I’m an old piano player, in lots of ways; I’m
always drawn to displays of old sheet music in flea markets and antique stores.
I bought a whole box of it for a mere five
dollars, and inside found about fifty different songsheets, with lyrics, score
(for piano and guitar or ukelele), and the most wonderful cover shots of
performers from quite some time ago – bandleaders in tuxedos, male crooners in
soft, open-throated shirts with loosened neckties (that casual look)...
...and Patti Page; lots and lots of shots of Patti
Page!
Oh, don’t you ever let me go,
you thrill me so, I can see
as I recall my life
I’ve waited all my life
to give you ALL MY LOVE
MY JEALOUS EYES, what have you
seen?
Why are you turning from blue
to green?
My lover’s arms hold other
charms,
but they’re just dancing...
If you’re fond of sand dunes
and salty air,
quaint little villages here and
there;
you’re sure to fall in love
with OLD CAPE COD
ALLEGHENY MOON, it’s up to you,
please see what you can do
for me and for
my one and only love...
I’ve learned to stay away from analyzing the
lyrics to those old songs; most of them make me either giggle or rant.
Now that I think about it, mostly rant...
Now I'll be looking for sheet music at garage sales. What a bonanza of old memories. Old Cape Cod is a song worm...the minute I saw the title it started to play in my head.
ReplyDeleteMe, too, Helen. We all know that it's the Unofficial State Song of Massachusetts!
DeleteThese remind me of the music I used to find inside my mother’s piano stool. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteNot only the music---but the DRESSES, oh, goodness, the dresses! Aren't they something?
Delete"Allegheny Moon" -- that's a great song. I wish I had known you love sheet music. I'd have sent you what we sent to the thrift store.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great song, Wendy; it's one of my favorites, actually! And, boy, wouldn't I have had a fun time with all your old sheet music!
DeleteThese old sheet music cover pages are almost high art. They so perfectly capture a period of the twentieth century - the clothes, the colours, the styles and the music.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Alan -- I know there were people who did nothing but design sheet music covers -- I guess like album covers, CD illustrations, etc. The more things change, the more....
DeleteWhat is it about sheet music? I have more than I'll ever be able to sing, yet I can't seem to give any away & worse, if I see some good oldies somewhere, I'll buy 'em! You & I had the same idea :)) except my pieces date a little further back.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that amazes me, Gail, is the fact that I can look at all those black "spots" on the page and my hands move instinctively to the right "spots" on the keys...it's really incredible.
DeleteI'm not musical, but these old illustrated song sheets are amazing!
ReplyDeleteEven back then, Jo, they were selling the singer as well as the song -- marketing, I guess! Some of the graphics are just beautiful, though.
DeleteOh this brings back memories of my mother (our stereo was constantly playing something) how happy those days were growing up for me.
ReplyDeleteOh, goodness -- a "stereo!" Haven't heard that term for a long time, but...yes, me, too. Lots of music, all the time: Sinatra, Fitzgerald, Crosby, Armstrong, Goodman.....
ReplyDelete