Friday, December 6, 2013

Haven Gillespie


"You better watch out, better not cry, better not pout...I'm telling you why...Santa Claus is coming to town!"  Quick, who wrote the words to that song? You don't have to guess, I have already told you in the title of this post!  (Apparently, he didn't especially like it, and it is his most famous song!)

Just this week, I was thinking about one of my blogging friends, John from Rambles From My Chair
because he had a few posts where he mentioned that he had some problems sleeping through the night.  So, John I have another song by Haven Gillespie and this is for you!
 "You're In Kentucky As Sure As You're Born".   (You can see the lyrics that made me think of a sweet slumber.)

When you see a field where grass is blue
And everything looks good to you
You're in Kentucky, sure as you're born

When a million sunbeams, light your way
Says c'mon stranger won't you stay
You're in Kentucky, sure as you're born

When the shadows creep
You can go to sleep
On a carpet of moonbeams
You can dream your dreams
Neath the blanket of gleaming stars


If you wake at dawn amid glistening dew
Find old Dixie kissin' you
You're in Kentucky, sure as you're born

When the shadows creep
You can go to sleep
On a carpet of moonbeams
You can dream your dreams
Neath the blanket of gleaming stars



John and for anyone else who might need a bit of help nodding off, just think of those sweet words...and better yet, find a clip of Chas & Dave singing it! 




Haven Gillespie also wrote the lyrics to "That Lucky Old Sun".  It has been covered by Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Tom Jones and many others.  Why is it that I only discovered this great song just this week? I love this song!  No wonder so many singers have performed it!   I found this video by Chris Isaak and I hope you like it as much as I do.  I wish that I could write lyrics like Haven Gillespie!  (And I wish I could sing like Chris Isaak!)




All the colorful leaves have gone now but oh, the memory lingers! I am not quite ready to change my header photo, not just yet!
 
 

 




25 comments:

  1. "Santa Claus is coming to town" is one of the first xmas songs I learned to sing when I was a little girl. Love it then. Not my fave now.

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    1. It's a wonderful song for children to learn! I'm sure that Haven Gillespie had to write a Christmas song to satisfy his publishers. I bet he would be surprised by the popularity of the song!

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  2. Hang on to that colour, Kay, it's so beautiful!
    Isn't it funny - but not unusual - that the author of the song didn't particularly like it himself, yet it became his most famous one? That does happen every now and then, and I do understand how artists can get sick and tired of their own creation if they are asked to sing or perform or listen to it countless times, over and over again...

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    1. Thanks, Meike! That autumnal color was so beautiful, I can't quite get rid of it just yet!
      I know that artists must grow tired of doing their biggest hits, but you really must give your fans what they want...I am already advising my son, the future musical star! :-)

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  3. Love the song and love Lucky Old Sun too. Never have trouble sleeping. Especially this time of year. I want to sleep when the sun sets. It seems like midnight to me when it's only 8:30. I could hibernate all winter if given the chance.

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    1. Yay! Glad you like these songs by Haven Gillespie. (And his real name was James...I wonder why he was called "Haven"? Interesting...)
      I don't have trouble sleeping either but I really feel for folks who struggle with sleep problems. I usually don't even know the world is turning when I am snoozing, I am OUT like a light! xx

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  4. Aren't the trees beautiful this time of year!

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    1. Yes! They have been amazing! Shhh...don't tell anyone, we don't want everyone to know how pretty the trees are in Georgia!! ;-)

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  5. Thanks for the info about the song, Kay! I can remember my mom telling me that when I was a small child. I kept trying to figure out how Santa knew so much about me, and I can remember searching the apartment and checking the corners of the ceilings in every room to see if I could spot Santa spying on me. I kept expecting to find his disembodied face looking down! I never did spot him, but I certainly heard his reindeer on the room next door! I'm not quite ready to see your beautiful header disappear yet! Take care!

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    1. I love that image of little Louise searching everywhere for Santa!
      With all this cold weather in the USA, I think I might keep my sunny, Autumnal trees photo on here a bit longer!! Keep warm out in Colorado!! xx

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  6. What a talented person he was! His word images have influenced generations. Thanks for showcasing his talent.

    The color keeps hope alive that it will return!

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    1. Isn't it wonderful how some people can put simple words together in such a way to make them unforgettable?
      Hope you are okay In Louisiana! It has been rainy and gray in Georgia for the past few days, really gloomy!!

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  7. Itv will be a shame when that header photo does go - I love it. But no doubt you'll replace it with something equally goof.
    It's 2.30 a.m. so as yet
    "On a carpet of moonbeams
    You can dream your dreams"
    is not working but I love the words.
    Thanks!

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    1. Oh, I was hoping that those words would work their magic and lull you to sleep!
      Oh well, glad you like the lyrics anyway!
      "Equally GOOF", HA!! I am sure you meant to type "equally GOOD" but that made me laugh, so I love it! If laughter is involved, it's always healthy! Take care and get some sleep! (Hopefully.)

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  8. I think that the first person I heard singing That Lucky Old Sun was Paul Robeson: a man I admired for his voice and acting but also for his academic ability and human rights views.

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    1. Paul Robeson was a great singer, actor, athlete... One of those men that you just marvel at all they are capable of doing...does that make sense?

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  9. I wonder if that song gave Nick Hornby the idea to write 'About a boy'. Vey funny and entertaining book ( not so great film) where Hugh Grant lives off the proceeds of a smash Christmas song his father wrote yet they both detested it. He spends every Christmas trying to avoid hearing it played in the weeks leading up to the great day. Although he didn't like it much it probably gave him the financial freedom to be creative in his music. It's surprising how many artists grow to dislike the thing they are most famous for as it overshadows anything else they might produce.

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    1. Hey, that is interesting. Nick Hornby, leave me a comment on my blog and let us know, would you?
      I remember that film and I don't wonder he grew tired of hearing that song, it was pretty awful!
      Unlike THE BEST Christmas song ever, which is "Silent Night", of course, there has never been anything to touch it, in my opinion!
      Justin Hayward wrote "Nights In White Satin" when he was only 18. That has always been his biggest hit, although, Lonnie Dunagan stole it from him! I did a post about it a few months back!! (Love my Moody Blues! Seen them in concert more than any other band.)

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  10. Those leaves! So gorgeous. You see and photograph the most beautiful things. And I would have guessed Gene Autrey - but I realize he wrote Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
    I could use a lullaby at night myself.

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    1. Thanks, for the yes vote on the autumn leaves!
      Gene Autry was well known for singing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,but the lyrics were written by Robert L. May, an employee of Montgomery Ward (who wrote the poem as a giveaway for the store) and the music was by Robert May's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks.
      If that song helps you sleep, it will make me happy! Thanks for your comment!

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  11. I cannot find any evidence that Paul Robeson recorded That Lucky Ol Sun which seems incredible. Can anyone help me on this. Email me @ rhog@me.com if you have any info please. I would love to hear Paul Robeson sing this song. Many thanks.

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    1. Pretty sure I have it on a 78. Will check and get back to you.

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    2. I am on a slow computer just now or I would try to look it up for you but as you see, Graham will let you know!

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