Bill
Oh, Lady! Lady!, (1917/27)
Oscar Hammerstein II/P. G. Wodehouse (w), Jerome Kern (m)
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Bill
Jerome Kern (m), Oscar Hammerstein II (w)
Show Boat, 1927
VERSE 1
I used to dream that I would discover
The perfect lover some day.
I knew I'd recognize him
If ever he came 'round my way.
I awlays used to fancy then
He's be one of the God-like kind of men
With a giant brain and a noble head
Like the heroes bold in the books I read;
BURTHEN 1
But along came Bill,
Who's not the type at all,
You'd meet him on the street and never notice him;
His form and face,
His manly grace
Are not the kind that you
Would find a statue
And I can't explain,
It's surely not his brain
That makes me thrill.
I love him
Because he's wonderful
Because he's just old Bill.
VERSE 2
He can't play gold, or tennis, or polo,
Or sing a solo, or row.
He isn't half as handsome
As dozens of men that I know.
He isn't tall and straight and slim,
And he dresses far worse than Ted or Jim;
And I can't explain why he should be just
The one, one man in the world for me;
BURTHEN 2
He's just my Bill,
An ordinary boy,
He hasn't got a thing that I can brag about
And yet to be
Upon his knee
So comfy and roomy
Feels natural to me
And I can't explain
It's surely not his brain
That makes me thrill.
I love him
Because he's Bill.
2006
Aug 4OFAM 2006Blue SkiesJaqua
2009
Aug 6OFAM 2009Ol' Man RiverJaqua
2015
Aug 15OFAM 2015Let's MisbehaveJaqua
2019
Oct 10-13JK 2019-20Get Happy
RecordedPerformersLabelCat.#Matrix
Helen Morgan (Victor Young's Orch, Louis Alter, Pno)Brunswick20115
Margaret WhitingCapitol1801
Dinah Shore (Nathan Van Cleave Orch)Columbia37855HCO2097
Helen Morgan W. Victor Young OrchestraColumbia55005BX 12161A
Sophie TuckerMercury5709
Marie GreeneSignature15138-B274
Helen MorganVictor27681
02/14/1928Helen MorganVictor2123842443
02/14/1928Helen MorganVictor2524842443
01/07/1938Adrian Rollini & His OrchestraDecca163863138
01/23/1939Artie Shaw & His New MusicBluebirdB1012431825
05/22/1941Ella LoganColumbia36173CO30525
10/31/1941Gordon String QtDecca2911969893
06/14/1942Frances LangfordDecca18765-B70882
11/29/1945Tommy Dorsey & His OrchestraRCA Victor20-1785D5VB0966
YearTitleMediumTypeUsage
1918Oh, Lady! Lady!stagestage originalnot used/dropped
1927Show Boatstagestage originalintroduced
Bill - film Bill - 1927
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