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{{for|the films|Shine On, Harvest Moon (1938 film)|Shine On, Harvest Moon (1944 film)}}
{{For|the films|Shine On, Harvest Moon (1938 film)|Shine On, Harvest Moon (1944 film)}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = ''Shine On, Harvest Moon''
| name = ''Shine On, Harvest Moon''
Line 13: Line 13:
| lyricist = [[Jack Norworth]]
| lyricist = [[Jack Norworth]]
}}
}}
⚫
'''"Shine On, Harvest Moon"''' is a popular early-1900s song credited to the married [[vaudeville]] team [[Nora Bayes]] and [[Jack Norworth]]. It was one of a series of moon-related [[Tin Pan Alley]] songs of the era. The song was debuted by Bayes and Norworth in the [[Ziegfeld Follies]] of 1908 to great acclaim. It became a pop standard, and continues to be performed and recorded in the 21st century.


⚫
'''"Shine On, Harvest Moon"''' is a popular early-1900s song credited to the married [[vaudeville]] team [[Nora Bayes]] and [[Jack Norworth]]. It was one of a series of moon-related [[Tin Pan Alley]] songs of the era. The song was debuted by Bayes and Norworth in the ''[[Ziegfeld Follies]]'' of 1908 to great acclaim. It became a pop standard, and continues to be performed and recorded in the 21st century.
⚫
During the vaudeville era, songs were often sold outright, and the purchaser would be credited as the songwriter. [[John Kenrick (theatre writer)|John Kenrick]]'s ''Who's Who in Musicals'' credits the song's writers as [[Edward Madden (lyricist)|Edward Madden]] and [[Gus Edwards (vaudeville)|Gus Edwards]]. However, David Ewen's ''All the Years of American Popular Music'' credits [[Dave Stamper]], who contributed songs to 21 editions of the [[Ziegfeld Follies]] and was Bayes' pianist from 1903 to 1908.<ref name="AmericanPopularMusic">{{cite book |last = Ewen |first = David |title = All the Years of American Popular Music |publisher = [[Prentice Hall]] |page = [https://archive.org/details/allyearsofameric00davi/page/189 189] |year = 1977 |isbn = 0-13-022442-1 |url-access = registration |url = https://archive.org/details/allyearsofameric00davi/page/189 }}</ref> Vaudeville comic [[Eddie Cantor]] also credited Stamper in his 1934 book ''Ziegfeld - The Great Glorifier''.<ref name=EddieCantor>{{cite book |title=Ziegfeld, The Great Glorifier|last=Cantor |first=Eddie|author-link=Eddie Cantor|author2=David Freedman |year=1934 |publisher=A.H. King|page=78}}</ref>

⚫
During the vaudeville era, songs were often sold outright, and the purchaser would be credited as the songwriter. [[John Kenrick (theatre writer)|John Kenrick]]'s ''Who's Who in Musicals'' credits the song's actual writers as [[Edward Madden (lyricist)|Edward Madden]] and [[Gus Edwards (vaudeville)|Gus Edwards]]. However, David Ewen's ''All the Years of American Popular Music'' credits [[Dave Stamper]], who contributed songs to 21 editions of the [[Ziegfeld Follies]] and was Bayes' pianist from 1903 to 1908.<ref name="AmericanPopularMusic">{{cite book |last = Ewen |first = David |title = All the Years of American Popular Music |publisher = [[Prentice Hall]] |page = [https://archive.org/details/allyearsofameric00davi/page/189 189] |year = 1977 |isbn = 0-13-022442-1 |url-access = registration |url = https://archive.org/details/allyearsofameric00davi/page/189}}</ref> Vaudeville comic [[Eddie Cantor]] also credited Stamper in his 1934 book ''Ziegfeld - The Great Glorifier''.<ref name=EddieCantor>{{cite book |title=Ziegfeld, the Great Glorifier|last=Cantor |first=Eddie|author-link=Eddie Cantor|author2=David Freedman |year=1934 |publisher=A.H. King|page=78}}</ref>


The earliest commercially successful recordings were made in 1909 by [[Harry Macdonough]] and [[Elise Stevenson]] ([[Victor Records|Victor]] 16259), [[Ada Jones]] and [[Billy Murray (singer)|Billy Murray]] ([[Edison Records|Edison]] 10134), [[Frank C. Stanley|Frank Stanley]] and [[Henry Burr]] (Indestructable 1075), and [[Bob Roberts (singer)|Bob Roberts]] ([[Columbia Records|Columbia]] 668).<ref name="whitburn memories">{{cite book| last1 = Whitburn| first1 = Joel| title = Pop Memories 1890-1954: The History of American Popular Music| location = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin| publisher = Record Research, Inc.| year = 1986| page = [https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/578 578]| isbn = 0-89820-083-0| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/578}}</ref>
The earliest commercially successful recordings were made in 1909 by [[Harry Macdonough]] and [[Elise Stevenson]] ([[Victor Records|Victor]] 16259), [[Ada Jones]] and [[Billy Murray (singer)|Billy Murray]] ([[Edison Records|Edison]] 10134), [[Frank C. Stanley|Frank Stanley]] and [[Henry Burr]] (Indestructable 1075), and [[Bob Roberts (singer)|Bob Roberts]] ([[Columbia Records|Columbia]] 668).<ref name="whitburn memories">{{cite book| last1 = Whitburn| first1 = Joel| title = Pop Memories 1890-1954: The History of American Popular Music| location = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin| publisher = Record Research, Inc.| year = 1986| page = [https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/578 578]| isbn = 0-89820-083-0| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/578}}</ref>
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===First verse===
===First verse===
{{Poem quote|

{{blockquote|<poem>
The night was mighty dark so you could hardly see,
The night was mighty dark so you could hardly see,
For the moon refused to shine.
For the moon refused to shine.
Line 38: Line 38:
So she said, "I guess I'll go."
So she said, "I guess I'll go."
Boy began to sigh, looked up at the sky,
Boy began to sigh, looked up at the sky,
And told the moon his little tale of woe
And told the moon his little tale of woe}}
</poem>}}


===Chorus===
===Chorus===
{{Poem quote|
{{blockquote|<poem>
Oh, Shine on, shine on, harvest moon
Oh, Shine on, shine on, harvest moon
Up in the sky;
Up in the sky;
Line 50: Line 49:
Outdoors and spoon;
Outdoors and spoon;
So shine on, shine on, harvest moon,
So shine on, shine on, harvest moon,
For me and my gal.
For me and my gal.}}
</poem>}}


Note: The months in the chorus have been sung in different orders.
Note: The months in the chorus have been sung in different orders.


The Ada Jones and Billy Murray recording linked on this article has it as '''April, January, Ju-u-une or July'''.<ref name=Best-Loved>{{cite book |title=500 best-loved song lyrics |last=Herder |first=Ronald |year=1998 |publisher=Courier Dover Publications |isbn=978-0-486-29725-5 |page=315 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nihSxGm-rjsC&q=shine%20on%20harvest%20moon&pg=PA315|access-date=2010-08-16}}</ref>
The Ada Jones and Billy Murray recording linked on this article has it as '''April, January, Ju-u-une or July'''.<ref name=Best-Loved>{{Cite book |last=Herder |first=Ronald |year=1998 |title=500 Best-Loved Song Lyrics |publisher=Courier Dover Publications |isbn=978-0-486-29725-5 |page=315 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nihSxGm-rjsC&q=shine%20on%20harvest%20moon&pg=PA315|access-date=2010-08-16}}</ref>


[[Flanagan and Allen]], [[Moon Mullican]], [[Mitch Miller]] and [[Leon Redbone]] used '''January, February, June or July'''.
[[Flanagan and Allen]], [[Moon Mullican]], [[Mitch Miller]] and [[Leon Redbone]] used '''January, February, June or July'''.
Line 62: Line 60:


===Second verse===
===Second verse===
{{Poem quote|
{{blockquote|<poem>
I can't see why a boy should sigh when by his side
I can't see why a boy should sigh when by his side
Is the girl he loves so true,
Is the girl he loves so true,
Line 72: Line 70:
Shine on all the while,
Shine on all the while,
If the little girl should answer "yes."
If the little girl should answer "yes."
</poem>}}


(repeat chorus)
(repeat chorus)}}


==Film and television connections==
==Film and television connections==
The song has had a long history with Hollywood movies. In 1932, [[Dave Fleischer]] directed an animated short titled ''Shine On Harvest Moon''. A 1938 [[Roy Rogers]] western was [[Shine On, Harvest Moon (1938 film)|named after the song]], as was a [[Shine On, Harvest Moon (film)|1944 biographical film]] about Bayes and Norworth.
The song has had a long history with Hollywood movies. In 1932, [[Dave Fleischer]] directed an animated short titled ''Shine On Harvest Moon''. A 1938 [[Roy Rogers]] western was [[Shine On, Harvest Moon (1938 film)|named after the song]], as was a [[Shine On, Harvest Moon (film)|1944 biographical film]] about Bayes and Norworth.


The song has been featured in dozens of movies, including ''Along Came Ruth'' (1933) and ''[[The Great Ziegfeld]]'' (1936). [[Laurel and Hardy]] performed a song-and-dance routine (Hardy singing and both dancing) to the song in their 1939 [[RKO]] film ''[[The Flying Deuces]]''. The song was also featured in ''[[A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945 film)|A Tree Grows in Brooklyn]]'' (1945), ''[[The Eddy Duchin Story]]'' (1956), and ''[[Pennies from Heaven (TV series)|Pennies from Heaven]]'' (1978). There was also a popular British 1980s comedy drama called ''[[Shine on Harvey Moon]]''. The song was featured in the 2013 video game ''[[BioShock Infinite]]''. It was referenced by [[Don Rickles]] in the 1971 [[Friars Club of Beverly Hills|Friars Club]] roast of [[Jerry Lewis]] when he said, "Just hope and pray, Shine on Harvest Moon they know." In the 1952 ''I Love Lucy'' episode ''The Benefit'', the song is referenced and the chorus is sung. And Gidney and Cloyd the moon creatures performed the first line of the refrain on an episode of ''[[The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends|Rocky and His Friends]]'' in 1959–60, but sang "Shine on Harvest Earth". The song was also sung in the pilot episode of the Cartoon Network miniseries ''[[Over the Garden Wall]]''. ''[[The Backyardigans]]'' episode "The Key to the Nile" featured a song called "Please and Thank You" to the tune of this song.
The song has been featured in dozens of movies, including ''Along Came Ruth'' (1933) and ''[[The Great Ziegfeld]]'' (1936). [[Laurel and Hardy]] performed a song-and-dance routine (Hardy singing and both dancing) to the song in their 1939 [[RKO]] film ''[[The Flying Deuces]]''. The song was also featured in ''[[A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945 film)|A Tree Grows in Brooklyn]]'' (1945), ''[[The Eddy Duchin Story]]'' (1956), and ''[[Pennies from Heaven (TV series)|Pennies from Heaven]]'' (1978). There was also a popular British 1980s comedy drama called ''[[Shine on Harvey Moon]]''. The song was featured in the 2013 video game ''[[BioShock Infinite]]''. It was referenced by [[Don Rickles]] in the 1971 [[Friars Club of Beverly Hills|Friars Club]] roast of [[Jerry Lewis]] when he said, "Just hope and pray, Shine on Harvest Moon they know." In the 1952 ''I Love Lucy'' episode "The Benefit", the song is referenced and the chorus is sung. And Gidney and Cloyd the moon creatures performed the first line of the refrain on an episode of ''[[The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends|Rocky and His Friends]]'' in 1959–60, but sang "Shine on Harvest Earth". The song was also sung in the pilot episode of the Cartoon Network miniseries ''[[Over the Garden Wall]]''. ''[[The Backyardigans]]'' episode "The Key to the Nile" featured a song called "Please and Thank You" to the tune of this song.


==Other recordings==
==Other recordings==
* '''1931''' - by [[Ethel Waters]].
* '''1931''': by [[Ethel Waters]].
* '''1931''' &ndash; [[Art Gillham]]'s piano recording of the song for Columbia (No. 2374D) on January 5, 1931<ref>{{cite web |title=The Online Discographical Project |url=http://78discography.com/COL2000D.htm |website=78discography.com |access-date=March 25, 2020}}</ref> was praised by [[Walter Winchell]]
* '''1931''': [[Art Gillham]]'s piano recording of the song for Columbia (No. 2374D) on January 5, 1931<ref>{{cite web |title=The Online Discographical Project |url=http://78discography.com/COL2000D.htm |website=78discography.com |access-date=March 25, 2020}}</ref> was praised by [[Walter Winchell]]
* '''1931''' &ndash; [[Ruth Etting]] revived the song in the [[Ziegfeld Follies]]
* '''1931''': [[Ruth Etting]] revived the song in the [[Ziegfeld Follies]]
* '''1931''' &ndash; [[The Boswell Sisters]] recorded their own arrangement of the revived hit on August 27, 1931 for Brunswick Records (No. 6173).<ref>{{cite web |title=The Online Discographical Project |url=http://78discography.com/BRN6000.htm |website=78discography.com |access-date=March 25, 2020}}</ref>
* '''1931''': [[The Boswell Sisters]] recorded their own arrangement of the revived hit on August 27, 1931 for Brunswick Records (No. 6173).<ref>{{cite web |title=The Online Discographical Project |url=http://78discography.com/BRN6000.htm |website=78discography.com |access-date=March 25, 2020}}</ref>
* '''1933''' &ndash; [[Kate Smith]]
* '''1933''': [[Kate Smith]]
* '''1939''' &ndash; [[Laurel and Hardy]] perform it in their film ''[[The Flying Deuces]]''
* '''1939''': [[Laurel and Hardy]] perform it in their film ''[[The Flying Deuces]]''
* '''1949''' &ndash; [[Vaughn Monroe]] on Victor 1705
* '''1949''': [[Vaughn Monroe]] on Victor 1705
* '''1950''' &ndash; [[Chordettes]] on Columbia LP 6111 ''Harmony Time''
* '''1950''': [[The Chordettes]] on Columbia LP 6111 ''Harmony Time''
* '''1951''' &ndash; [[Jerry Gray (arranger)|Jerry Gray]] and his orchestra (recorded August 24, [[Decca Records]] catalog number 27868<ref>[http://78discography.com/Dec27500.htm Decca Records in the 27500 to 27999 series]</ref>)
* '''1951''': [[Jerry Gray (arranger)|Jerry Gray]] and his orchestra (recorded August 24, [[Decca Records]] catalog number 27868<ref>[http://78discography.com/Dec27500.htm Decca Records in the 27500 to 27999 series]</ref>)
* '''1954''': [[John Serry Sr.]] and his accordion ensemble for [[RCA Thesaurus]]<ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" Audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954]. The John J. Serry, Sr. Collection archived at the Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections, Sibley Music Library, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester. p. 18.</ref>
* '''1954''' &ndash; [[John Serry Sr.]] and his accordion ensemble for [[RCA Thesaurus]]
* '''1955''' &ndash; [[The Four Aces|Four Aces]] "B" side to their #1 hit "[[Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (song)|Love Is a Many Splendored Thing]]"
* '''1955''': [[The Four Aces|Four Aces]] "B" side to their #1 hit "[[Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (song)|Love Is a Many Splendored Thing]]"
* '''1955''' &ndash; [[Moon Mullican]] performed the song live
* '''1955''': [[Moon Mullican]] performed the song live
* '''1957''' &ndash; [[Bonnie Guitar]] on Dot LP 25069 ''Moonlight And Shadows''
* '''1957''': [[Bonnie Guitar]] on Dot LP 25069 ''Moonlight and Shadows''
* '''1957''' &ndash; [[Coleman Hawkins]] and [[Ben Webster]] both perform sax in a nearly five-minute jazz version on the album ''Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster''
* '''1957''': [[Coleman Hawkins]] and [[Ben Webster]] both perform sax in a nearly five-minute jazz version on the album ''Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster''
* '''1958''' &ndash; [[Mitch Miller]] recorded it in a medley with "[[For Me and My Gal (song)|For Me and My Gal]]" on the album ''More Sing Along With Mitch''
* '''1958''': [[Mitch Miller]] recorded it in a medley with "[[For Me and My Gal (song)|For Me and My Gal]]" on the album ''More Sing Along with Mitch''
* '''1958''' &ndash; [[William Frawley]], who portrayed [[Fred Mertz]] on [[I Love Lucy]], recorded the song as part of his LP homage to Vaudeville, ''Bill Frawley Sings the Old Ones''
* '''1958''': [[William Frawley]], who portrayed [[Fred Mertz]] on ''[[I Love Lucy]]'', recorded the song as part of his LP homage to Vaudeville, ''Bill Frawley Sings the Old Ones''
* '''1958''' &ndash; [[Billy Vaughn]] on Dot LP 25156 ''Billy Vaughn Plays''
* '''1958''': [[Billy Vaughn]] on Dot LP 25156 ''Billy Vaughn Plays''
* '''1960''' &ndash; [[Jaye P. Morgan]] on MGM 12924
* '''1959''': [[The Ink Spots]]
* '''1960''' &ndash; [[Teresa Brewer]] on Coral LP 57329 ''Naughty Naughty Naughty''
* '''1960''': [[Jaye P. Morgan]] on MGM 12924
* '''1960''': [[Teresa Brewer]] on Coral LP 57329 ''Naughty Naughty Naughty''
* '''1960''' &ndash; [[Rosemary Clooney]] included in her album ''[[Rosie Solves the Swingin' Riddle!]]''.
* '''1960''': [[Rosemary Clooney]] included in her album ''[[Rosie Solves the Swingin' Riddle!]]''.
* '''1960''' &ndash; [[Bing Crosby]] and [[Rosemary Clooney]]. They recorded the song in 1960<ref>{{cite web|title=A Bing Crosby Discography|url=http://www.bingmagazine.co.uk/bingmagazine/CBS.html |website=BING magazine|publisher=International Club Crosby|access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref> for use on their [[The Bing Crosby – Rosemary Clooney Show|radio show]] and it was subsequently included in the CD ''Bing & Rosie - The Crosby-Clooney Radio Sessions'' (2010).<ref>{{cite web|title=allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bing-rosie-the-crosby-clooney-radio-sessions-mw0002076504|website=allmusic.com|access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref>
* '''1960''': [[Bing Crosby]] and [[Rosemary Clooney]]. They recorded the song in 1960<ref>{{cite web|title=A Bing Crosby Discography|url=http://www.bingmagazine.co.uk/bingmagazine/CBS.html |website=BING magazine|publisher=International Club Crosby|access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref> for use on their [[The Bing Crosby – Rosemary Clooney Show|radio show]] and it was subsequently included in the CD ''Bing & Rosie - The Crosby-Clooney Radio Sessions'' (2010).<ref>{{cite web |title=Bing & Rosie: The Crosby-Clooney Radio Sessions |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bing-rosie-the-crosby-clooney-radio-sessions-mw0002076504 |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref>
* '''1961''' &ndash; [[Bing Crosby]] included the song in a medley on his album ''[[101 Gang Songs]]'' (1961)
* '''1961''': [[Bing Crosby]] included the song in a medley on his album ''[[101 Gang Songs]]'' (1961)
*'''1961''' - [[The Isley Brothers|Isley Brothers]] with Ray Ellis & Orchestra
*'''1961''': [[The Isley Brothers|Isley Brothers]] with Ray Ellis & Orchestra
* '''1962''' &ndash; [[Platters]] for their album ''Sing of Your Moonlight Memories''.<ref>{{cite web |title=discogs.com |url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Platters-Sing-Of-Your-Moonlight-Memories/master/547390 |website=discogs.com |access-date=March 25, 2020}}</ref>
* '''1962''': [[Platters]] for their album ''Sing of Your Moonlight Memories''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Platters – Sing Of Your Moonlight Memories |url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Platters-Sing-Of-Your-Moonlight-Memories/master/547390 |publisher=[[Discogs]] |access-date=March 25, 2020}}</ref>
* '''1963''' &ndash; [[Nino Tempo and April Stevens]] on Atco LP 156 ''Deep Purple''
* '''1963''': [[Nino Tempo and April Stevens]] on Atco LP 156 ''Deep Purple''
* '''1964''' &ndash; [[Allan Sherman]] parodied the song as "Shine On, Harvey Bloom" on his album ''[[For Swingin' Livers Only!]]''
* '''1964''': [[Allan Sherman]] parodied the song as "Shine On, Harvey Bloom" on his album ''[[For Swingin' Livers Only!]]''
* '''1965''' &ndash; [[Mance Lipscomb]] recorded the song live for [[Arhoolie Records]] on ''Texas Songster in a Live Performance''
* '''1965''': [[Mance Lipscomb]] recorded the song live for [[Arhoolie Records]] on ''Texas Songster in a Live Performance''
* '''1976''' &ndash; [[Leon Redbone]] recorded the song for his album ''[[Double Time (Leon Redbone album)|Double Time]]''
* '''1976''': [[Leon Redbone]] recorded the song for his album ''[[Double Time (Leon Redbone album)|Double Time]]''
* '''1989''' &ndash; Eight-year-old [[Britney Spears]] sang a rendition of the song in her video audition for the ''[[Mickey Mouse Club]]''.
* '''1989''': Eight-year-old [[Britney Spears]] sang a rendition of the song in her video audition for the ''[[Mickey Mouse Club]]''.
* '''1992''' &ndash; [[Kirsten Cooke]] and [[Arthur Bostrom]] perform it as the characters [[Michelle Dubois]] and [[Officer Crabtree]] in the sitcom ''[['Allo 'Allo!]]'' (Season 8 Episode 7). [[Carmen Silvera]] as [[Madame Edith]] also sings the number during the closing credits of the same episode.
* '''1992''': [[Kirsten Cooke]] and [[Arthur Bostrom]] perform it as the characters [[Michelle Dubois]] and [[Officer Crabtree]] in the sitcom ''[['Allo 'Allo!]]'' (Season 8 Episode 7). [[Carmen Silvera]] as [[Madame Edith]] also sings the number during the closing credits of the same episode.
* '''2005''' &ndash; [[Bobby Bare]] recorded the song as part of his album ''The Moon was Blue''
* '''2005''': [[Bobby Bare]] recorded the song as part of his album ''The Moon was Blue''
* '''2007''' &ndash; [[Marah (band)|Marah]] recorded the song for their EP, ''[[Can't Take It with You]]''
* '''2007''': [[Marah (band)|Marah]] recorded the song for their EP, ''[[Can't Take It with You]]''
* '''2012''' &ndash; [[Lon Milo DuQuette]] recorded it along with 11 originals on ''Baba Lon II''
* '''2012''': [[Lon Milo DuQuette]] recorded it along with 11 originals on ''Baba Lon II''
* '''2017''' &ndash; [[Mree]] recorded her own rendition of the song as "Harvest Moon"
* '''2017''': [[Mree]] recorded her own rendition of the song as "Harvest Moon"
*[[Liza Minnelli]] also performed the song many times as part of her repertoire, and it appears on several of her recordings.
* [[Liza Minnelli]] also performed the song many times as part of her repertoire, and it appears on several of her recordings.
* [[Al Jolson]] had sung the song a few times on some radio shows, though the most notable version is when he was on an [[Kraft Music Hall|NBC Kraft Music Hall Radio Broadcast]] with actor, comedian, and pianist [[Oscar Levant]].
*Norman Brookes also recorded the song a few times on his various “ Sings Al Jolson “ albums.
* [[Norman Brooks (singer)|Norman Brooks]] also recorded the song a few times on his various "Sings Al Jolson" albums.


==References==
==References==
'''Notes'''
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Nora Bayes}}
{{Nora Bayes}}
{{Ada Jones}}{{Billy Murray|state=autocollapse}}
{{Ada Jones}}
{{Billy Murray|state=autocollapse}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1908 songs]]
[[Category:1908 songs]]
⚫
[[Category:Male–female vocal duets]]
⚫
[[Category:Songs written by Jack Norworth]]
[[Category:Kate Smith songs]]
[[Category:Kate Smith songs]]
⚫
[[Category:Male–female vocal duets]]
[[Category:Nora Bayes songs]]
[[Category:Nora Bayes songs]]
[[Category:Songs about the Moon]]
[[Category:Songs about the Moon]]
⚫
[[Category:Songs written by Jack Norworth]]

Latest revision as of 04:54, 16 November 2024

For the films, see Shine On, Harvest Moon (1938 film) and Shine On, Harvest Moon (1944 film).
"Shine On, Harvest Moon"
Cover, sheet music, 1908
Song
LanguageEnglish
Published1908
Composer(s)Nora Bayes
Lyricist(s)Jack Norworth

"Shine On, Harvest Moon" is a popular early-1900s song credited to the married vaudeville team Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth. It was one of a series of moon-related Tin Pan Alley songs of the era. The song was debuted by Bayes and Norworth in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1908 to great acclaim. It became a pop standard, and continues to be performed and recorded in the 21st century.

During the vaudeville era, songs were often sold outright, and the purchaser would be credited as the songwriter. John Kenrick's Who's Who in Musicals credits the song's actual writers as Edward Madden and Gus Edwards. However, David Ewen's All the Years of American Popular Music credits Dave Stamper, who contributed songs to 21 editions of the Ziegfeld Follies and was Bayes' pianist from 1903 to 1908.[1] Vaudeville comic Eddie Cantor also credited Stamper in his 1934 book Ziegfeld - The Great Glorifier.[2]

The earliest commercially successful recordings were made in 1909 by Harry Macdonough and Elise Stevenson (Victor 16259), Ada Jones and Billy Murray (Edison 10134), Frank Stanley and Henry Burr (Indestructable 1075), and Bob Roberts (Columbia 668).[3]

Lyrics

[edit]
Shine On, Harvest Moon
1909 Edison Records recording with Ada Jones and Billy Murray
Problems playing this file? See media help.

First verse

[edit]

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

[edit]

Oh, Shine on, shine on, harvest moon
Up in the sky;
I ain't had no lovin'
Since April, January, 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 in different orders.

The Ada Jones and Billy Murray recording linked on this article has it as April, January, Ju-u-une or July.[4]

Flanagan and Allen, Moon Mullican, Mitch Miller and Leon Redbone used January, February, June or July.

Oliver Hardy, in his rendition from The Flying Deuces, used January, April, June or July.

Second verse

[edit]

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)

Film and television connections

[edit]

The song has had a long history with Hollywood movies. In 1932, Dave Fleischer directed an animated short titled Shine On Harvest Moon. A 1938 Roy Rogers western was named after the song, as was a 1944 biographical film about Bayes and Norworth.

The song has been featured in dozens of movies, including Along Came Ruth (1933) and The Great Ziegfeld (1936). Laurel and Hardy performed a song-and-dance routine (Hardy singing and both dancing) to the song in their 1939 RKO film The Flying Deuces. The song was also featured in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), The Eddy Duchin Story (1956), and Pennies from Heaven (1978). There was also a popular British 1980s comedy drama called Shine on Harvey Moon. The song was featured in the 2013 video game BioShock Infinite. It was referenced by Don Rickles in the 1971 Friars Club roast of Jerry Lewis when he said, "Just hope and pray, Shine on Harvest Moon they know." In the 1952 I Love Lucy episode "The Benefit", the song is referenced and the chorus is sung. And Gidney and Cloyd the moon creatures performed the first line of the refrain on an episode of Rocky and His Friends in 1959–60, but sang "Shine on Harvest Earth". The song was also sung in the pilot episode of the Cartoon Network miniseries Over the Garden Wall. The Backyardigans episode "The Key to the Nile" featured a song called "Please and Thank You" to the tune of this song.

Other recordings

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References

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  1. ^ Ewen, David (1977). All the Years of American Popular Music. Prentice Hall. p. 189. ISBN 0-13-022442-1.
  2. ^ Cantor, Eddie; David Freedman (1934). Ziegfeld, the Great Glorifier. A.H. King. p. 78.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954: The History of American Popular Music. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 578. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  4. ^ Herder, Ronald (1998). 500 Best-Loved Song Lyrics. Courier Dover Publications. p. 315. ISBN 978-0-486-29725-5. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
  5. ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  6. ^ "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  7. ^ Decca Records in the 27500 to 27999 series
  8. ^ John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" Audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954. The John J. Serry, Sr. Collection archived at the Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections, Sibley Music Library, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester. p. 18.
  9. ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  10. ^ "Bing & Rosie: The Crosby-Clooney Radio Sessions". AllMusic. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  11. ^ "The Platters – Sing Of Your Moonlight Memories". Discogs. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
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