SEPTEMBER SONG
From the Broadway Show "Knickerbocker Holiday" (1938)
(Music: Kurt Weill / Lyrics: Maxwell Anderson)
Walter Huston (Broadway Production) - 1938
Bing Crosby - 1943
Charles Coburn (feat. in the film "Knickerbocker Holiday") - 1944
Frank Sinatra - 1946 (Re-recorded 1961 & 1965)
The Dardanelle Trio - 1946
Delta Rhythm Boys - 1949
Jo Stafford - 1950
Tony Martin - 1950
George Melachrino Strings (Instr.) - 1950
Stan Kenton & His Orch. - 1951
Liberace (Instr.) - 1952
Sarah Vaughan - 1954
Billy Eckstine - 1955
Sammy Davis Jr. - 1955
Johnny Hartman - 1955
The Deep River Boys - 1955
Eartha Kitt - 1957
Lotte lenya - 1957
Eydie Gorme - 1958
Ted Heath & His Music (Instr.) - 1959
Ella Fitzgerald - 1960
Maurice Chevalier (feat. in the film "Pepe") - 1960
Dion & The Belmonts - 1960
The Platters - 1962
Nat King Cole - 1962
Jimmy Durante - 1963
Georgia Brown - 1963
Andy Williams - 1964
The Impressions - 1964
Roy Clark - 1969
Willie Nelson - 1978
Lou Reed - 1985
Jeff Lynne - 1990
Rosemary Clooney - 1991
Elaine Paige - 1993
Peter, Paul & Mary - 1996
Patricia Kaas - 2009
Also recorded by:
James Brown; Lionel Hampton; Anjelica Huston; Tony Bennett;
Mantovani & His Orch.; Artie Shaw; Sammy Kaye; Vic Damone;
The Flamingos; Billy Daniels; Red Norvo Trio; George Shearing;
Gordon MacRae; Matt Monro; Mel Tormé; Marian McPartland;
Arthur Fiedler & Boston Pops Orch.; Mario Lanza; June Christy;
The Mills Brothers; Harry James; James Brown; Karin Schmidt;
Lorne Green; Erroll Garner; Al Hirt; Lenny Dee; Lesley Garrett;
Modern Folk Quartet; Ben Webster; Betty Roche; Anne Shelton;
Lindsey Buckingham; Jerry Butler; George Sanders; Art Tatum;
Eddie Bracken; Sidney Bechet; Dave Brubeck Trio; Dean Martin;
Ray Conniff; Tex Ritter; Eddy Duchin; Jan Peerce; Gracie Fields;
Red Nichols; Ezio Pinza ......... and many, many others.
As originally recorded by WALTER HUSTON:
When I was a young man courting the girls
I played me a waiting game
If a maid refused me with tossing curls
I'd let the old Earth take a couple of whirls
While I plied her with tears in place of pearls
And as time came around she came my way
As time came around she came
But it's a long, long while from May to December
And the days grow short when you reach September
And the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame
And I haven't got time for waiting game
And the wine dwindles down to a precious brew
September, November,
And these few vintage years I'd share with you
Those vintage years I'd share with you
But it's a long, long while from May to December
And the days grow short when you reach September
And I have lost one tooth and i walk a little lame
And I haven't got time for waiting game
And the days turn to gold as they grow few
September, November
And these few golden days I'd spend with you
These golden days I'd spend with you
When you meet with the young men early in Spring
They court you in song and rhyme
They woo you with words and a clover ring
But if you examine the goods they bring
They have little to offer, but the songs they sing
And a plentiful waste of time of day
A plentiful waste of time
But it's a long, long while from May to December
Will the clover ring last till you reach September
And I'm not quite equipped for the waiting game
But I have a little money and I have a little fame
And the days dwindle down to a precious few
September, November
And these few precious days I'd spend with you
These precious days I'd spend with you
********************
As recorded by FRANK SINATRA, April 16th 1965:
When I was a young man courting the girls
I played me a waiting game
If a maid refused me with tossing curls
I'd let the old Earth take a couple of whirls
While I plied her with tears in lieu of pearls
And as time came around she came my way
As time came around she came
When you meet with the young girls early in the Spring
You court them in song and rhyme
They answer with words and a clover ring
But if you could examine the goods they bring
They have little to offer but the songs they sing
And the plentiful waste of time of day
A plentiful waste of time
Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December
But the days grow short when you reach September
When the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame
One hasn't got time for the waiting game
Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few
September, November
And these few precious days I'll spend with you
These precious days I'll spend with you
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - December 2015)
