Her musical career began in earnest when she was discovered in 1930 by Columbia Records vice president Ted Collins, who became her longtime partner and manager and who put her on the radio in 1931. She sang the controversial top twenty song of 1931, "That's Why Darkies Were Born". She starred in the 1932 movie Hello Everybody!, with co-stars Randolph Scott and Sally Blane, and in 1943 she sang "God Bless America" in the wartime picture This is the Army. Irving Berlin had written the song in 1938 for her, and it is considered "the second National Anthem" of the United States. Its popularity and constant airplay led Woody Guthrie to pen the original version of "This Land Is Your Land" in protest at the Berlin tune's unquestioning complacency.
Kate began making records in 1926; among her biggest hits were "River, Stay 'Way From My Door" (1931), "The Woodpecker Song" (1940), "The White Cliffs of Dover" (1941), "Rose O'Day" (1941), "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" (1942), "There Goes That Song Again" (1944), "Seems Like Old Times" (1946), and "Now Is the Hour" (1947). Her theme song was "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain", the lyrics of which she helped write. She greeted audiences with "Hello, everybody!" and signed off with "Thanks for listenin'."
Her oversized figure made her the occasional butt of derision from fellow performers and managers. Despite the occasional ridicule, Smith was a major star of radio, usually backed by Jack Miller's Orchestra. She began in 1931 with her twice-a-week NBC series, Kate Smith Sings (which quickly expanded to six shows a week), followed by a series of shows for CBS: Kate Smith and Her Swanee Music (1931-33), sponsored by La Palina Cigars; The Kate Smith Matinee (1934-35); The Kate Smith New Star Revue (1934-35); Kate Smith's Coffee Time (1935-36), sponsored by A&P; and The Kate Smith A&P Bandwagon (1936-37).
For eight years (1937-45), The Kate Smith Hour was a leading radio variety show, offering comedy, music and drama with appearances by top personalities of films and theater. The nationwide audience was introduced to comedy by the show's resident comics, Abbott and Costello and Henny Youngman, while a series of sketches led to The Aldrich Family as a spin-off in 1940. She continued into the 1950s on the Mutual Broadcasting System, CBS, ABC and NBC, doing both music and talk shows.
An unusual part of her career began on December 11, 1969, when the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team played her rendition of "God Bless America" before the game. Philadelphia beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 6-3. The team would begin to play the song before home games every once in a while, and the perception developed that the team was more successful on these occasions, so the tradition grew.
Kate Smith, who never married, died of diabetes at the age of 79 in Raleigh, North Carolina, several years after converting to Roman Catholicism. (from Wikipedia)
NOW
Kate Smith Lyrics
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Night o'er the valley is creeping!
Birds cuddle down in their nest,
Soon all the world will be sleeping,
And now is the hour when we must say goodbye,
Soon you'll be sailing far across the sea,
While you're away, o, then remember me,
True lovers often must part,
Kiss me, then leave me to sorrow!
Here love, I give you my heart,
You will return some glad morrow,
But now is the hour when we must say goodbye,
Soon you'll be sailing far across the sea,
While you're away, o, then remember me,
When you return, you'll find me waiting here.
The lyrics to Kate Smith's song "Now Is The Hour" are a poignant farewell to a loved one. The song describes the end of the day and the onset of night, as birds prepare for rest in their nests. The singer must say goodbye to their loved one, who is about to sail away across the sea. The singer asks their departing love to remember them while they are away, and promises to wait for their return. The second verse acknowledges the pain of separation, but also expresses hope for a future reunion.
The song captures the bittersweet emotions of saying goodbye to someone you care about deeply but also recognizing that it is necessary for them to go their own way. The lyrics convey a sense of both longing and acceptance, and the melody, a traditional Maori tune, adds to the wistful quality of the song.
Overall, "Now Is The Hour" is a beautiful expression of love and loss, one that many people can relate to. It speaks to the universal experience of saying goodbye to someone you care for deeply and wishing them well on their journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunset glow fades in the west,
The sun is going down in the west and its last light is fading away.
Night o'er the valley is creeping!
The darkness of the night is gradually taking over the valley.
Birds cuddle down in their nest,
The birds are settling into their nests to sleep.
Soon all the world will be sleeping,
Soon everything around will be quiet as the world falls asleep.
And now is the hour when we must say goodbye,
It's time for us to part ways and bid farewell.
Soon you'll be sailing far across the sea,
You'll be going on a long journey across the sea soon.
While you're away, o, then remember me,
During your absence, please keep me in your thoughts.
When you return, you'll find me waiting here,
I'll be waiting for your safe return.
True lovers often must part,
It's common for lovers to have to say goodbye and be separated.
Kiss me, then leave me to sorrow!
Kiss me goodbye and then go, leaving me to feel sorrowful without you.
Here love, I give you my heart,
I'm giving you my heart and love as you leave.
You will return some glad morrow,
I trust you'll come back to me happily someday.
But now is the hour when we must say goodbye,
We have to say goodbye right now.
Soon you'll be sailing far across the sea,
You'll soon be embarking on a long journey across the sea.
While you're away, o, then remember me,
Please keep me in your thoughts while you're away from me.
When you return, you'll find me waiting here.
I'll be waiting for your return with open arms.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIMA MAEWA KAIHAU, DOROTHY M.R. STEWART, CECIL SPENCER DARLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind