Buttons and Bows

Dinah Shore

About Buttons and Bows

"Buttons and Bows" is a popular song with music written by Jay Livingston and lyrics by Ray Evans. The song was published in 1947. The song was written for and appeared in the Bob Hope and Jane Russell film The Paleface and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was originally written with an Indian theme, but was changed when the director said that would not work in the movie. It was a vocal selection on many radio programs in late 1948. It was reprised in the sequel, Son of Paleface, by Roy Rogers, Jane Russell and Bob Hope. In 2004 it finished #87 in AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of the top tunes in American cinema. The most popular version of the song was recorded by Dinah Shore in 1947 and reached the charts the following year. Charting versions of the song were also recorded by The Dinning Sisters, Betty Rhodes, Evelyn Knight, and Betty Garrett the same year. In addition, the song was recorded by Gene Autry and by Geraldo and his orchestra (with vocalist Doreen Lundy). 


Year:
2004
2:06
47 

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(Spoken:) A western ranch is just a branch of Nowhere Junction to me.
          Give me the city where living's pretty and the gals wear finery.

East is east and west is west
And the wrong one I have chose
Let's go where I'll keep on wearin'
Those frills and flowers and buttons and bows
Rings and things and buttons and bows
Don't bury me in this prairie
Take me where the cement grows
Let's move down to some big town
Where they love a gal by the cut o' her clothes
And I'll stand out
In buttons and bows
I'll love you in buckskin
Or skirts that I've homespun
But I'll love ya' longer, stronger where
Yer friends don't tote a gun
My bones denounce the buckboard bounce
And the cactus hurts my toes
Let's vamoose where gals keep usin'
Those silks and satins and linen that shows
And I'm all yours in buttons and bows
Gimme eastern trimmin' where women are women
In high silk hose and peek-a-boo clothes
And French perfume that rocks the room
And I'm all yours in buttons and bows



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Dinah Shore

Dinah Shore (born Frances Rose Shore; February 29, 1916 – February 24, 1994) was an American singer, actress, and television personality. She reached the height of her popularity as a recording artist during the Big Band era of the 1940s and 1950s, but achieved even greater success a decade later, in television, mainly as hostess of a series of variety programs for Chevrolet. more »

6 fans

Written by: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Musical Origins
"Buttons and Bows" is a popular song with music written by Jay Livingston and lyrics by Ray Evans.
Movie Appearance
The song was originally written for and appeared in the Bob Hope and Jane Russell movie "The Paleface" in 1948.
Singers and Performance
While Bob Hope performs the song in the film, it is most often associated with Dinah Shore who recorded the most popular version of the song.
Academy Award Recognition
"Buttons and Bows" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1948.
Worthwhile Trivia
In an interesting twist, Bob Hope, despite being known mostly for his comedic work, was actually nominated for two Best Original Song Oscars in his career, one of which was for "Buttons and Bows".
Song Structure
The song is a wistful longing for the simpler life, a common theme in many classic Hollywood westerns.
Chart Success
The Dinah Shore recording of the song went to number one on the Billboard charts where it stayed for 10 weeks.
Cover Versions
Over the years, the song has been covered by many artists, including Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, and even the Muppets.
Song Lyrics
The song's lyrics poke fun at the fuss and bother of city life and yearn for simpler things, summed up in the refrain about preferring buttons and bows to fancy clothes and shows.
Song's Legacy
Despite its age, "Buttons and Bows" continues to be a staple in the repertoire of artists performing music from Hollywood's Golden Age.

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