STANDING ON THE CORNER
The Four Lads With Ray Ellis & His Orchestra And Chorus 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 cream
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
Brother you can't go to jail for what you're thinking
Or for that woo look in your eye
Standing on the corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
The lyrics to "Standing on the Corner" by The Four Lads with Ray Ellis & His Orchestra and Chorus, describe the joy of simply observing beautiful women as they pass by on the street corner. The singer finds it to be a pleasant activity, even suggesting that it might be the best occupation he knows of. He acknowledges that he doesn't currently have a girl, but that won't stop him from dreaming and wishing for one. Instead, he goes to Main Street to "select his imaginary dish."
The second verse emphasizes the same idea: the singer enjoys watching women and it's a harmless enough activity. He acknowledges that he's giving the girls the eye, but it's all in good fun. He encourages the listener to give it a try and see for themselves how enjoyable it can be to stand on a corner and watch the girls go by. In the end, he reminds us that there's nothing wrong with thinking suggestive thoughts or looking at beautiful women, even if we can't always have them.
Overall, the song captures a moment in time where the innocence of such an act was not in question, as the song was written in the 1950s, and the concept of harassment was not yet discussed. It might be interesting to explore how the context of the time period could affect the lyrics, as well as listener interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
Observing ladies while leaning on a street corner
Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by
Repeated verse for emphasis
Brother you don't know a nicer occupation
There's no better pastime
Matter of fact, neither do I
I completely agree
Than standing on a corner watching all the girls
It's a particularly enjoyable experience
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
Reiterating the pleasure of the activity
I'm the cat that got the cream
I feel satisfied and content
Haven't got a girl but I can dream
I don't have a girlfriend at the moment, but I can fantasize
Haven't got a girl but I can wish
I may not have a partner, but I can still hope
So I'll take me down to Main street
I'll stroll down the main avenue
And that's where I select my imaginary dish
This is where I pick out an imaginary companion
Brother if you've got a rich imagination
If you have an active mind
Give it a whirl, give it a try
Try out the experience for yourself
Try standing on a corner watching all the girls
Attempt to leisurely observe women on a street corner
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
Again, expressing the gratification found in this activity
Brother you can't go to jail for what you're thinking
No legal repercussion for thoughts or fantasies
Or for that woo look in your eye
Not even for a suggestive glance
Standing on the corner watching all the girls
Just looking at the ladies
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls, watching all the girls go by
Exemplifying the amusement gained from the activity
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: COUNT BASIE
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
@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.
@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.
@markpippin5437
I'm the cat who got the cream.
@sofaking8228
I usually do this with a bag of candy and wearing an overcoat.
@johnconway6976
😂
@fromthesidelines
Recorded on March 1, 1956.
@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