Dearie

Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger

About Dearie

"Dearie" is a popular song. The music was written by David Mann; the lyrics, by Bob Hilliard. The song was published in 1950. The song is about reminiscences, and often sung as a duet. When done as a duet, each one of the singers asks the other whether he or she remembers a number of long-ago events, and then says "if you remember, you're much older than I." When sung as a solo, the same questions are directed at the audience. In 1950, some of the best-known versions were by Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians (with a vocal by Kenny Gardner), by Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae, by Ray Bolger and Ethel Merman, and by Lisa Kirk and Fran Warren. The Guy Lombardo record was recorded on January 26, 1950 and released by Decca Records as catalog number 24899. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on March 31, 1950 and lasted 9 weeks on the chart, peaking at #5. The Jo Stafford/Gordon MacRae record was recorded on January 14, 1950 and released by Capitol Records as catalog number 858. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on March 3, 1950 and lasted 11 weeks on the chart, peaking at #12. The Ray Bolger/Ethel Merman record was recorded on January 4, 1950 and released by Decca as catalog number 24873. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on March 3, 1950 and lasted 11 weeks on the chart, peaking at #13. The flip side of this recording, "I Said My Pajamas (and Put on My Pray'rs)," also charted. The Lisa Kirk/Fran Warren record was released by RCA Victor Records as a 78rpm single (catalog number 20-3696) and a 45rpm single (catalog number 47-3220). It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on April 7, 1950 and lasted 2 weeks on the chart, peaking at #29. The various versions of the song (combined, as was normal for Cash Box magazine) reached #4 on the Cash Box Best-Selling Records chart. 


Year:
1997
3:23
239 
#8

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Dearie, do you remember when we
Waltzed to the Sousa band
My wasn't the music grand

Chowder parties down by the seashore
Every Fourth of July, test your memory
My Dearie

Do you recall when Henry Ford couldn't even fix
The running board under a Chandler six

Dearie, life was cheery
In the good old days gone by

Do you remember?
Uh huh!
Well if you remember
Wonderful!

Well Dearie, you're much older than I
What? Hey, wait a minute, 
Honey, I just got a long memory that's all.
Dearie, do you remember when we

Stayed up all night to get
Pittsburgh on a crystal set

Keystone movies, Coogan and Chaplin
Made you laugh and then cry

Test your memory, my Dearie
Do you recall when Orville Wright flew at Kittyhawk
But take it from me I would rather walk

Dearie, life was cheery
In the good old days gone by
Do you remember

Uh huh!
Well if you remember
Well?
Well, Dearie, you're much older than I
Ha Ha! I'll kill you

Dearie, do you remember how they

Loved Harry Lauder's act
My wasn't the Palace packed

Jenny Lind presented by Barnum
Sang her sweet lullaby
Test your memory my Dearie,

Chicago all in flames
Sure caused a terrific row
They blamed it on Mrs. O'Leary's cow

Dearie, life was cheery
In the good old days gone by
Do you remember? Well if you remember,
Well, Dearie, you're much older than,
Quite a bit older than,
You're older than I.

 Struggling with Dearie? Become a better singer in 30 days with these videos!


Ethel Merman

Ethel Merman (January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American actress and singer. Known primarily for her powerful voice and roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Among the many standards introduced by Merman in Broadway musicals are "I Got Rhythm", "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "Some People", "Rose's Turn", "I Get a Kick Out of You", "It's De-Lovely", "Friendship", "You're the Top", "Anything Goes", and "There's No Business Like Show Business", which later became her theme song. more »

4 fans

Written by: BOB HILLIARD, DAVE MANN

Lyrics © BOURNE CO., CARLIN AMERICA INC, Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song History
"Dearie" was written by Mary Rodgers and Martin Charnin. The song has been performed by multiple artists, including Ethel Merman, Gordon MacRae, and Jo Stafford.
Ethel Merman Fact
Ethel Merman, known for her powerful mezzo-soprano voice, was an American actress and singer, largely recognized as the premier musical comedy performer of her era.
Gordon MacRae Fact
A talented baritone, Gordon MacRae was also an actor and presented on both the big screen and the Broadway stage. He was famous for his performances in musical films such as "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel."
Jo Stafford Fact
Jo Stafford was an American pop singer renowned for her versatility. She is most notable for her ability to smoothly transition between various music genres including folk, opera, and pop.
Collaboration Fact
While Merman, MacRae, and Stafford each made individual contributions to the world of music. Their version of "Dearie" was not a collaboration but individual renditions.
Song Popularity Fact
"Dearie" received considerable acclaim and gained popularity in the mid-20th century. Each artist has contributed to its sustained success across the years.
Location Fact
The song "Dearie" has been performed at numerous high-profile venues, including Broadway theaters, making it a staple in the world of musical theatre.
Style Fact
The song is often described as have a distinctive "show-tune" quality, adhering to traditional Broadway style with its catchy melodies and theatrical lyrics.
Recordings Fact
Each artist–Ethel Merman, Gordon MacRae, and Jo Stafford–each recorded their own unique version of "Dearie".
Influence Fact
The song "Dearie" remains a significant contribution to the golden age of musical theatre and contributed to the success of the artists who performed it: Merman, MacRae, and Stafford.

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