JAPANESE SANDMAN, THE
(Music: Richard A. Whiting / Lyrics: Raymond B. Egan)
Nora Bayes - 1920
Annette Hanshaw with the Willard Robison Deep River Orch. - 1928
Billy Barton & His Orch. (vocal: Billy Barton) - 1931
Fred Rich & His Orch. (vocal: Elmer Feldkamp) - 1932
Charlie & His Orch. (vocal: Karl Schwedler) - 1941
Hoagy Carmichael (feat. in the film "Belles On Their Toes") - 1952
Johnny Desmond - 1953
Also recorded by: The Andrews Sisters
NON-VOCAL RECORDINGS:
Paul Whiteman & His Ambassador Orch. - 1920
Ben Selvin & His Orch. - 1920
Red Nichols & His Five Pennies - 1928
Cole McElroy's Spanish Ballroom Band - 1928
Snooks & His Memphis Stompers - 1931
Len Fillis & Edgar Jackson's Dance Orch. - 1932
Ray Noble & His Orch. - 1933
Benny Goodman & His Orch. - 1935
Artie Shaw & His Orch. - 1936
Dicky Wells & His Orch. - 1937
Freddy Gardner & His Swing Orch. - 1937
Felix Mendelssohn's Hawaiian Serenaders - 1940
Semprini & Kramer - 1940
Art Tatum - 1953
Terry Snyder & The All Stars - 1959
Also recorded by:
Alec Wilder Octet; Isham Jones Rainbo Orch.; Billy Mure & His Orch.
..................... and many others.
As recorded by NORA BAYES:
Won't you stretch imagination for a moment and come with me
Let us hasten to a nation lying over the western sea
Hide behind the cherry blossoms
Here's a sight that will please your eyes
There's a lady with a baby of Japan, singing lullabies
Hear her as she sighs
Here's the Japanese Sandman sneaking on with the dew
Just an old second-hand man, he'll buy your old day from you
He will take every sorrow of the day that is through
And he'll bring you tomorrow, just to start a life anew
Then you'll be a bit older in the dawn when you wake
And you'll be a bit bolder in the new day you make
There's the Japanese Sandman, trading silver for gold
Just an old second-hand man trading new days for old
Then you'll be a bit older in the dawn when you wake
And you'll be a bit bolder in the new day you make
Here's the Japanese Sandman, trading silver for gold
Just an old second-hand man trading new days for old
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - February 2014)
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EXTRA VERSE:
Just as silent as we came, we'll leave the land of the painted fan
Wander lightly or you'll wake the little people of old Japan
May repose and pleasant dreaming
Be their share while the hours are small
Like an echo of the song I hear the Japanese Sandman call
New days near for all
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TRIVIA:
Charlie & His Orchestra were an early 1940's Nazi-sponsored German
propaganda swing band. Jazz music styles were considered rebellious
by the Nazis, but, ironically, propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels
conceived of using the style in radio broadcasts aimed at Great Britain,
Canada and the United States. British listeners could hear the band
every Wednesday and Saturday at around 9 pm.
The purpose of the band was to stir pro-Nazi sympathy, draw attention
to World War II Allied losses, convince listeners that Great Britain was
a pawn for American and Jewish interests, and carry Adolf Hitler's
messages in an entertaining form. The songs stressed how badly the
War was going for the target audience, and how it was only going to be
only a matter of time before they would be beaten.
American swing and popular British songs were initially performed true
to the original, until about the second or third stanza where pro-German
lyrics and monologues would be introduced. The band was led by Lutz
Templin with vocals by Karl "Charlie" Schwedler. They made over 90
recordings between March 1941 and February 1943.
As recorded by CHARLIE & HIS ORCHESTRA:
Watch the Japanese Sandman
Like a bolt from the blue
He's no second-hand man
He'll take no old days from you
He will bring you some sorrow
Long before you are through
And he'll give you tomorrow
What was coming to you
Then you'll be a bit wiser
In the dawn when you wake
He'll throw mud in your eye, sir
And the Empire he'll take
Watch the Japanese Sandman
Changing old days for new
He is no second-hand man
Your mistakes you will rue
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - February 2014)
