh!
Yeah, I remember that too!
Well if you remember, wonderful!
Great, it's good to remember those good times.
Well Dearie, you're much older than I, what? Hey, wait a minute, Honey, I just got a long memory that's all.
Well, you're definitely a lot older than me. But hey, I still have a pretty good memory!
Dearie, do you remember when we stayed up all night to get Pittsburgh on a crystal set
Remember that time we stayed up all night trying to get Pittsburgh on the radio?
Keystone movies, Coogan and Chaplin, made you laugh and then cry
Watching those Keystone movies with Coogan and Chaplin always made us laugh and then cry, didn't they?
Do you recall when Orville Wright flew at Kittyhawk, but take it from me I would rather walk
Remember when Orville Wright flew at Kittyhawk? Yeah, well, I'd rather just walk myself.
Dearie, life was cheery, in the good old days gone by
Life was just so much happier and simpler back in those good old days.
Ha Ha! I'll kill you
Ha ha! I'm just messing with you.
Dearie, do you remember how they loved Harry Lauder's act, my wasn't the Palace packed
Hey, remember how everyone loved Harry Lauder's act? The Palace was really packed that night!
Jenny Lind presented by Barnum, sang her sweet lullaby, test your memory my Dearie
Remember when Jenny Lind sang that sweet lullaby, presented by Barnum? Can you recall that lovely moment?
Chicago all in flames, sure caused a terrific row, they blamed it on Mrs. O'Leary's cow
Remember when that fire broke out in Chicago and everyone was up in arms? People even blamed it on Mrs. O'Leary's cow!
Well if you remember, well?
So, do you remember all these things we're talking about?
Well, Dearie, you're much older than, quite a bit older than, you're older than I.
Well, you're definitely quite a bit older than me. But that's okay!
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BOB HILLIARD, DAVE MANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Silvestri
I learned this (and a few other oldies) as a kid hanging with my maternal Grandparents in the early 50's. Forced to watch Guy Lombardo and Lawrence Welk, but I did enjoy "Your Hit Parade".
sstavsky
I have to admit a partiality to the Bolger-Merman version, in which their strong, distinctive personalities come through.
Walter Haight
About 30,000 people a day hear this song because it's on rotation on Main Street USA in Disneyland. Not sure which version though.