Les Paul (Lester William Polsfuss, June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009) and Mary Ford (Iris Colleen Summers, July 7, 1924 – September 30, 1977) were introduced to each other by Gene Autry in 1946 and married in 1949.
They first appeared in the pop charts in 1950. Between the years 1950 and 1954, Les Paul and Mary Ford had 16 top-ten hits. They had five top-ten hits within nine months. "Tennessee Waltz", "Mockin' Bird Hill", "How High the Moon" (#1 for nine weeks), "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise" and "Whispering". From August 1952 to March 1953 they had five more top-ten hits; "My Baby's Coming Home", "Lady of Spain", "Bye Bye Blues", "I'm Sitting on Top of the World" and "Vaya Con Dios" (#1 for 11 weeks). Their 1954 version of "I'm a Fool to Care" went to #6, and was featured in a memorable Southern Comfort commercial in 2013 that got over 1 million views on YouTube.
In 2009, they were inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
Les Paul and Mary Ford are famous for creating a makeshift recording studio in their garage. In their garage studio, they used multitrack recording to record many of their hits including ‘Lover’, ‘Nola’, ‘Brazil’ and ‘Whispering' with only the two of them.
YouTube has a large selection of clips from their syndicated TV show "Les Paul & Mary Ford At Home" (1954-'55).
Les Paul and Mary Ford divorced acrimoniously in December 1964, which also ended the collaboration between the two.
The duo have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Les Paul had hosted a 15-minute radio program, The Les Paul Show, on NBC in 1950, featuring his trio (himself, Ford, and rhythm player Eddie Stapleton) and his electronics, recorded from their home and with gentle humour between Paul and Ford bridging musical selections, some of which had already been successful on records, some of which anticipated the couple's recordings, and many of which presented dazzling re-interpretations of such jazz and pop selections as "In the Mood," "Little Rock Getaway," "Brazil," and "Tiger Rag." Several recordings of these shows survive among old-time radio collectors today.
The show also appeared on television a few years later with the same format, but excluding the trio and retitled The Les Paul & Mary Ford Show (aka Les Paul & Mary Ford At Home) with "Vaya Con Dios" as a theme song. Sponsored by Warner Lambert's Listerine, it was widely syndicated during 1954–55 and was only five minutes long (one or two songs) on film and therefore used as a brief interlude or fill-in on programming schedules. Since Les created the entire show himself, including audio and video, he maintained the original recordings and was in the process of restoring them to up-to-date quality at the time of his death.
Mockin' Bird Hill
Les Paul & Mary Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And kisses the roses 'round my window sill
Then my heart fills with gladness when I hear the trill
Of those birds in the treetops on mockin' bird hill
Tra-la-la, tweedlee dee dee, it gives me a thrill
To wake up in the morning to the mockin' bird's trill
Tra-la-la, tweedlee dee dee, there's peace and goodwill
Ah-la-da-da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
When it's late in the evenin' I climb up the hill
And survey all my kingdom while everything's still
Only me and the sky and an old whippoorwill
Singing songs in the twilight on mockin' bird hill
Tra-la-la, tweedlee dee dee, it gives me a thrill
To wake up in the morning to the mockin' bird's trill
Tra-la-la, tweedlee dee dee, there's peace and goodwill
You're welcome as the flowers on the mockin' bird hill
la-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
La-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
The lyrics to Les Paul & Mary Ford's song, "Mockin' Bird Hill," describe the joy and peace one feels when waking up to the sound of birds singing and the beauty of nature. The song starts with the sun rising over the hill and kissing the roses, and the trill of the birds in the treetops filling the heart with gladness. The lyrics are symbolic of the simple pleasures of life that one can find in nature and the appreciation of the beauty of the environment.
The chorus of the song is filled with enthusiasm and joy as the trill of the mockin' bird fills the morning air. The lyrics go on to describe the peace and goodwill that this experience brings, likening the listener to the flowers on the mockin' bird hill. The second verse continues the description of the beauty of nature, as the singer climbs up the hill in the evening to survey the land while everything is quiet. The old whippoorwill singing in the twilight adds to the peaceful ambiance of the surroundings.
Overall, the lyrics of "Mockin' Bird Hill" celebrate the small moments of joy and tranquility that can be found in nature, and the appreciation of those moments.
Line by Line Meaning
When the sun in the mornin' peeps over the hill
As the sun rises in the morning, and peeps over the hill, I awaken from my slumber.
And kisses the roses 'round my window sill
The sun's rays softly kiss the roses blooming on my windowsill.
Then my heart fills with gladness when I hear the trill
As I listen to the birds' sweet melodies, my heart overflows with joy.
Of those birds in the treetops on mockin' bird hill
As the birds sing from their perches in the treetops, I am filled with wonder and serenity.
Tra-la-la, tweedlee dee dee, it gives me a thrill
The tune of the birds gives me immense pleasure and joy, making me feel like singing along.
To wake up in the morning to the mockin' bird's trill
I love waking up to the sound of nature's music, especially the exquisite trill of the mockingbirds.
There's peace and goodwill
In this peaceful and serene environment of nature, there is only an abundance of love and goodwill.
You're welcome as the flowers on the mockin' bird hill
Everyone is welcome to join and appreciate the beauty of nature, just like the flowers blooming on the mockingbird hill.
When it's late in the evenin' I climb up the hill
In the evening, when the sun is retreating, I climb up the hill to better appreciate the view.
And survey all my kingdom while everything's still
From the hilltop, I survey the vastness of the land beneath me, taking in the peaceful quietness of the night.
Only me and the sky and an old whippoorwill
In the stillness of the night, there is only me surrounded by the vast sky, the only sound coming from a nearby whippoorwill.
Singing songs in the twilight on mockin' bird hill
As the sun sets in the horizon, and the night sky begins to set in, the songs of the mockingbirds can still be heard filling the twilight air.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Vaughn Horton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jaddison1112
My parents had this song by Les Paul and Mary Ford on a 78 RPM. When we were kids in the late 1950s and later as well we would listen to this on an old phonograph record player. It makes me think of happy memories with my parents, and miss them too.
@lospaisasoriginal5454
You're damn right they are right there with you still...
Don't ever let go of them.
@ronmarler5746
Mary Ford is the most underrated singer of all time. Mary played the guitar just well as Les. If it was Not for Mary Les would be a complete unknown now. Mary Ford is one of the greatest singers of all time.
@davidcoles198
Nobody is better on the guitar than Les Paul, nobody.
@LollyBarrel
My grandpa would drive around with this music and I still have the CD.
@MrReaperofDead
Does your grampa use youtube? 😯
@edsauer2931
This lovely song displays the genius of two great artists! Love it greatly.
@glenmurphy7020
Mary Ford had the most beautiful voice that I have ever heard. I remember this song from when I was a kid and when I hear birds chirping I always think of this song. I guess GOD needed her in his quire.
@danyceroppe463
Mom just passed away. I had to find this song because she always sang it hummed Mockingbird Hill. She and her girl group performed this on WCCO radio in a Minneapolis song contest. 😊
@thestoryplease
This song is soooo 50's but together they pull it off as not kitch or corn but a sweet, melodic masterpiece. Always picks me up and I can imagine this wonderful place in a peaceful countryside with apples and pears and the Sweetie putting her apple pie in the window to cool. Tasty!