MERRY WIDOW WALTZ
From the Operetta "The Merry Widow"
(English adaptation of the 1905 Viennese Operetta "Die Lustige Witwe")
(Music: Franz Lehár / Lyrics: Viktor Léon & Leo Stein / English Lyrics: Adrian Ross)


Originally written in German for the 1905 Operetta "Die Lustige Witwe", 
the show, including this song, was translated into English by Adrian Ross in
1907. Owing to copyright problems and the many translations that it received
around the world in later years, it was re-written on several occasions
resulting in numerous different sets of lyrics, although the theme of the song
stayed faithful to the show's storyline. Franz Lehar's beautiful music remained
for all versions and is regarded by many as being the greatest Waltz tune ever
written.


Marie Ottman & Gustav Matzner (German Production) - 1906
Lily Elsie & Joseph Coyne (London Production) - 1907
Ethel Jackson & Donald Brian (Broadway Production) - 1907
Lydia Lipkowska & Reginald Pasch (Broadway Revival) - 1921
Frieda Hempel - 1921
Paul Whiteman & His Orch. (Instr.) - 1928
Beppe De Vries & Evan Thomas (Broadway Revival) - 1929
Alice MacKenzie & Donald Brian (Broadway Revival) - 1931
Richard Tauber - 1933
Jeanette MacDonald (Film Soundtrack) - 1934
Richard Crooks - 1934
Lew Stone & His Band - 1934
Helen Gleason & Wilbur Evans (Carnegie Hall Production) - 1942
Marta Eggerth & Jan Kiepura (Broadway Revival) - 1943
Madge Elliott & Cyril Ritchard (London Revival) - 1944
Kitty Carlisle & Wilbur Evans - 1944
Gladys Swarthout - 1945
Fernando Lamas & Trudy Erwin (Film Soundtrack) - 1952
Dorothy Kirsten & Robert Rounseville - 1952
Lucille Norman & Gordon MacRae - 1952
Elizabeth Schwarzkopf & Erich Kunz - 1953
Bidu Sayao - 1954
Anne Jeffreys & Brian Sullivan (NBC TV Prroduction) - 1955
June Bronhill & Thomas Round (BBC TV-Sadler's Wells Opera Production) - 1958
Karen Hubner & Peter Alexander (Austrian Film Production) - 1962
Patricia Munsel & Bob Wright - 1964
Norma Cleary & Eddy Ruhl - 1965
Mary Costa & Jeremy Brett (British TV Production) - 1968
Lizbeth Welch & John Rhys Evans (London Revival) - 1969
Beverly Sills & Alan Titus (PBS TV-San Diego Opera Production) - 1977
Edda Moser & Hermann Prey - 1980
Joan Sutherland & Ron Stevens (Australian TV Production) - 1988
Jane Thorngren & Michael Hayes (PBS TV-New York Opera Production) - 1996
Frederica Von Stade & Placido Domingo (Metropolitan Opera Production) - 2000
Yvonne Kenny & Bo Skovhus (PBS TV-San Diego Opera Production) - 2002
Lesley Garrett & Jeffrey Black (BBC TV-Welsh National Opera Production) - 2005
Renee Fleming & Nathan Gunn (PBS TV-Metropolitan Opera Production) - 2015

Also recorded by:
Mantovani; Lawrence Welk; White Star Orch.; Carl Wolfe; Al Goodman & His Orch.;
Blue Barron; Earl Bostic; Ray Campi; Alexander Prince; Donald Smith & Jodie Joy;
Roger Williams; Janette Vivalda; Anne Ziegler & Webster Booth; The Troubadours;
Dukes of Dixieland; Ferrante & Teicher; Arthur Fiedler; Lester Lanin; Dick Leibert;
Gladys Moncrieff; Evelyn Laye; Donald Richards & Elaine Malbin; Guy Lombardo;
Anna Moffo; Ruby Franklin; Andre Rieu ........ and many, many more.



Though I say not what I may not let you hear
Yet the swaying dance is saying "Love me, Dear"
Every touch of fingers tells me what I know
Says for you, it's true, it's true, you love me so

And to the music's chime my heart is beating time
As if to give a sign that it would say, "Be mine, be mine"
Though our lips may say no word, yet in my heart a voice is heard
You cannot choose, but know I love you so

Love that hovers over lovers speaks in song
In the fingers clasp that lingers soft and long
Every touch of fingers tells me what I know
Says for you it's true, it's true, you love me so


*********************


ALTERNATE VERSION:

Golden glowing lamps are throwing light above
While the swaying tune is saying love, love, love
And the feet of dancers sound it as they go
Don't you hear them say, my dear, I love you so

And with the music's chime my heart is beating time
As if to give a sign that it would cry you're mine, you're mine
Though our lips may say no word, yet in my heart a voice is heard
It seems to whisper soft and low "I love you so"

Golden glowing lamps are throwing light above
And the swaying tune is saying love, love, love
And the feet of dancers sound it as they go
Don't you hear them say, my dear, I love you so

Love that hovers over lovers speak in song
In the fingers clasp that lingers soft and long
Then the music answers, swaying to and fro
Telling you it's true, it's true, I love you so


********************


As recorded by JEANETTE MacDONALD
for the 1934 film "The Merry Widow", with lyrics by Lorenz Hart:


Not a word, dear, have I heard, dear, yet I know
You've not told me, but you hold me, so I know
Words may be unspoken, yet I know you hear 
You'll decide your heart replies, "I love you, dear"

The music has its charms when I am in your arms
But when you take my hand and look at me, I understand
Although music may be played, it's telling me at last you know
And Heaven gives a sign, you're mine, all mine

(Orchestral Interlude)

Words may be unspoken, yet I know you hear 
You'll decide your heart replies, "I love you, dear"


********************


As recorded by FERNANDO LAMAS & TRUDY ERWIN (dubbing for Lana Turner)
for the 1952 film "The Merry Widow", with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster:


Though I try, love, to deny love, yet I can't
Though I dare not say I care not when I can't
So I'll tell the music while I hold you near
To convey what I can't say, I love you, dear

You smile at me and then I'm seventeen again
And though it be naive I make believe that I believe
Stars that twinkle in the skies tonight are twinkling in your eyes
While Heaven smiles above we dream of love

Though I try, dear, to deny, dear, I love you
Still I dare not say I care not when I do
So I'll tell the music while you hold me near
To convey what I can't say, I love you, dear


********************


As recorded by JUNE BRONHILL & THOMAS ROUND
for the 1958 Sadler's Wells Opera Production, 
with lyrics by Christopher Hassall:


Love unspoken, faith unbroken, all life through
Strings are playing, hear them saying, "Love me true"
Now the echo answers, "Say you want me too"
All the world's in love with love, and I love you

I hear the music play, it carries me away
All sorrow will have flown when you are mine and mine alone
So the music seems to say I've not a single thing to say
It's wanting you to know I love you so

Now the echo answers, "Say you want me too"
All the world's in love with love, and I love you


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - August 2018)