Standing on the Corner
The Four Lads Lyrics
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Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
Brother, you don't know a nicer occupation
Matter of fact, neither do I
Than standing on a corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
I'm the cat that got the creamHaven't got a girl but I can dream
Haven't got a girl but I can wish
So I'll take me down to main street
And that's where I select my imaginary dish
Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
Standing on a corner giving all the girls the eye
Brother, if you've got a rich imagination
Give it a whirl, give it a try
Try standing on a corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
Saturday and I'm so broke
Haven't got a girl and that's no joke
Still I'm living like a millionaire
When I take me down to main street
And I review the harem parading for me there
Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
Standing on a corner underneath the springtime sky
Brother, you can't go to jail for what you're thinking
Or for that woo look in your eye
You're only standing on the corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
The Four Lads's song "Standing on the Corner" is about the joy that one can experience while simply watching the world go by, specifically watching all of the girls walk down the street. The song is sung from the perspective of a man who recognizes that it's a nice occupation to stand on the corner and admire the women who pass by. He notes that he doesn't have a girlfriend but enjoys dreaming and wishing for one. He even refers to himself as the cat that got the cream, someone who is satisfied with the simple pleasure of watching the world.
In the second verse, the man still doesn't have a girl but notes that he can pretend to when he goes to main street to watch the women parade by. He encourages others to give it a try, implying that the simple pleasure of watching the world can bring happiness. The final verse has the man noting that he's broke but still feels rich when he goes to main street to see the women. He notes that watching the girls isn't a crime and encourages others to try it out for themselves.
Overall, the song is a celebration of the joy that can be found in simple pleasures, like people-watching, and the beauty to be found in the everyday world.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
I enjoy standing here, just watching all the pretty girls walk by.
Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
I really like standing here, just enjoying the view of all the attractive girls walking by.
Brother, you don't know a nicer occupation
I don't think there's a better way to spend my time than watching these girls from this corner.
Matter of fact, neither do I
In fact, I agree, I can't think of something I'd rather be doing.
Than standing on a corner watching all the girls
I really enjoy looking at these girls from my spot on the corner.
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
I could do this all day - just stand on this corner and watch all the beautiful girls walk past me.
I'm the cat that got the cream
Even though I don't have a girlfriend, I feel pretty good and satisfied with my life right now.
Haven't got a girl but I can dream
Even though I don't have a girlfriend right now, I can still imagine what it would be like to have one.
Haven't got a girl but I can wish
I may be alone, but I can still hope and dream of finding the perfect girl someday.
So I'll take me down to main street
I'm going to head down to the busy part of town and see what this place has to offer.
And that's where I select my imaginary dish
I'll use my imagination to choose a girl to picture as my girlfriend for the time being.
Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
I'm back to my favorite spot, looking at all the beautiful girls walk past me.
Standing on a corner giving all the girls the eye
I'm checking out all the girls as they walk by me, trying to look casual.
Brother, if you've got a rich imagination
If you can imagine and visualize things well, this is the perfect place to use your imagination.
Give it a whirl, give it a try
Come stand with me, and try to picture yourself with one of these attractive girls walking by.
Try standing on a corner watching all the girls
You should give this a try, it's a great way to pass the time.
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
Once again, I'm admiring all the pretty girls walking past me.
Saturday and I'm so broke
Even though I don't have much money, I'm still enjoying this beautiful Saturday afternoon.
Haven't got a girl and that's no joke
I'm still single, but I'm not letting that bring me down.
Still I'm living like a millionaire
Even though I don't have a lot of money, I'm still feeling good and happy with my life.
When I take me down to main street
I love coming down to this busy part of town and seeing all the people walking around.
And I review the harem parading for me there
As I watch all the people walking by on main street, I feel like I have a whole group of beautiful women parading just for me.
Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
I'm back to my favorite spot, enjoying the sight of all the attractive girls walking by.
Standing on a corner underneath the springtime sky
The weather is beautiful today, and I'm standing here under the blue sky, looking at all the girls.
Brother, you can't go to jail for what you're thinking
It's okay to think whatever you want when you're admiring the girls walking by.
Or for that woo look in your eye
Even if my eyes look a little intense, I'm not doing anything wrong just by standing here and observing.
You're only standing on the corner watching all the girls
I'm not doing anything wrong, I'm just enjoying the view of all the pretty girls walking by.
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
I can't get enough of looking at all the beautiful girls walking past me, it's my favorite pastime.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Frank Loesser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MarkBlackburnWPG
Standing on THE corner (not just any corner) : An American friend -- Samuel Chell, who authored a chapter in a compilation book of essays on what made Sinatra great, just shared a note about Frank Loesser's STANDING ON THE CORNER. Thought my friends here would appreciate this:
' . . . perhaps not "great" like "All the Things You Are" but amply singable, even irresistible. It starts, bam!, with the title, positioning you in the place any male with a touch of voyeurism would want to be. Then you move by single steps through each syllable until the last two--dropping 4 steps for "go" and another 4 for "by." And no need to lose your nickel ice cream cone while satisfying the senses of sight and sound. (I saw your ref to the ample satisfactions that very few coins once could afford--moreover, watching should fit any budget.)
I thought I liked it because of the 4 Lads (who rarely harmonized-
why'd they need 4 guys?). But talk about a pop song with pedigree! Composed by the great Frank Loesser and the one Broadway musical that comes closer than any other to full-blown opera! I took a class to Milwaukee for my first time of "The Most Happy Fella"--emotionally gripping, esp. when the story brings us to "My Heart Is So Full of You." As I recall, it's "through-composed"-I think that's the term for a musical with no talking. Everything, beginning to end, is sung.But consider your response [if] the title were: "Standing on a corner watching ..." Not the same, is it? I'm not sure why. Does it make me feel more like a vagrant--perhaps engaging in a suspicious or illicit activity? Standing on THE corner centers the activity in a community, perhaps making "watching" and "being watched" equally agreeable to all of the actors in an idyllic place and time.
-- Samuel Chell
Thanks "45prof" for this YouTube version of the original hit recording by The Four Lads -- the 45 rpm record lable and the informed note that the arrangement is by Ray Ellis Orchestra and Chorus.
Celebrated this day at Sinatra Family -- Forum -- "Siriusly Sinatra" - MY FAVORITE VERSION, YOURS TOO? https://sinatrafamily.com/forum/showthread.php/50225-My-Favorite-Version-%28yours-too-%29/page38
@Danimal68
My Mom was the President of their fan club. Grew up listening to the boys ❤
@fromthesidelines
Recorded on March 1, 1956.
@stephenulmer3781
I remember this from the episode of "I love Lucy" where they went to see "The most happy fella" ☺
@smwca123
In the play, this is actually a song of frustration, sung by 4 guys whose love lives amount to not much more than what the title suggests.
@fromthesidelines
Desilu was one of the backers of that Broadway musical.
@markmaifarth1822
My favorite AM Kool 105 station song in Aug 1974 to fathers rocky mountain camping along the Poudre river.
@jimhilliker2450
From the good ole days, when my mother and father were young parents to me at age 1 and my newborn sister. Love to you, mom and dad.
@markpippin5437
I'm the cat who got the cream.
@MarkBlackburnWPG
Standing on THE corner (not just any corner) : An American friend -- Samuel Chell, who authored a chapter in a compilation book of essays on what made Sinatra great, just shared a note about Frank Loesser's STANDING ON THE CORNER. Thought my friends here would appreciate this:
' . . . perhaps not "great" like "All the Things You Are" but amply singable, even irresistible. It starts, bam!, with the title, positioning you in the place any male with a touch of voyeurism would want to be. Then you move by single steps through each syllable until the last two--dropping 4 steps for "go" and another 4 for "by." And no need to lose your nickel ice cream cone while satisfying the senses of sight and sound. (I saw your ref to the ample satisfactions that very few coins once could afford--moreover, watching should fit any budget.)
I thought I liked it because of the 4 Lads (who rarely harmonized-
why'd they need 4 guys?). But talk about a pop song with pedigree! Composed by the great Frank Loesser and the one Broadway musical that comes closer than any other to full-blown opera! I took a class to Milwaukee for my first time of "The Most Happy Fella"--emotionally gripping, esp. when the story brings us to "My Heart Is So Full of You." As I recall, it's "through-composed"-I think that's the term for a musical with no talking. Everything, beginning to end, is sung.But consider your response [if] the title were: "Standing on a corner watching ..." Not the same, is it? I'm not sure why. Does it make me feel more like a vagrant--perhaps engaging in a suspicious or illicit activity? Standing on THE corner centers the activity in a community, perhaps making "watching" and "being watched" equally agreeable to all of the actors in an idyllic place and time.
-- Samuel Chell
Thanks "45prof" for this YouTube version of the original hit recording by The Four Lads -- the 45 rpm record lable and the informed note that the arrangement is by Ray Ellis Orchestra and Chorus.
Celebrated this day at Sinatra Family -- Forum -- "Siriusly Sinatra" - MY FAVORITE VERSION, YOURS TOO? https://sinatrafamily.com/forum/showthread.php/50225-My-Favorite-Version-%28yours-too-%29/page38
@caponsacchi
Over half a century since I heard this version--I remember the yellow background behind the 4 guys on the album cover. And the clip confirms my sense that vocal harmony was held to a minimum (used only during the singing of the title and, even then, never with 4-pt. harmony--which would have been typical of the Four Freshmen or the Hi-Lo's). Not to be over-picky, but aren't these guys getting off excessively on the fun of watching (going round and round on those 2 syllables)? While watching the live show, I was more impressed by the sense of camaraderie in the group than the joy in "scoping out" pretty girls.