The song tells the story of train engineer Cassey Jones, who stayed on his locomotive, to try to stop the train from running into another, while his fireman jumps to safety. The song not only preserved his memory but enhanced his legendary status. The song was first sung by Jones friend Wallace Saunders, shortly after Read More
Search Results for: Bing Crosby
Oh Shenandoah
Oh, Shenandoah is a folk song with unknown origins. The song is believed to date back to the early 19th Century, originating with the Canadian and American fur traders traveling down the Missouri River in canoes. The earliest versions of the song refer to a trader falling in love with a daughter of one of the Read More
Red River Valley
Another popular American folk song is Red River Valley. As with many folk songs the origin is unknown. The earliest known manuscript of the lyrics is titled “The Red River Valley” and has the notations “Nemaha 1879” and “Harlan 1885.” “Nemaha and Harlan are the names of counties in Nebraska and are also the names Read More
On Top of Old Smokey
On Top of Old Smokeyis a song many of my residents enjoy singing. The song is an American folk song, which was passed down through the generations. Only when these songs began to be written down around the early 20th Century, was the song preserved for prosperity. Throughout the years of World War I, Cecil Read More
Let’s Start the New Year Right
Let’s Start the New Year Right is a song by Irving Berlin. The film was written for the movie Holiday Inn, which starred Bing Crosby, Virginia Dale, Marjorie Reynolds and Fred Astaire. The film features each of the holidays throughout the year and Berlin seems to have written this song specifically for the New Year’s Read More
Do You Hear What I Hear?
“Do You Hear What I Hear? sounds as if it came from the 19th or early 20th Century. So, I was surprised to discover the song was written in October 1962. The song was written as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis, by a married couple, Noël Regney and Gloria Shayne Baker. Read More
Home on the Range
Most people are familiar with the popular “O give me a home where the buffalo roam,” but did you know that Home on the Range is the state song of Kansas. In 1872, Dr. Brewster M. Higley of Smith County, Kansas published a poem titled My Western Home. He had moved to Kansas the Homestead Read More
Connecticut
In 1945, Judy Garland and Bing Crosby recorded the song Connecticut. This sweet tune refers to calling Connecticut home. The song was written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. The recording was released on Bing Crosby’s album, Bing Crosby Sings with Judy Garland, Mary Martin, Johnny Mercer by Decca Records in 1948. The state song Read More
Christmas songs: I’ll Be Home For Christmas
I’ll Be Home For Christmas was recorded in 1943 by Bing Crosby. The lyrics were written by Kim Gannon during World War II to honor the soldiers overseas who longed to be home at Christmastime. Gannon said in one interview that he was thinking of anyone that could not be home for Christmas, but not Read More
Christmas songs: Silver Bells
Silver Bells is a popular Christmas song written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. Silver Bells was first performed by Bob Hop and Marilyn Maxwell for the movie The Lemon Drop Kid in the summer of 1950. The film was released in March 1951. Bing Crosby and Carol Richards recorded the song which was released Read More