The Breezy Lyrics of Bing Crosby's #1 Hits Quiz

Answer: My Blue Heaven

This was the first song that Bing sang that hit number one on the charts (US Billboard, number one, 1927, for 26 weeks). It was when Bing was a 24-year-old singer with Paul Whiteman's Orchestra, and part of the Rhythm Boys with Al Rinker and Harry Barris. In this version of the song, Bing and the Rhythm Boys sang back-up vocals. Many other artists subsequently sang "My Blue Heaven", especially after it became popular in "The Ziegfeld Follies of 1927". Among those who had hits with it were Gene Austin, Jimmy Lyman (who adopted it as his theme song) and Fats Domino. Bing himself reissued the song on an album entitled, "Songs I Wish I'd Sung the First Time Around" in 1956.

Here are Bing's lyrics:

"When wippoorwills call, and the evenin' is nigh
I hurry to my Blue Heaven
Take a turn to the right, and a little white light
It's gonna lead you to my Blue Heaven
You'll see a smilin' face, a fireplace, a cozy room
Just a little nest that's nestled where the roses bloom
Just Molly and me, and the baby makes three
We're so happy in my, in my Blue Heaven
We're happy in my Blue Heaven!"

Answer: Ol' Man River

The song "Ol' Man River" was written for the 1927 musical, "Showboat", and was sung masterfully by Jim Bledsoe on the stage in 1928 and on the silver screen in 1930. Many mistakenly think that it is from the Gershwin musical "Porgy and Bess", but its stage origins are from "Showboat". Nevertheless, it was in 1928 with Paul Whiteman's orchestra and Bix Beiderbecke's piping-hot cornet, that Bing Crosby on lead vocals took the song to number one on the charts (US Billboard #1, 1928, for 11 weeks). Though the best version of this song is undoubtedly Paul Robeson's from the 1936 musical, "Showboat", Bing's version has a more upbeat tempo and, after a long musical introduction, gives a rare glimpse at the vocal talents of the 25-year-old talent.

Here are Bing's lyrics from that 1928 version:

"Ol' man river
That ol' man river
He don't say nuthin'
But he must know somethin'
Cause he just keeps rollin'
He keeps rollin' along.
Rollin' along.

He don't plant 'taters,
He don't plant cotton.
Them that plants 'em is soon forgotten
But ol' man river
He keeps rollin' along.

You and me,
We sweat and strain
Body all achin'
And wracked with pain.
Tote that barge,
Lift that bale,
Get a little drunk
And you land in jail.

I gets weary
And sick of tryin'
I'm tired of livin'
And feared of dyin'
But that ol' man river
He just keeps rollin' along."

Answer: Please

Bing's breakout song, the one that proved that he was going to be a star and on the music scene for many years to come, was arguably 1932's "Please". It was used in a musical movie revue starring Bing, "The Big Broadcast". The song stayed at the top of the charts for 16 weeks in 1932 (US Billboard number one, 1932, for 16 weeks).

According to Gary Giddens' biography of Bing, "Pocketful of Dreams", Bing's version of "Please" was the inspiration for John Lennon's writing of the Beatles' hit, "Please Please Me".

Here are Bing's lyrics:

Oh, please!
Lend your little ear to my pleas.
Lend a ray of cheer to my pleas.
Tell me that you love me too.

Please,
Let me hold you tight in my arms.
I could find delight in your charms,
Every night, my whole life through.

Your eyes reveal
That you have the soul of
An angel white as snow.
How long
Must I play the role of
A gloomy Romeo?

Oh, please!
Say you're not intending to tease.
Be that happy ending,
And, please,
Tell me that you love me too.

[Whistling interlude]
La da da da di da da da
La da da da di da da da..

Your eyes reveal
That you have the soul of
An angel white as snow.
How long
Must I play the role of
A gloomy Romeo?

Oh, please!
Say you're not intending to tease.
Be that happy ending,
And, please,
Tell me that you love me too.

Answer: Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

This song is one of the best depictions of the desperation of life during the Great Depression in the United States in the late '20s and early '30s. Though Rudy Vallee had had a hit with this song, it is Bing Crosby's version that soars, both musically and in terms of its success. In 1932, the song stayed at number one on the charts for eight weeks (US Billboard number one, 1932, for 8 weeks). The song was considered by some to be communist propaganda, and it was almost banned from Broadway and radio, but Vallee's and Crosby's versions won out. The lyrics show the face of men who have worked hard all their lives building a nation who suddenly find themselves with no livlihood and no wat to get one. It became the anthem of the depression.

Here are the lyrics to Bing's 1932 rendering of the song:

"They used to tell me I was building a dream,
And so I followed the mob.
When there was earth to plow or guns to bear,
I was always there right on the job.

They used to tell me I was building a dream,
With peace and glory ahead.
Why should I be standing in line,
Just waiting for bread?

Once I built a railroad, I made it run...
Made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad, now it's done.
Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once I built a tower up to the sun,
Brick and rivet and lime.
Once I built a tower, now it's done.
Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee, we looked swell,
Full of that yankee doodly dum!
Half a million boots went sloggin' through hell,
And I was the kid with the drum!

Say, don't you remember, they called me Al?
It was Al all the time.
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal?
Say buddy, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, ah gee, we looked swell,
Full of that yankee doodly dum.
Half a million boots went sloggin' through hell.
And I was the kid with the drum!

Oh, say, don't you remember, they called me Al?
It was Al all the time.
Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal?
Buddy, can you spare a dime?"

Answer: Pennies From Heaven

Another huge hit for Bing Crosby came in 1936, with the song "Pennies From Heaven" from the film of the same name. many others have recorded the song, including Billie Holliday, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and many more. The song was an undeniable hit for Crosby, and one of the ones he is remembered for today (US Billboard #1, 1936, for 15 weeks).

The movie "Pennies From Heaven" was groundbreaking in other ways too. Crosby insisted that louis Armstrong be given an important speaking role in the film, instead of just appearing as a musician. He also made the studio give Armstrong equal billing with himself and co-star Frances Langford over the title of the film, which was unheard of for an African American actor at that time. Crosby was instrumental in integrating his musical and theatrical productions throughout his career.

Here are the lyrics from the film:

A long time ago, a million years BC.
The best things in life were absolutely free.
But no one appreciated a sky that was always blue.
And no one congratulated a moon that was always new.

So it was planned that they would vanish now and then.
And you must pay before you get them back again.
That's what storms were made for.
And you shouldn't be afraid for,

Every time it rains it rains
Pennies from heaven.
Don't you know each cloud contains
Pennies from heaven?

You'll find your fortune falling all over town.
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down.
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers.
If you want the things you love,
You must have showers.
So when you hear it thundering,
Don't run under a tree.
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me!

Answer: Alexander's Ragtime Band

The release of the 1938 film, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", led to a resurgence in popularity for this 1911 tune. Bing Crosby and Connee Boswell released a version of the song that hit number one on the charts for several weeks that year (US Billboard #1, 1938 for 11 weeks).

Here are Bing's lyrics to that fun tune:

"Come on and hear, come on and hear Alexander's Ragtime Band.
Come on and hear, come on and hear 'bout the best band in the land.
They can play a bugle call like you never heard before,
So natural that you want to go to war.
That's just the bestest band what am, oh Honey Lamb!

Come on along, come on along, let me take you by the hand.
Up to the man, up to the man who's the leader of the band.
And if you care to hear the Swanee River played in ragtime.
Come on and hear,
Come on and hear,
Come on and hear,
Come on and hear,
Alexander's Ragtime Band!

Come on and hear
Come on and hear
Come on and hear
Come on and hear
Alexander's Ragtime Band!

Come on and hear (well here I come), come on and hear (I'm standing' right here)
It's the best band in the land
They can play a bugle call like you never heard before
That's just the bestest band what am, oh Honey Lamb

Come on along
Come on along
Come on along
Come on along
Let me take you by the hand (here's my lilywhites)
Up to the man (the mighty man), I'm talking 'bout the man
Mmm, the leader of the band
And if you care to hear that Swanee River played inn ragtime
Come on and hear
Come on and hear
Come on and hear
Come on and hear
Alexander's Ragtime Band!
Alexander's Ragtime Band!"

Answer: Only Forever

This endearing song was a hit for Bing Crosby in 1940, the result of a movie that he made with Mary Martin called "Rhythm On the River". The song's lyrics were written by Johnny Burke, and the song was nominated for an Oscar in 1941 for films made in 1940. The song was a great hit for Crosby and Martin in the fall of 1940 (US Billboard #1, 1940 for 9 weeks).

Bing's version of the lyrics to this one:

"Do I want to be with you
As the years come and go?
Only forever
If you care to know

Would I grant all your wishes
And be proud of the task
Only forever
If someone should ask

How long would it take me
To be near if you beckoned?
Off hand I would figure
Less than a second

Do you think I'll remember
How you look when you smile?
Only forever
That's puttin' it mild

How long would it take me
To be near if you beckoned?
Off hand I would figure
Less than a second

Do you think I'll remember
How you look when you smile?
Only forever
That's puttin' it mild"

Answer: White Christmas

Irving Berlin had no idea of the impact that the Christmas carol he wrote while in California trying to imagine a "typical" Christmas would have on the US and the world. Soldiers fighting in WWII were struck with nostalgia by the tune, and it became an anthem for those who wanted to be home with family and couldn't be.

The song was first launched in the movie "Holiday Inn", and it proved to be such a huge hit, that another movie, called "White Christmas" was released years later. The song hit the charts three different times (US Billboard #1, 1942 for 11 weeks; US Billboard #1, 1945 for 1 week; US Billboard #1, 1946 for 1 week). The first time coincided with the release of "Holiday Inn" and the next two times were during the Christmas season.

Here are the lyrics to the song that would be the one that Bing was most identified with for the rest of his career:

"The sun is shining, the grass is green.
The orange and palm trees sway.
There's never been such a day,
In Beverly Hills, L.A.
But it's December the twenty-fourth,
And I am longing to be up north.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know.
Where the treetops glisten,
And children listen,
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

I'm dreaming of white Christmas,
With every Christmas card I write.
May your days be merry and bright.
And may all your Christmases be white."

Answer: Swinging On a Star

"Going My Way" (1945) is the movie that gave Bing Crosby his first Oscar nomination for Best Acgtor, which resulted in a win. One of the songs from that film, "Swinging on a Star" became another great hit for Crosby. It was released prior to the movie, in 1944, and stayed at the number-one spot for nine weeks (US Billboard #1, 1944 for 9 weeks).

Here are the lyrics to that tune:

"Would you like to swing on a star?
Carry moonbeams home in a jar?
And be better off than you are?
Or would you rather be a mule?

A mule is an animal with long funny ears.
He kicks up at anything he hears.
His back is brawny, and his brain is weak.
He's just plain stupid, with a stubborn streak.
And by the way, if you hate to go to school,
You may grow up to be a mule.

Would you like to swing on a star?
Carry moonbeams home in a jar?
And be better off than you are?
Or would you rather be a pig?

A pig is an animal with dirt on his face.
His shoes are a terrible disgrace.
He's got no manners when he eats his food.
He's fat and lazy, and extremely rude.
But if you don't care a feather or a fig,
You may grow up to be a pig!

Or would you like to swing on a star?
Carry moonbeams home in a jar?
And be better off than you are?
Or would you rather be a fish?

A fish won't do anything, but swim in a brook.
He can't write his name or read a book.
To fool the people is his only thought.
And though he's slippery, he still gets caught.
But then if that sort of life is what you wish,
You may grow up to be a fish!
A new kind of jumped up slippery fish!

And all the monkeys aren't in the zoo.
Every day you meet quite a few.
So you see it's all up to you.
You can be better than you are.
You could be swingin' on a star."

Answer: Don't Fence Me In

This song was a collaboration with the Andrews Sisters in 1944, and it was another great hit for Bing Crosby. It shows his ability to sing different genres of music, and he was probably the first great crossover artist.

Interestingly enough, the song became a hit first, and then Hollywood decided to make a movie including it with Roy Rogers in 1945.

Here are the lyrics to this fun country tune (the "cayuse" mentioned is a Native American word for a horse, and the "hovels" referred to are small, unpleasant or simply constructed dwellings):

"Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above,
Don't fence me in.
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love,
Don't fence me in.
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze,
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees,
Send me off forever, but I ask you please,
Don't fence me in.

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle,
Underneath the western skies.
On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder,
'Till I see the mountains rise.

I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences,
And gaze at the moon 'till I lose my senses.
And I can't look at hovels, and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in.

Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies,
Don't fence me in.
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love,
Don't fence me in.
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze,
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees.
Send me off forever, but I ask you please,
Don't fence me in.

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle,
Underneath the western skies
On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder,
'Till I see the mountains rise.
Ba boo ba ba ba boo.

I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences,
And gaze at the moon 'till I lose my senses.
And I can't look at hobbles, and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in.

No. Poppa, don't you fence me in!"