"Shine On, Harvest Moon" is the name of a popular early-1900s song credited to
Jack NorworthJack Norworth was a U.S. songwriter, singer and vaudeville performer.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Norworth is credited as co-writer of a number of Tin Pan Alley hits. He wrote the lyrics of the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" in 1908, his most long lasting hit...
and his wife
Nora BayesNora Bayes was a popular American singer, comedienne and actress of the early 20th century.-Early life and career:...
. It was one of a series of
moonThe Moon is Earth's only natural satellite and the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System. The average centre-to-centre distance from the Earth to the Moon is , about thirty times the diameter of the Earth. The common centre of mass of the system is located at about —a quarter the Earth's...
related
Tin Pan AlleyTin Pan Alley is the name given to the collection of New York City-centered music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century....
songs of the era. The song was debuted by the composers in the
Ziegfeld FolliesThe Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
of 1908 to great acclaim. It became a pop standard, still very familiar some 40 years later, and continues to be performed and recorded occasionally into the 21st century.
During the time period, songs were often sold outright, and the purchaser would become the songwriter of record.
"Shine On, Harvest Moon" is the name of a popular early-1900s song credited to
Jack NorworthJack Norworth was a U.S. songwriter, singer and vaudeville performer.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Norworth is credited as co-writer of a number of Tin Pan Alley hits. He wrote the lyrics of the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" in 1908, his most long lasting hit...
and his wife
Nora BayesNora Bayes was a popular American singer, comedienne and actress of the early 20th century.-Early life and career:...
. It was one of a series of
moonThe Moon is Earth's only natural satellite and the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System. The average centre-to-centre distance from the Earth to the Moon is , about thirty times the diameter of the Earth. The common centre of mass of the system is located at about —a quarter the Earth's...
related
Tin Pan AlleyTin Pan Alley is the name given to the collection of New York City-centered music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century....
songs of the era. The song was debuted by the composers in the
Ziegfeld FolliesThe Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
of 1908 to great acclaim. It became a pop standard, still very familiar some 40 years later, and continues to be performed and recorded occasionally into the 21st century.
During the time period, songs were often sold outright, and the purchaser would become the songwriter of record.
John Kenrick-Life:He was born on 4 February 1788 at Exeter, the eldest son of Timothy Kenrick, Unitarian minister, and his first wife, Mary, daughter of John Waymouth of Exeter. He was educated at the local grammar school run by the Rev. Charles Lloyd and later at the nonconformist academy conducted by his...
's
Who's Who In Musicals credits songwriters
Edward MaddenEdward Madden was an American lyricist.Madden was born in New York City on 17 July 1878. He grew up in that city. He graduated from Fordham University....
and
Gus EdwardsGus Edwards was an American songwriter and vaudevillian. He also organised his own theatre companies and was a music publisher.-Early life:...
, while others credit David Stamper, songwriter for 14
Ziegfeld FolliesThe Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
and Bayes' pianist from 1903 to 1908.
Like many old popular songs, the verses are often left out, although the verses for this song are musically quite good and set off the chorus well. Also like many songs of that era, the song has an ethnic undercurrent. The duet of
Billy MurrayWilliam Thomas "Billy" Murray was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century...
and
Ada JonesAda Jones was a popular singer who recorded from 1905 to the early 1920s. She was born in Lancashire, England , but she moved with her family to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1879. She started performing on stage, including juvenile roles in the 1880s...
recorded a popular version of the song. They performed the song in a stereotyped
African AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa. In the United States, the terms are generally used for Americans with at least partial Sub-Saharan African ancestry...
style, though not taken to the excess of some other recordings of that era.
Lyrics
First verse
- The night was mighty dark so you could hardly see,
- For the moon refused to shine.
- Couple sitting underneath a willow tree,
- For love they did pine.
- Little maid was kinda 'fraid of darkness
- So she said, "I guess I'll go."
- Boy began to sigh, looked up at the sky,
- And told the moon his little tale of woe
Chorus
- Oh, Shine on, shine on, harvest moon
- Up in the sky;
- I ain't had no lovin'
- Since January, April, June or July.
- Snow time ain't no time to stay
- Outdoors and spoon;
- So shine on, shine on, harvest moon,
- For me and my gal.
Note: The months in the chorus have been sung is several different orders. The Ada Jones and Billy Murray song linked on this article has:
April, January, Ju-une or July
Leon Redbone's cover on his album
Double Time had the lyric as:
January, February, June or July.
Second verse
- I can't see why a boy should sigh when by his side
- Is the girl he loves so true,
- All he has to say is: "Won't you be my bride,
- For I love you,
- I can't see why I'm telling you this secret,
- When I know that you can guess."
- Harvest moon will smile,
- Shine on all the while,
- If the little girl should answer "yes."
(repeat chorus)
Other references
- Billy Murray
William Thomas "Billy" Murray was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century...
did not hesitate to record parodies and other songs that made fun of popular hits, including his own. Today's hits quickly become tomorrow's oldies. At the time this song was popular, Murray recorded a song whose title is the last line, gently poking fun at this "modern" song:
- Oh, I'm sick of all these ditties about "moon" and "spoon" and "June"
- So, will you stand up and sing, for your father, an old time tune?!
By the time Murray was recording "follow the bouncing ball" cartoons in the 1930s,
Shine On, Harvest Moon was also very much an "old time tune".
Other recordings
- Kirsten Cooke
Kirsten Cooke is an English stage actress who trained at the Webber Douglas Academy, London. Almost all of her acting work has been in the field of comedy....
and Arthur BostromArthur Bostrom is an English actor, most famous for his role as Officer Crabtree, in the long-running BBC sitcom Allo 'Allo!.-Biography:...
perform it as Michelle DuboisMichelle Dubois is a fictional character in the situation comedy 'Allo 'Allo. The part was played by the actress Kirsten Cooke.She is a young, dark-haired woman who usually dresses in the unofficial "uniform" of the Gaullist French Resistance, a tan trench coat and black beret...
of the resistance and officer CrabtreeOfficer Crabtree is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom Allo 'Allo!, which ran from 1982 to 1992; he was played by actor Arthur Bostrom....
in the sitcom 'Allo 'Allo (Season 8 Episode 7). Carmen SilveraCarmen Blanche Silvera was a Canadian-born British comic actress of Spanish descent who moved to Coventry with her family when she was a child...
as Madame Edith also sings the number during the closing credits of the same episode.
- Jerry Gray
Jerry Gray was a violinist, arranger, composer, and conductor who is best known for his work with popular music during the Swing Era. His name is inextricably linked to two of the most famous bandleaders of the time, Artie Shaw and Glenn Miller.Jerry Gray was born Generoso Graziano in East...
and his orchestra (recorded August 24, 1951, Decca RecordsDecca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; later the link with the British company was broken for several decades...
catalog numberThis article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
27868)
- Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy were a popular comedy team composed of thin, English-born Stan Laurel and heavy, American-born Oliver Hardy . They became famous during the early half of the 20th century for their work in motion pictures and also appeared on stage throughout America and Europe.The two comedians...
perform it in their film The Flying DeucesThe Flying Deuces, also known as Flying Aces, is a 1939 comedy film starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, in which the duo join the French Foreign Legion...
(1939).
- Marah
Marah may refer to:* Marah or Manroot, a kind of wild cucumber* Marah , an American rock band* Marah , one of the locations which the Torah identifies as having been travelled through by the Israelites during the Exodus...
recorded the song for their 2007 EP, Can't Take it With YouCan't Take It with You is the name of a 2007 EP released by the band Marah. It was released as a digital download and limited edition 10" vinyl by Yep Roc Records.-Track listing:#"Shine on Harvest Moon " #"Angels on a Passing Train"...
.
- Moon Mullican
Aubrey Wilson Mullican , known as Moon Mullican, was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and pianist. However, he also sang and played jazz, rock 'n' roll and the blues...
live, 1955.
- Leon Redbone
Leon Redbone is an American singer and guitarist specializing in interpretations of early 20th-century music, including jazz and blues standards and Tin Pan Alley classics....
recorded the song for his 1976 album, Double Time (album)Double Time is the second album by singer/guitarist Leon Redbone, released in 1976. It peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Pop Albums charts.- Track listing :# "Diddy Wah Diddy" – 3:05...
.