SERENADE OF THE BELLS
(Kay Twomey / Al Goodhart / Al Urbano)

Jo Stafford - 1947
Sammy Kaye & His Orch. (vocal: Don Cornell) - 1947
Kay Kyser & His Orch. (vocal: Harry Babbitt) - 1947
Vic Damone - 1947
Geraldo & His Orch. - 1948
Sammy Kaye & His Orch. (vocal: Barry Frank) - 1958
The Fleetwoods - 1959
Gene Pitney - 1967
Bobby Vinton - 1968
David Houston - 1969

Also recorded by: Gene Autry; Dick Haymes; Carl Mann;
Don Cherry; David Houston; Gracie Fields; The Wrens;
Frank Sinatra; The Vibrations.



In the sleepy town of San Juanita
There's a story that a padre tells
Of a gay senor and senorita
And the serenade of the bells

Seems they asked the padre for permission
To be married early in the spring
But their folks had made just one condition
That the mission bells had to ring

Ev'ryone knew the bells were broken
And hadn't sounded for a long, long time
Then one night the village was astounded
For the bells began to chime

Still the bells are broken, goes the story
But if in your heart a true love dwells
They will ring for you in all their glory
That's the serenade of the bells


(Contributed by Ferda Dolunay - January 2006)


***********
SERENADE OF THE BELLS (Gracie Fields)


as recorded by Gracie Fields 
with Phil Green & his Orchestra  
1948


In the sleepy town of San Juanita,
There's a story that the padre tells
Of a gay senor and senorita,
And the serenade of the bells.

Seems they asked the padre for permission
To be married early in the Spring,
But their folks had made just one condition -
That the mission bells had to ring.

Everyone knew the bells were broken,
And hadn't sounded for a long long time,
But that night the village was astounded,
For the bells began to chime,
Ding-dong ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong!

Still the bells are broken, goes the story ,
But, if in your heart a true love dwells,
They will ring for you in all their glory,
That's the serenade of the bells.

People say that miracles don't happen,
But it seems to me they often do!
All you need is faith to make that happen;
Listen while I sing again to you.

In the sleepy town of San Juanita,
There's a story that the padre tells
Of a gay senor and senorita,
And the serenade of the bells.

Seems they asked the padre for permission
To be married early in the Spring,
But their folks had made just one condition -
That the mission bells had to ring.

Everyone knew the bells were broken,
And hadn't sounded for a long long time,
But that night the village was astounded,
For the bells began to chime,
Ding-dong ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong!

Still the bells are broken, goes the story ,
But, if in your heart a true love dwells,
They will ring for you in all their glory,
That's the serenade of the bells.
Ding-dong ding-dong,
Ding-dong ding-dong!
Ding-dong ding-dong,
Ding-dong ding-dong!




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - January 2013)