He was most famous for his rendition of Tip-toe Thru The Tulips With Me a No. 17 chart hit in 1968 that was delivered in his distinctive high falsetto. He became well known via numerous and highly rated appearances on television including Johnny Carson and Laugh-In. On December 17, 1969, 45 million viewers watched Tiny Tim get married on NBC TV via an appearance on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show program. He was widely known, but generally thought of as a novelty act, and was not taken very seriously, although his records displayed a wide and serious forensic knowledge of early American stage songs.
Growing up with the squeaky clean entertainment choices of the 1930's and 40's, Herbert preferred the romantic crooners of the late- 19th and early-20th centuries and cinematic singers like Bing Crosby and Rudy Valee were amongst his early favorites.
After stints in the Greenwich Village folkscene of the 1950's and 60's billed as Vern Castle, Larry Love, Darry Dover and Emmett Swink, Khaury eventually settled on the name Tiny Tim. He doffed white facial powder makeup, and utilized a ukulele and songs that only a true American musical archivist would know. Despite some amateur demo acetates, his first professional recordings were with producer Richard Perry for the Blue Cat in 1966. Refusing to be deterred despite many years of setbacks in the notoriously tough New York show biz world, Tiny Tim earned a regular gig at a hip club called The Scene, and was soon signed by Mo Ostin to Warner Brothers subsidiary Reprise, then also the home of Frank Sinatra, and his daughter Nancy.
His 1970's label VicTim failed as a business venture, and he once told an interviewer that his next label Toilet Records was so-named "because that's where my career went." By 1978, the public's taste had soured on his act and Johnny Carson refused to book Tiny Tim anymore. However bleak the financial picture appeared, Tiny Tim refused to relent whatever spotlite remained for him, and toured constantly. through the 80's and 90's appearing at punk rock and gay nightclubs, making numerous solo recordings and some with the Texas-based polka band Brave Combo.
He died on November 30, 1996, after a heart attack while performing onstage at a benefit for the Woman's Club of Minneapolis. He was buried with his ukulele.
Bless Us All
Tiny Tim Lyrics
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The sun comes up and I can feel it lift my sprit
It fills me up with laughter, it fills me up with song
I look into the eyes of love and know that I belong
Bless us all, who gather here
Piggy: The loving family I hold dear
Kermit: No place on Earth, compares with home
And every path will bring me back from where I roam
All: Bless us all, that as we live
We always comfort and forgive
We have so much that we can share
Robin: With those in need we see around us everywhere
RobPig: Let us always love each other
Robin: Lead us toward the light
RobPig: Let us hear the voice of reason
Robin: Singing in the night
Kermit: Let us run from anger
Piggy: And catch when we fall
Robin: Teach us in our dreams and please, yes, please
All: Bless us one and all
Robin: Bless us all with playful years
With noisy games and joyous tears
All: We reach for you, and we stand tall
Kermit: And in our prayers and dreams we ask you bless us all
Robin: We reach for you, and we stand tall
And in our prayers and dreams we ask you bless us all
(begins to cough as song ends)
The song "Bless Us All" by Tiny Tim is a heartfelt and optimistic prayer of hope that is meant to inspire listeners to appreciate the small things in life and to cherish their loved ones. The song is sung in a conversational style, with different characters each contributing a verse that speaks to their own personal experiences and beliefs. Robin starts the song by reflecting on the sweet surprises that life can bring, and the joy that comes from being surrounded by love. Piggy chimes in with a tribute to her family, while Kermit emphasizes the importance of home and the comfort it can bring. Together, the characters sing about the importance of forgiveness, caring for others, and always striving to do better.
The message of "Bless Us All" is a simple one, but it is one that can resonate deeply with listeners of all ages and backgrounds. By emphasizing the importance of family, home, and community, the song speaks to our fundamental human need for connection and belonging. It reminds us that, even in the darkest of times, there is always hope and love to be found if we are willing to look for it.
Line by Line Meaning
Life is full of sweet surprises, everyday's a gift
Life is full of unexpected and delightful things. Every day is a precious present that can bring us joy.
The sun comes up and I can feel it lift my sprit
The rising sun has a positive effect on my overall well-being and lifts my mood.
It fills me up with laughter, it fills me up with song
The warmth of the sun inspires me to laugh and sing, spreading happiness to those around me.
I look into the eyes of love and know that I belong
When I gaze into the eyes of someone I love, I feel a sense of belonging and acceptance.
Bless us all, who gather here
We ask for a blessing for all those gathered in this place.
The loving family I hold dear
I cherish the love and closeness of my family.
No place on Earth, compares with home
There is no better or more welcoming place than one's own home.
And every path will bring me back from where I roam
No matter where I go, I will always find my way back to the comforts of home.
Bless us all, that as we live
We seek a blessing as we go on living.
We always comfort and forgive
We vow to give comfort to those in need and forgive those who may have wronged us.
We have so much that we can share
We have an abundance of blessings that we are willing to share with others.
With those in need we see around us everywhere
We strive to be aware of those in need around us and offer our help.
Let us always love each other
We encourage each other to always show love and kindness.
Lead us toward the light
We ask for guidance towards the path of righteousness and good-heartedness.
Let us hear the voice of reason
We open our hearts and minds to hearing and understanding reasoning and rationality.
Singing in the night
Even in darkness, we hope to find hope and joy through singing and gratitude.
Let us run from anger
We choose to avoid anger and seek peace instead.
And catch when we fall
We seek strength to support each other through difficult times.
Teach us in our dreams and please, yes, please
We ask for guidance and teaching from our dreams and other sources of inspiration.
Bless us all with playful years
We ask for blessings that bring the joy of childhood throughout our lives.
With noisy games and joyous tears
We seek happiness and delight in the small moments of life, through games and tears of happiness.
We reach for you, and we stand tall
We stretch ourselves to connect with the divine and stand upright in our faith.
And in our prayers and dreams we ask you bless us all
We seek blessings through our prayers and dreams for us and for all those we hold dear.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Paul Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind