Song Lyrics From Around The World

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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)

    





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