Who Wrote the Lyrics to That Great Song? Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Arguably the most famous 20th-century American lyricist, he enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with another member of his family. Who wrote... 'The way you hold your knife, The way we danced till three, The way you changed my life...'?

Answer: Ira Gershwin

Ira Gershwin (1896-1983) collaborated with his brother George on many Broadway shows and Hollywood musicals from 1924 onward. After George's death, Ira went on to work with other composers, including Jerome Kern and Harold Arlen. In 1959 he published a sort of 'textbook' of lyrics writing that is still considered one of the best. The song here is, of course, 'They Can't Take That Away from Me' (1937; music, George Gershwin). Fred Astaire sang it in the film 'Shall We Dance'.

2. This classic Tin Pan Alley lyricist wrote the words of innumerable hits, but probably the best-known today are 'Sometimes I wonder why I spend The lonely nights dreaming of a song...' Who wrote those beautiful words?

Answer: Mitchell Parrish

Mitchell Parrish (1910-1993) was one of the most successful lyricists of the 20th century. He wrote songs full of colour and image, like 'Stars Fell on Alabama', 'Sophisticated Lady' and 'Deep Purple'. The song quoted here is 'Stardust' (1927). I guess I don't have to mention that Hoagy Carmichael wrote the tune.

3. This composer-lyricist wrote a cheeky little duet to perform with his wife at their anniversary party. She was really angry when he sold the song to MGM later on, but probably cheered up when it won him an Oscar for Best Original Song. Who wrote... 'So really I'd better scurry (Beautiful please don't hurry) But maybe just a half a drink more (Put some records on while I pour)...'?

Answer: Frank Loesser

(Frank Loesser (1910-1965) started out as a lyricist, but later became a successful composer as well and wrote a number of successful musicals, including 'Guys and Dolls' and 'Most Happy Fella'. Although 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' was written in 1936, it appeared in MGM's 'Neptune's Daughter' in 1948 and quickly became a standard.

4. You can't have a quiz about lyrics in English without mentioning the man who started it all. The words he penned here are just as fresh as when they were written, more than than a hundred and thirty years ago. Who wrote... 'To sit in solemn silence in a dull, dark dock, In a pestilential prison, with a life-long lock, Awaiting the sensation of a short, sharp shock, From a cheap and chippy chopper on a big black block!'

Answer: W. S. Gilbert

William Schwenk Gilbert (1846-1911) wrote the words, Sir Arthur Sullivan wrote the music, and between the two of them they created the modern musical comedy ('comic opera' in their day) in English. Gilbert wrote witty, indispensable lyrics that set a standard. To quote Ring Lardner 'You can count on the fingers of one thumb the writers of song words who could wear becomingly the mantle of W. S. Gilbert or even the squirrel neckpiece of Ira Gershwin'.

The quote is from 'I am so proud' ('The Mikado', 1885)

5. Who was the witty, soignee and ineffably cool composer/lyricist who wrote... 'You're the purple light Of a summer night in Spain, You're the National Gallery You're Garbo's salary, You're cellophane...'?

Answer: Cole Porter

Cole Porter (1891-1964) was born into a rich American family, but spent most of the fun parts of his life in Europe with his rich and sexually ambiguous friends. Appearances aside, he was a workaholic who wrote many shows and innumerable hits for both Broadway and Hollywood. The song here is 'You're the Top' from 'Anything Goes' (1934).

6. This versatile Englishman was first an actor, then a playwright and then a composer and lyricist. Who wrote these lovely lines? 'Though my world may go awry, in my heart 'twill ever lie, Just the echo of a sigh, goodbye.'

Answer: Noel Coward

Noel Coward (1899-1973) wrote witty, upper-class lyrics very well during the 1920s and 30s, but unlike Cole Porter's somewhat relentless irony, there is an underlying seriousness and heart that runs through Coward's work. During World War II he worked tirelessly, both with the Secret Service and as an entertainer, writing the astonishing song 'London Pride'.

The song quoted here is 'I'll See You Again' from the 1929 show 'Bittersweet'. It was revived during the war and has become a standard.

7. This woman was one of the very, very, very few female A-list lyricists. Although she must have met with some serious setbacks, she wrote '...nothing's impossible, I've found for when my chin is on the ground, I pick myself up, dust myself off, and start all over again...' Who was she?

Answer: Dorothy Fields

Dorothy Fields (1905-1974) was the daughter of a Broadway producer and started her career writing lyrics for a review in 1928. She was still writing hits ('Sweet Charity') in the 60s and in between she worked with most of the important composers and was responsible for some of the most standard of standards, including 'Sunny Side of the Street', and 'I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby'.

She, along with Jerome Kern, won an Academy Award for 'The Way You Look Tonight' ('Swing Time', 1936).

8. The movie is 'The Bandwagon' (1953) and we're watching Fred Astaire singing this wonderful song and dancing with Cyd Charisse. Arthur Schwartz wrote the music, but who wrote these haunting lyrics? 'We're waltzing in the wonder of why we're here, Time hurries by, we're here And gone...'

Answer: Howard Dietz

Howard Dietz (1896-1983) is a little different from most of the other lyricists in this quiz because he was principally known as one of MGM's principle publicists and was said to have invented Leo the Lion and the motto 'Ars Gratia Artis'. He did write the lyrics to some wonderful songs, however, most of which with Arthur Schwartz. Among them are 'You and the Night and the Music' and 'That's Entertainment'.

He also wrote a song with Kurt Weill ('Schickelgruber'). Most of them appeared in 'The Bandwagon', along with 'Dancing in the Dark', the song quoted here.

9. This lyricist met his long-time collaborator in college and together they went on to write over 20 musicals, out of which came hits like 'Blue Moon' and 'The Lady is a Tramp'. Who asked these wistful questions? 'Is your figure less than Greek, Is your mouth a little weak, When you open it to speak, are you smart?'

Answer: Lorenz Hart

Lorenz Hart (1895-1943) collaborated with Richard Rogers, of course. According to one critic, his lyrics show great beauty and vulnerability because he felt himself to be extremely unattractive and was alcoholic and probably homosexual. After his death the film 'Words and Music' purported to portray the collaboration of Rogers and Hart, but it was pretty sanitized. Just to keep it light, Mickey Rooney played Hart.

The song quoted here is 'My Funny Valentine' ('Babes in Arms', 1937), and considering Hart's tormented life, the beautiful words are especially poignant.

10. In August of 1960, the lights on Broadway and in London's West End went out for one minute. They weren't honoring the passing of a composer or a performer, but of a writer. His words stretched from 'Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, I gotta love one man till I die...' all the way to 'Blossom on snow may you bloom and grow...'. Who was he?

Answer: Oscar Hammerstein II

Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) was a dramatist who wrote the book and wrote the lyrics and created the modern book musical. His breakthrough was in 1927, when he and Jerome Kern created 'Showboat'. It was the first musical with a real story, and where the songs were not diversions, but furthered the plot.

His most famous collaboration was with Richard Rogers. Together they created 'Oklahoma', 'Carousel', 'The King and I' and many others. 'Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man' is one of the standards that came out of 'Showboat and 'Edelweiss', the last song that Hammerstein wrote, is from 'Sound of Music'.

Source: Author annaheldfan

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Lately I've started asking myself that question, so I'll ask you too. This quiz covers lyrics to standards in English written roughly between 1920-1950.

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