Monte's first big hit came in 1954, with the release of his version of "Darktown Strutters' Ball." In 1962, Monte would release his first million-seller, "Pepino, the Italian Mouse." Sung in a pastiche of both Neapolitan and English, "Pepino" tells the humorous tale of a mischievous mouse who lives within the walls of a man's kitchen and who comes out at night to eat cheese, drink wine, frighten Lou's girlfriend when she comes over and befriends the cat, sent out to catch him.
The "flip side" of the single featured another Italian-American hybrid novelty song called "What Did Washington Say (When He Crossed The Delaware?)." The song presumes that George Washington was cold, tired, hungry and without a change of underwear on his famous trip. At one point in the song, "Washington" complains that the pizzas his wife Martha baked were as "cold as ice." His solution? "Sell them to the Indians for only half the price." He then asks his boatsmen to row faster because "tonight I'm posing for my picture on the dollar bill."
Monte's other famous novelty records include 'Dominick the Donkey', a holiday staple in many Italian-American households and "Pasquale, the Italian Pussycat," the sequel to "Pepino."
After his death his son continued to sing his songs in concert for some time.
He contributed to the founding of the Lou Monte, Jr. leukemia laboratory at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in memory of his son who died of the disease at age 21.
The Sheik Of Araby
Lou Monte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your love belongs to me.
At night when you're asleep
Into your tent I'll creep.
The stars that shine above,
Will light our way to love.
You'll rule this land with me;
The lyrics of Lou Monte's song "The Sheik of Araby" tell a story of a Sheik from Araby who is enamored with a woman and believes that her love belongs to him. He boasts that he can sneak into her tent at night and the stars will guide them towards their love. The Sheik even invites the woman to rule the land with him. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, which is characteristic of many traditional folk and popular songs from the early 20th century.
The song's lyrics are reflective of a stereotypical and exoticized view of the Middle East that was popular in Western culture during the 1920s and 1930s. The Sheik of Araby character was often depicted in literature, film, and music as a romantic figure who swept Western women off their feet with his charming, mysterious ways. The lyrics of the song play into this stereotype and portray the Sheik as a romantic hero who will stop at nothing to win the love of his lady.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the Sheik of Araby,
I am a powerful and wealthy ruler of the mythical land of Araby.
Your love belongs to me.
You are deeply in love with me and have devoted yourself to me.
At night when you're asleep
Into your tent I'll creep.
When you are sleeping I will sneak into your tent to be near you.
The stars that shine above,
Will light our way to love.
The twinkling stars above us will guide us towards eternal love.
You'll rule this land with me;
You will have a share in my power and we will rule over the land of Araby together.
Lyrics © HARRY B. SMITH COPYRIGHTS, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ted Snyder, Harry B. Smith, Francis Wheeler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
That Lil' Tinker Belle
I love this song.
Stephen DeVore sadsongsishere
Hi, There is an earlier 1921 version of this, earlier than 1922, that is. (I have more than one upload of that saved into a playlist called Sheik of Araby.) This version here (1958) was the one I was introduced to or came across as a boy, and loved—except for certain creepy lyrics!
JLB
Do you by any chance have the Italian lyrics to this? I'm trying to learn. :D
FRANCO DI NITTO , PIANIST
👏🏻
CatsPjamas1
@judyaosta You're very welcome, thanks a million for your nice comments!
Giorgio Nikola Rigas Nenadov
sono lo sceicco di napoli , senza scarpe (without shoes) mi chiamo lui, quando e notte ti vengo a trova, sotto la luna ti vengo a ...?, tu sei la bella di mamma, e io sono un figlio di papa, ti faccio divertire etc etc....
IWasMutans
sotto la luna ti vengo a inquietà (disturb)
Funny How ?
Eje songo o chic 'e Napuli,
Senza scarpa vaco a Mulberry.
Quanno e notte ti vaco a truvà,
Sutta 'a luna ti vaco a guidà.
Tu sî 'a bella 'e mamma
Eje songo o figlio 'e papà
Ti fazze addiverti'
Songo o chic 'e Napuli.
Se faccimme na 'mbriacata
Abbasta ca tu nun fume
Tu si a bella 'e mamma
Eje songo o figlio 'e papà
Ti fazze addiverti'
Songo o chic 'e Napuli.