DARK NIGHT


As sung by Frank Munn with Nat Shilkret Orchestra 1930


(introductory bridge approximately 1 minute)


Do you long for a sunbeam

Do you cry for the moon

Do you sigh for a rainbow

Or the nightingale's tune.


Then you'll know if you hear me

How I'm longing for you

When my heaven is near me

Would you make it come true?


Dark night, dark night

Hides the love in my eyes

Dark night, dark night

Hides your look of surprise.


Dear one, tell me

That we never will part

Dark night never

Hides the love in my heart.


(bridge to end)


Notes:


This work was a foxtrot favourite during the Roaring Twenties. Nat

Shilkret, an American from New York City was a notable composer, pianist

and conductor as well as a successful business man. During his career,

he hosted a number of high profile singers...Henry Burr / Gene Austin /

Frank Luther / Frank Munn and a variety of others. Shilkret's orchestra

specialized in foxtrots, which were originally developed during the

1910s but through the 20s and 30s became the rage and eventually a

standard to this day. Shilkret read this trend correctly and became very

successful because of it.


Frank Munn, a tenor, was one of radio's first stars in the early 1930s

and was arguably the king of radio crooners during this period. His

career started by a strange twist of fate. He worked in a turbine engine

factory during WW1, hurting his hand badly. He wasn't able to work after

that accident so he started singing to support himself. Eventually he

began to appear on local radio shows. Between his two weekly programs, it was

estimated that he had over 4 million listeners per week. He was often

referred to as the 'Golden Voice Of Radio'...one CD of his work,

currently available, makes reference to this moniker. He finished his

musical career in the mid 1940s.


(Transcribed by David Story May 2014)