THE BILBAO SONG
(Kurt Weill / Bert Brecht – English Lyrics by Johnny Mercer)

Andy Williams

Also recorded by: Chet Atkins; Clusone Trio; Dave Douglas; 
Eastside Sinfonietta; Gil Evans; Marianne Faithfull; 
Jacqueline François; Greta Keller; Masabumi Kiluchi; 
Ute Lemper; Lottie Lenya; Frank Portolese; André Previn; 
Sextet of Orch. USA; Tethered Moon; Cal Tyader; Julie Wilson.


That old Bilbao moon, I won't forget it soon
That old Bilbao moon, just like a big balloon
That old Bilbao moon would rise above the dune
While Tony's beach saloon rocked with an old-time tune
We'd sing a song the whole night long and I can still recall
Those were the greatest (those were the greatest)
Those were the greatest (those were the greatest)
Those were the greatest nights of them all

No paint was on the door (no paint was on the door)
The grass grew through the floor (the grass grew through the floor)
Of Tony's two by four (of Tony's two by four)
On the Bilbao shore (on the Bilbao shore)
But there were friends galore (howdy do, howdy do)
And there was beer to pour (chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug)
And moonlight on the shore (and the moon shines above)
That old Bilbao shore (on the shore, not the rug)
We'd sing all night with all our might and I can still recall
Those were the greatest (those were the greatest)
Those were the greatest (those were the greatest)
Those were the greatest nights of them all

That old Bilbao moon, I won't forget it soon
That old Bilbao moon, just like a big balloon
That old Bilbao moon would rise above the dune
While Tony's beach saloon rocked with an old-time tune
We'd sing all night with all our might and I can still recall
Those were the greatest (those were the greatest)
Those were the greatest (those were the greatest)
Those were the greatest nights of them all

(Extra verse not used by Andy Williams)

Those old Bilbao Guys, they loved to harmonise
Who stopped to realise how fast the summer flies
The moon was on the rise, we'd catch the ladies' eyes
And whisper Spanish lies, They never did get wise.

We'd sing the whole night long
And I can still recall
Those were the greatest,
Those were the greatest
Those were the greatest days of them all.


(Contributed/Transcribed by Bill Huntley - September 2005)