My Favorite Songs of the 1940s - Part 5 Quiz

Answer: There is one God.

T. Texas Tyler wrote "The Deck of Cards" in 1948. It is a recitation song, which is a song that is spoken while music plays.

The narrator in the song (that is the singer as it's in first person), is in the Army during WWII (at least in the original; I have also heard it set during Vietnam). The soldier's sergeant sees him with a deck of cards at church and thinks the man is playing cards. When he does not put the cards away he is arrested and taken to the provost marshal where he explains he didn't have a Bible or a prayer book, but the deck of cards all holds significance as seen below.

Ace: One God
Deuce: Old and New Testaments
Trey (three): The Holy Trinity
Four: Four Gospels
Five: Five wise virgins (in the parable of the Ten Virgins)
Six: The number of days God took to create the earth
Seven: The day on which God rested.
Eight: The people God saved in the Great Flood (Noah, his wife, three sons, and their wives)
Nine: Out of the ten lepers cleansed by Jesus, nine did not thank him.
Ten: Ten Commandments
Jack: Satan
Queen: Mary, mother of Jesus
King: Jesus Christ, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
365 spots: Number of days in a year
52 cards: Number of weeks in a year
13 tricks: Number of weeks in a season, or quarter of a year.
4 suits: Number of seasons in a year
Twelve faces (ones with pictures) cards: Number of months in a year.

The narrator explains that he knows the story is true because "He was that soldier" or in some versions "He knew that soldier."

Tyler's version went to number two on the charts. It has since been recorded by artists such as Tex Ritter, Phil Harris, and Wink Martindale.

Answer: Just to love and be loved in return

"Nature Boy" was written by eden ahbez (this is how his name is written, no caps). It was first performed by Nat King Cole in 1948. The song reached the top of the charts. In 1999, it won the Grammy Hall of Fame Award.

Since its release, it has been recorded by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett with Lady Gaga, and Dick Haymes.

It is also in the 2001 movie soundtrack for "Moulin Rouge!".

Answer: blue

"Red Roses for a Blue Lady" was written by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett (aka Roy Brodsky). John Laurenz was the first to record the number which went to number two on the radio program "Your Hit Parade," in 1949.

The song tells the story of a man and woman who had an argument. The lady is saddened by the fight, so the man wants to give her flowers (red roses) to cheer her up (because she's a blue lady).

Since its release, many artists have recorded the song including Vic Dana, Bert Kaempfert, Andy Williams, and Wayne Newton.

Answer: Yoo hoo

Leroy Anderson wrote "Sleigh Ride," in 1948. He came up with the idea in the summer of 1946 thinking it would be a great song to help get through the heat wave. However, it took him until February 1948 to finish it.

It was first performed in May 1948 by the Boston Pops Orchestra. It was originally an instrumental. In 1950, Mitchell Parish added the lyrics to the song.

Since then many have recorded the song including The Ronettes, Johnny Mathis, Amy Grant, and Gwen Stefani.

Answer: Cole Porter

Cole Porter wrote "Why Can't You Behave?" in 1948 for his new musical "Kiss Me, Kate." It was first sung by Lisa Kirk who originated the role of Lois Lane/Bianca in the musical on Broadway. In the show she sings it to her boyfriend Bill. Bill is a gambler, and missed rehearsal to gamble.

In the 1953 movie version, Ann Miller sang the song.

Other artists have also recorded the number such as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Ella Fitzgerald.

Answer: South Pacific

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II wrote "Bali Ha'i" for the 1949 Broadway musical, "South Pacific." The song about a mystical island was first sung on Broadway by Juanita Hall who originated the role of Bloody Mary. Hall reprised the role in the 1958 movie version.

It has since been recorded by other performers including Charlotte Church, Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como, and Sarah Vaughan.

Answer: Christmas

Robert Harrison Burke and Horace Gerlach wrote "Daddy's Little Girl" in 1949. It was first recorded by Steve Conway in 1950. The song is very popular as the father/bride dance at wedding receptions.

Since its release, many artists have sung it including Al Martino, Frank Fontaine, the Mills Brothers, Michael Buble, and Michael Bolton.

Answer: Carol Channing

"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" was written in 1949 by Jule Styne and Leo Robin for the Broadway musical "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." Channing sang it when she played the part of Lorelei Lee.

In the 1953 movie version, the song was performed by Marilyn Monroe. Jane Russell reprised the number later in the film. The AFI ranked the Monroe version as the 12th best film song of the century.

In 2001, Nicole Kidman sang the song in the movie "Moulin Rouge!"

It has been covered by several artists including Ethel Merman, Lena Horne, Della Reese, and Eartha Kitt.

Answer: Bloody Mary

"Happy Talk" was first sung by Juanita Hall who played Bloody Mary in the 1949 Broadway premiere of "South Pacific." She reprised the role in the 1958 movie version.

Bloody Mary sings the song to Joe Cable (originally played on Broadway by William Tabbert, in the movie by John Kerr). She is trying to get him to fall in love with her daughter Liat (originally played on Broadway by Betta St. John, in the movie by France Nuyen). Liat performs the song with hand gestures while her mother sings.

Others have also recorded this song including Ella Fitzgerald, Captain Sensible, Doris Day, and Daniel Johnston.

Answer: marshmallow

Peter DeRose and Carl Sigman wrote "A Marshmallow World" in 1949. Because of its wintry theme, it is considered a Christmas song, although it never actually mentions the holiday.

Bing Crosby first recorded the song in 1950, and his version reached 24 on the charts. Since then many others have recorded the song including Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, Jo Stafford, and Darlene Love.

Answer: Hawaiian

"Mele Kalikimaka" was written in 1949 by R. Alex Anderson. The title is the Hawaiian words for "Merry Christmas." The song says in its lyrics, "Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day."

Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters was the first to record the song in 1950. Since then many other artists have recorded the song including Dean Martin, Bette Midler, Jimmy Buffett, and the Monkees.

It has also been featured in films such as "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," (1989) and "Catch Me If You Can," (2002).

Answer: Peter Cottontail

"Here Comes Peter Cottontail" was written by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins in 1949. Mervin Shiner was the first to record the son in 1950. His version reached number eight on the charts. That same year Gene Autry also recorded the song and his version reached number three on the charts. The song tells us that "Easter is on the way."

In 1963, Nelson and Rollins wrote another version of the song that was not Easter related for "Peter Cottontail Plus Other Funny Bunnies and Their Friends."

Others have also recorded the song including Jimmy Wakely, Johnnie Lee Wills, Danny Kaye, and The Countdown Kids.

Answer: join in any reindeer games

Johnny Marks wrote the song "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in 1949. It was based on a 1939 story of the same name that the Montgomery Ward Company published.

Gene Autry was the first to record the song and it reached number one on the charts.

Since then many artists have recorded this song including The Temptations, Dean Martin, the Jackson 5, and Destiny's Child.

In 1964, the song was used to create the Christmas special "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer". Sam the Snowman narrated the show. He was the one who sings the song. Burl Ives voiced Sam.

Answer: Dame

"Nothing Like a Dame" was written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for "South Pacific." The song is sung by the sailors who have been serving for a while in the Pacific and long for a woman. It is broken up by the women nurses running by them. The song is a list song as it lists things they have but realizes each time some version of "We ain't got dames."

The song has also become popular with men's choirs.

Answer: to hate and fear

"Carefully Taught" (also known as "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught" or "You've Got to Be Taught") was written in 1949 by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein for "South Pacific." In the show, Lieutenant Joe Cable has decided he could never marry Liat, who is Polynesian, because of her skin color. Emile has been turned down by Nellie because he has Polynesian children (his first wife, who was Polynesian, died before the show takes place). Emile does not understand how people get to be racist so Cable tells him "You've got to be taught to hate and fear. You've got to be taught from year to year. It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear. You've got to be carefully taught."

The song was originally sung on Broadway by William Tabbert. In the 1956 movie version, John Kerr sings the song.

At the time this song faced a lot of criticism as it spoke out against racism. Rodgers and Hammerstein said the song did what it was meant to do, and they were not taking it out no matter how much people did not want to see the show. However, "South Pacific" won ten Tony Awards including "Best Musical," and "Best Score," so while it was controversial the show was still well received.

Since then other artists have covered the song such as Harry Connick, Jr, Mandy Patinkin, Matthew Morrison, and Billy Porter.