Johnny Mercer
American lyricist, songwriter, singer and record executive (1909–1976)
John Herndon Mercer (November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) was an American songwriter and singer.
Sourced
edit- [My] publicity agent … went to hear Father Divine and he had a sermon and his subject was 'you got to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.' And I said 'Wow, that's a colorful phrase!'
- Interviewed 1971 by Gilliland, John. Pop Chronicles the 40's: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40's. ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 1, side B.
- Quoted by MacKenzie, Bob (29 October 1972). "'40s Sounds Return to Radio" (PDF). Oakland Tribune. Retrieved on 3 April 2009.
- Interviewed 1971 by Gilliland, John. Pop Chronicles the 40's: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40's. ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 1, side B.
Song Lyrics
edit- So you met someone who set you back on your heels - goody, goody
You met someone and now you know how it feels - goody, goody- Song: "Goody Goody" (1936)
- I know all the songs that the cowboys know
'bout the big corral where the doggies go,
'Cause I learned them all on the radio.
Yippie yi yo kayah- Song "I'm an old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande)" (1936)
- From Natchez to Mobile, from Memphis to St. Joe, wherever the four winds blow
I been in some big towns an' heard me some big talk, but there is one thing I know
A woman's a two-face, a worrisome thing who'll leave ya to sing the blues in the night.- Song: "Blues in the Night" (1941)
- I remember too, a distant bell...
and stars that fell...
like the rain
out of the blue.- Song: "I Remember You" (1941)
- When my life is through
And the angels ask me to recall
The thrill of them all
Then I shall tell them
I remember you- Song: "I Remember You"
- Skylark,
Have you seen a valley green with Spring
Where my heart can go a-journeying,
Over the shadows in the rain
To a blossom covered lane?
And in your lonely flight,
Haven't you heard the music in the night,
Wonderful music,
Faint as a will-o-the-wisp,
Crazy as a loon,
Sad as a gypsy serenading the moon.- Song: "Skylark" (1942)
- You got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive
E-lim-i-nate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative.
Don't mess with mister inbetween.- Song: "Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive" (1944)
- Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer.
Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer.
Lead us lest too far we wander.
Love's sweet voice is calling yonder.- Song: "The Glow-Worm" (1952)
- Cigarette holder,
which wigs me,
over her shoulder
she digs me:
Out cattin'
that Satin Doll.- Song: "Satin Doll" (1953)
- The days of wine and roses laugh and run away like a child at play
Through the meadow land toward a closing door
A door marked "nevermore" that wasn't there before- Song: "Days of Wine and Roses" (first recorded 1961)
- There's a long goodbye,
and it happens every day,
when a passerby
invites your eye
to come away.
Even as you smile a quick hello
you let her go,
you let the moment fly...
Too late you turn your head,
you know you've said
the Long Goodbye.- Song: "The Long Goodbye" (1973)