I love all of those weird turns of phrases that came out of the jazz age. People were “the bee’s knees,” the “cat’s pajamas,” or “the cream of the crop.” A good pair of legs meant a dame had great gams; a bum steer meant you got bad advice. So much linguistic weirdness came out of that time that underscored the creativity of our language and the flexibility of the human mind. Never mind that the whole Depression and Prohibition thing was going on, people were talking hard, living fast and hustling to make ends meet. And living, like all of us, in vivid, blooming color.
Today’s poem isn’t actually a poem, it’s a song from that era, full of the little quirky turns of phrases I love. According to Wikipedia, the music was written by Ray Henderson, the lyrics by Buddy G. DeSylva and Lew Brown for the Broadway musical Hold Everything! and was featured in the Warner Brothers film version of the musical in 1930 (I shall try and find this on video!). The song was published in 1928.
A love song that might be the tiniest bit ironic, or over the top sweet — depending on how you look at it.
You’re the cream in my coffee,
You’re the salt in my stew;
You will always be my necessity–
I’d be lost without you.
You’re the starch in my collar,
You’re the lace in my shoe;
You will always be my necessity–
I’d be lost without you.Most men tell love tails,
And each phrase dovetails.
You’ve heard each known way,
This way is my own way.You’re the sail of my love boat,
You’re the captain and crew;
You will always be my necessity–
I’d be lost without you.You give life savor,
Bring out its flavor;
So this is clear, dear,
You’re my worcestershire, dear.You’re the sail of my love boat,
You’re the captain and crew;
You will always be my necessity–
I’d be lost without you.
Apparently this song has been covered by tons of people, including Thelonious Monk, Marlene Dietrich, and Nat King Cole, but here’s the original 1928 version, on a strange plastic disc, which is played with a needle…
Poetry Friday is Lindy Hopping along today over at The Book Aunt.
Oh, I love that! If I'd known I could share songs on Poetry Friday I'd participate more. Not that I felt like there was a rule against it, but it seemed somehow frowned on–must be leftover feelings from school days. 🙂
This post makes me incredibly happy :). You are the bees knees for sure!
The plastic disc tells the fairies that live in the needle what to sing. Or at least that's what I've heard.
I LOVE this song. We need to bring back the bee's knees as a phrase.
Oh, THIS is a dose of happy. Thanks, Tanita! And my word verification is "relishin" like I'm really relishin' this groove, dude…
Oh, fun! And "a bum steer" is new to me.
Singing along with this and didn't need to read the words. I've always loved this song. That's what comes of parents who listened to nothing but big bands and jazz while I was growing up. Thanks for the bit 'o nostalgia!
Oh, I'm sharing a song today, too!
I think this song is perfectly straight-faced until it gets to the "worcestershire" part, and even then, I think the laugh there speaks to the tenderness of the relationship. What's a long-term love affair without some silliness?