BING IN LYRICS
Bing Crosby has often been mentioned in the lyrics of songs and we have
attempted to consolidate these in a list using information sent to BING
magazine over the years and from the data listed by Al Sutton in his 1976 booklet
“Lyrical about Bing” which has been copied for us by Ken Crossland.
We are sure that there must be more out there and do please email Malcolm Macfarlane with any amendments or
corrections.
Ain’t We Got Fun. Bob Hope and Margaret Whiting. Recorded November 3, 1949 for Capitol Records (57-783).
(“the poor get Crosby”)
America
Calling Parts 1 & 2. Eddie Pola and Company. Al Bowlly as ‘Bang Horseby’ gives a
Crosby impersonation as he sings “Cuddle Up Close” and
“You’ll Never Understand”. Recorded July 25, 1933. Columbia DX-499
Anyways. Arctic
Monkeys. Released on 30 November 2018.
“Anyways” is the B-Side to the Tranquility Base Hotel
& Casino digital and vinyl single.
(“Putting the
world to rights with Bing Crosby eyes”)
Back in My
Childhood Days. Max Bygraves. Recorded in 1974, Pye Records 7N
45414
(“we all used to sing songs recorded by Bing”)
Because It’s Christmas Time. Buck Owens. A cheerful holiday song released in 1965 on Owens’ album Christmas with Buck Owens and His Buckaroos (Capitol ST-2396).
(“Now is the time for White Christmas with
Bing”)
The
Best Is Yet to Come.
Val Doonican. Recorded for Philips (6028 031) (1973)
(“Mr. Crosby had
the nation’s No.1 tune”)
Bing. Henri René and His Orchestra from the
album “Music for the Weaker Sex”. This is a 1958 easy listening album,
featuring whimsical orchestral tributes to male pop icons of the era. Each
track is named after a male celebrity heartthrob of
the 1950s, suggesting a musical portrait or homage. Issued on RCA Victor – LSP-1583.
Bing. A 1977 Australian single by Paul McKay, released on the Fable label (FB-3122) just after Bing’s death.
Bing Crosby - a 1939 calypso song written and performed by The Lion (Hubert Raphael Charles), one of Trinidad’s pioneering calypsonians. It’s a witty tribute and gentle satire of Bing, blending Caribbean rhythm with clever commentary. Van Dyke Parks covered the song on his 1972 album “Discover America”.
Boy
from New Orleans. Louis
Armstrong. Recorded January 29, 1971 at the National Press Club in Washington,
D.C. Issued on the album: Satchmo at the National Press Club: Red Beans and Rice-ly Yours in 1972.
(“In Hollywood, I
took my place with my friend Bing and Princess Grace”)
Broadway’s Gone Hill-Billy Sylvia Froos and Ensemble from the film Stand
Up and Cheer! (1934). A commercial recording features Ramona and The Park
Avenue Boys. This was recorded for Victor (24598-A) on March 27, 1934.
(“That’s
the reason Bing and Rudy get along by singing ‘get along little doggy, get
along’”)
But Definitely - performed by Shirley Temple and Alice Faye in the 1936 film Poor Little Rich Girl. Commercial recordings of the song do not include the following lyrics, which were sung by Shirley Temple in the film.
(“When you’re crooning the blue of the day and whistling the gold of the dawn, Bing! Bing!”)
Changing
My Ambitions.
Pinky Tomlin. From the film Paddy O’Day (1936). Commercial recording
Brunswick LA1087, December 29, 1935
(“…Just like that
guy that’s known as Bing…I wanted to be like Crosby and learn to boo-boo-boo”)
Chinese
Mule Train. Spike
Jones and His City Slickers (vocal by Freddy Morgan). Recorded for RCA Victor
(No. 20-3741) in 1950. A novelty parody spoofing Frankie Laine’s hit “Mule
Train.”
(“Alla simee go clippety
clop clop clop flo Bling Crosby”)
Crosby, Columbo and Vallee (as in title). Recorded by Dick Robertson on December 11, 1931 (Perfect 12772B). Also recorded by Victor Young and his Orchestra, with vocal chorus by Fran Frey (Brunswick 6239, December 16, 1931). This inspired a Merrie Melodies 1932 cartoon of the same name.
Dick
Haymes, Dick Todd and Como – Frank Sinatra. This was a humorous novelty number recorded
by Frank Sinatra parodying his fellow crooners for NBC’s For the Record in 1944 and later issued on V-disc. It was based on the melody of “Sunday, Monday or Always” and never
commercially released at the time.
“Dinah”
A Band that Money Can’t Buy. Jack Hylton and His Orchestra. A group of musical impressions to
the tune of “Dinah”. A short vocal of “Dinah” by Pat O’Malley imitating Bing is heard with a violin accompaniment. Recorded November 18,
1933 and issued on Decca F. 3764.
(“Bing Crosby and
Joe Venuti”)
Doin’
the Bing
- Bing Crosby, from ‘The Bing Crosby Show for Clairol’, (at 26 minutes) 24th December
1962.
Don’t Talk – Just Sing. Nancy Wilson. From her live album The Nancy Wilson Show! (Capitol
Records – KAO 2136), recorded at the Coconut Grove nightclub in
Los Angeles in July 1964.
(“There’s only one
singing talker, and that’s Bing! He’s still the loner - since you’re no
groaner, don’t talk”)
Eeny Meeny Miney Mo. Johnny Mercer and Evelyn Poe. From the RKO film To Beat
the Band (1935). Commercially recorded by Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra,
vocal by Billie Holliday, recorded for Brunswick on October 25, 1935
(No. 7554). Also recorded by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, vocal by Helen
Ward, for Victor on November 22, 1935 (No. 25195), and many others. Bing’s own
version on the Kraft Music Hall on January 2, 1936 replaced the Crosby words
with “Even Fred Astaire top-hats it!”
(“... even Mr Crosby bings
it!”)
Entrance of Eric.
From the Cole Porter show, Jubilee, a 1935 musical comedy by Cole Porter.
(“…we’ll be stuck in the muck Bing Crosby croons...”)
Even
a Crooner Must Eat
- Max Bacon, Parlophone (A 6904). (1937).
“you hear about Mr. Bing Crosby well one day he came down to my street, he came
to see me for some dinner and tea, ‘cos even a crooner must eat”
Four Mills Bros. The Lion (Rafael de Leon). This is a calypso song singing the praises of the Mills Brothers. The song was issued in 1936 on Decca 17269.
(“Bing
Crosby was interesting starring in the picture We Are Not Dressing”…
…for
voice control visit Bing Crosby)
From
the Top of Your Head. Bing Crosby. The song was from the film Two for Tonight (1935) in which Bing sings
“I’m Running Out of Syllables”. On the commercial recording for Decca (No.
39852), he inserts his own name. This was recorded for
Decca on August 14 1935. (“Bing’s fresh out of syllables”)
Give
Me the Land.
Dropped from the Cole Porter musical “Silk Stockings” (1955).
(“Give Me the Land
of Ezio and Bing”)
Gone
Fishin’. Louis Armstrong in duet with Bing. Originally from a Chesterfield show of April 25, 1951. Subsequently issued on Decca 27623.
(“Poppa Bing, I’ve
stopped by your place…
…Mr. Satch and Mr. Cros, we gone fishin’”)
Gotta Be This or That - Benny Goodman and His Orchestra.
Columbia CO-34646, April 27, 1945. A version by Sammy Kaye with vocals by Nancy
Norman and the Kaye Choir has the same lyrics. (Victor 20-1684, recorded 1945).
(“if it ain’t Bing, it’s
Frank”). When Bing sang the song on radio, he changed it to “if it ain’t Haymes, it’s Frank.”)
Happy
Blues - Stan Kenton / Benny Goodman (vocal duet)
with the Hollywood Hucksters. Capitol
Records –
CL.13067. (1947)
(“Some folks
mistake me for another guy named Bing”)
Heimwee Naar de Tergiter Jaren (Longing
for the thirties). Willem Nijholt.
Included on the LP Willem Nijholt (Philips 6413 069)
(1975) and also issued as the B-side of the single
Lu-Le-La (Philips 6012 531) (1975). Sung in Dutch.
(“Hanteer die ouwe cocktailshaker en draai dan een
Bing Crosby plaat” - “Handle that old cocktail shaker and then play a Bing Crosby record”)
Humphrey
Bogart Rhumba. Freddy Martin and His Orchestra, vocals by The Martin Men. RCA Victor –
20-3350 (1949).
(“Pat O’Brien, Lauren Bacall,
Crosby, or Myrna Loy”
I Love Everybody But You -
written and sung by Fred Astaire for his album “Attitude Dancing” (1975)
(“I Love Crosby, Bing”)
I’m
Crosby, the Well-Dressed Man - Bing parodies
Durante’s “I’m Jimmy That Well-Dressed Man”, one of Durante’s hits of the time
on the Philco show of December 4, 1946 when Durante was a guest.
I’m
Taking the Steps to Russia. Introduced by Sophie Tucker in the Cole Porter musical “Leave It to Me!”
(1938)
(“I’ll give ‘em Bob Crosby and Bing”)
I
Think I Can. Jack Buchanan. Song from the film, “Brewster’s Millions” (1935). Commercial release recorded 18 December 1934
and issued on Columbia DB1483 in 1935.
(“and make them call me Bing”)
If
Bing Would Only Sing to Me – George Trevare and His
Orchestra, vocal by Nola Lester. Parlophone A7792
(Australian). A 1945 song composed by
Eric Aitken, with lyrics by Eric Aitken, Bevan, and John Wheeler. Aitken also
wrote “It Is Crosby - Who Else Could It Be?”
(many mentions of Bing apart from title)
If I
Could Sing Like Bing.
Dean Martin. Recorded May 4, 1953. Capitol 2555.
If
You Catch a Little Cold (I'll Sneeze for You). Jimmy Durante and
Ethel Merman. Recorded for Decca (No. 27865) on October 26, 1951.
(“If I want to
stay home to hear Bing”)
If
You Feel Like Singing, Sing. Judy Garland. From the film “Summer Stock”
(1950).
(“everyone can’t be a Bing, tell your friends to go
places if they start making faces”)
Inka
Dinka Doo. Jimmy Durante performed “Inka Dinka Doo” in the 1944 MGM musical Two Girls and a
Sailor. The song was also recorded by him for Decca (No. 23351) on July 26, 1944.
(“that note was given to me by Bing Crosby, and was he glad to
get rid of it”)
In Durante’s original 1934 version, he whistles and then sings “there’s a little bit of Bing Crosby in me”.
Isn't This Better Than Walking In The Rain? Buddy Clark. V-disc 844B version from May 1949 when the singer fluffs a note and ad-libs the rest of the song.
(“they tell that even Bingie boy can louse them up”)
Is That Good? Jack Haley and Charlotte Greenwood. From the 20th Century-Fox film “Moon over Miami” (1941). Commercial recording made by Joan Merrill for Bluebird (No. 11220) in 1941.
(“Don’t Know Kate from Bing”)
It Is Crosby -
Who Else Could It Be? - Pam Harrigan. A 1944 tribute song to Bing, composed by June
Stevens and Eric Aitken with lyrics by Bob and Vic Rees. It was published in Melbourne, Australia by V.B.
Harmony Hits and designated as the official theme song of the Australian
Bing Crosby Club.
(As in title)
It’s Gonna Be You. Leah Ray with Phil Harris and His
Orchestra. From a syndicated radio series, “Hollywood
Spotlight” recorded in 1935.
(“I could have had
Crosby”… And I didn’t want Crosby”)
It’s Us
Again
- special material written for and recorded by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme for their album “It’s
Us Again” (1964)
(“It’s not Frank
or Bing or Perry”)
I’ve Got
the World on a String - Louis Prima for his 1957 Capitol album “The Call Of The Wildest”
(“Now if I could only sing like Bing”)
Jubilee. Louis Armstrong
and His Orchestra. Recorded for Decca (No. DLA1133) on January 12, 1938.
(“Watch the blues go Bing”)
Jumpin’ at the Record Shop. Slim Gaillard Quartette. Recorded for Atomic Records (No. A216) in 1945.
(“Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, they’re the voices”)
Love Is on the
Air Tonight - Dick Powell. Recorded for Decca (DLA
863) on August 30, 1937. The song is from “Varsity Show”, a 1937 Warner Bros. musical comedy film starring Dick
Powell, Priscilla Lane, and Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians.
The King Sisters also recorded the song with Horace Heidt
and His Brigadiers on July 28, 1937 for Brunswick (No. 21442).
(“You may sound like Bing to her but suppose she likes Rudy Vallee”)
Mr.
Gallagher & Mr Shean (Mr. Crosby &
Mr. Mercer). Bing and Johnny Mercer recorded a lively revival of the vaudeville
classic “Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Shean” on July 1st.
1938, rebranded as “Mr. Crosby and Mr. Mercer.” It featured updated lyrics by
Mercer.
My
Baby Just Cares for Me. Nat King Cole with Woody Herman. Recorded November 7, 1949, Capitol 787
(“My baby’s no Crosby fan, Dick Tracy is not her man”)
My Baby Just Cares for Me. Pat Boone from
his album “Yes Indeed!” Dot Records DLP 3121 (1958)
(“My baby don’t
care for Bing. She doesn’t know who can sing.”)
My Kid’s a Crooner. Ambrose and His Orchestra with vocal by Elsie Carlisle. Recorded January 3, 1935. Decca F. 5393.
(“I think I’ll
write Bing Crosby,
Ask him what to do
To stop my kid
from crooning
Boo boo boo boo”)
My Sister’s a Little Bit Crazy. The Nilsson
Twins. From a 1947 edition of Universal’s “Name Band” shorts (production number
2312) titled “Tony Pastor and His Orchestra” featuring Tony Pastor and others.
(“Just give me
Bing”)
My Winter Rose. Maud Hixson on her 2025 album "When Winter Comes".
(“tales of Nelson and Frank, and of course her pal Bing,
poking fun at White Christmas or her film with Bob Hope”)
Of
Bing We Sing
- Bob Hope, from “Bing - A 50th Anniversary Gala 1977”. The special opened with a video sequence of Hope
outside the Ambassador Auditorium singing “Of Bing We Sing” while greeting his
co-stars as they entered the building.
Ol’
Man River
- Frank Sinatra. During Sinatra’s tour of Britain in 1953, he sang a version of
Ol’ Man River, which included “Ol’
man Crosby, he keeps on singing along.” He had first sung a similar version at
the Hollywood Bowl in the Second Annual Music for the Wounded Concert on August
26, 1946.
Only
Forever.
Al Bowlly / Jimmy Messini
(also known as Jimmy Mesene) version HMV BD-892 and
HMV IM-800 (1940)
(“...direct from Crosby we bring it to you”)
Opus One. Anita O’Day with Gene Krupa.
Originally conceived as a swing instrumental, “Opus No. 1” had lyrics
added in 1944. Anita O’Day recorded it as “Opus No.
1” with Gene Krupa and His Orchestra on August 21, 1945 for Columbia (No.
37224). The Mills Brothers recorded the song as “Opus One” for Decca (No.
86804) on September 17,
1954.
(“and maybe ol’ Bing will give it a
fling”)
Please. Stoopnagle
and Budd. The comedians were featured in a Screen Songs cartoon
for Max Fleischer, Stoopnocracy (released August 18, 1933),
in which they appear in a live-action segment. Stoopnagle
displays more inventions, including a cigar that makes the user sound
like Bing Crosby. Budd tries it and, imitating Crosby, leads the
audience in a sing-along of “Please”. The audio content of this was captured in
the album “Betty Boop’s Scandals of 1974”
issued by Mark56 Records in 1974.
(Stoopnagle: Well, there’s the
Crosby cigar.
Budd:
Crosby cigar?
Stoopnagle: Well, when you
smoke the cigar, it makes your voice sound like Bing Crosby.)
Protection. Bob Hope and
Rosemary Clooney. Recorded in 1959 for RCA
Victor (47-7517).
(“I just wanna do what Bing does”)
Rum
and Coca Cola.
The Andrews Sisters. Decca 18636, recorded 18 Oct 1944,
topped the Billboard charts in 1945.
(“and the natives swoon when she hear der Bingle
croon”)
Santa Claus and Popcorn. Merle Haggard, originally released in 1973 on his Capitol album Merle Haggard’s Christmas Present.
(“Carollers
singing Silent Night, Crosby dreams a Christmas white”)
She’s My Baby – Tennessee Ernie Ford. From his
1957 album ‘Ol' Rockin' Ern’.
(“She's as sweet and as swoony as Crosby is croony,
I’d like you to know she’s my baby.”)
Sing
Bing Sing
- Louis Prima’s 1936 song (renamed “Sing, Sing, Sing
(with a swing)” at Bing’s request)
So Long, Bing. J. J. Barrie. A 1977 tribute single by
the Canadian singer, released shortly after Bing Crosby’s death. Janus Records
J-273
The Song’s Gotta Come from the Heart –
Jimmy Durante and Frank Sinatra, from It Happened in Brooklyn
(1947) a charming MGM musical romantic comedy starring Frank Sinatra, Kathryn
Grayson, Peter Lawford, and Jimmy Durante.
(“why you can sing as good as Bing”)
Sweet
Sixteen. Judy Garland. Recorded
in Los Angeles on July 28th 1939.
“I decided to join
the monastery and would have too if it hadn’t been for Bing Crosby”)
Swell
People. Dolly Dawn and Her Dawn Patrol, vocals by Dolly
Dawn and Spooky Dickinson. Recorded April 12, 1937 for the Variety label (No.
VA 544).
(“And the voice of
Bing!”)
Swing Is Back in Style. Michael Feinstein from his
Concord album “Big City Rhythms” (1999)
(“It’s time to bring back Basie
and Bing”)
Strictly U.S.A. (Reprise) Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra,
Esther Williams and Betty Garrett. The finale
from the 1949 MGM musical “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”.
Later issued on the LP ‘Curtain Calls – 100/18’ in 1973.
(“Take Mr. Crosby or Fred Astaire”)
These
Foolish Things (Remind Me of You). Joe Sanders and His
Orchestra. Recorded for Decca (No. 843A) on June 20, 1936. Also recorded by
Frank Sinatra for Columbia on July 30, 1945 (No. 36919).
(“the song that
Crosby sings”)
These
Foolish Things (Ces Petites Choses). Jean Sablon. Recorded in French for Columbia (No. DF 1977) on
June 19, 1936.
(“...ce doux refrain d’amour que
Crosby chante...’
(‘...the tender love song sung by Crosby...’) followed by a few
‘boo-boo-boos”)
'Tis
Autumn
- Dick Todd. From his radio show of November 26, 1941.
(“…boo-boo-boo,
oh, excuse me, that’s Crosby!”).
When
My Ship Comes In
- sung by Eddie Cantor in the film “Kid Millions” in 1934. Commercial
recordings include:
1.
Eddie
Cantor. Recorded for the Conqueror label ( LA206) on October 1, 1934
2.
Anson
Weeks and His California Orchestra (vocal by Ben Gage). Brunswick 6990,
recorded October 1, 1934.
3.
Rudy Vallée and His Connecticut
Yankees. Recorded September
7, 1934. (Victor 84239)
4.
Kate
Smith and Her Trio. For Decca (38939) on November 1, 1934.
5.
The
Dorsey Brothers (vocal by Bob Crosby who sings, “I’ll have my brother…”). Decca
38756, September 28, 1934.
(“I’ll have Bing
Crosby singing boo-boo-boo-boo-boo-boo”).
When
Ol’ Bing Crosby Said Goodbye. A 1977 tribute
song by Red River Dave (Dave McEnery), released on the Houston Country label.
When
the Guardsman Started Crooning on Parade. Henry
Hall
and The BBC Dance Orchestra (vocal by George Elrick) Columbia, FB 1222 (1935).
(several references to Private Crosby)
(“Attention
Private Crosby, don’t you know you’re on parade?”)
Also recorded by:
1.
Jay
Wilbur’s Band (under a pseudonym of Ben Hammond & His Orchestra), vocal by
Gerry Fitzgerald. Recorded 12th December 1935, Crown 103-A.
2.
Bobbie
Comber. Rex 8679-B (1935)
3.
Lew
Stone and His Band, Decca X1039 (1935)
(“The general lost his busby
He said,
”It’s Private
Crosby”
When the guardsman
started crooning on parade”)
Where
Did the Magic Go?
- Tony Bennett, From his album “Astoria: Portrait of
the Artist” (1989).
(“the memories of songs by Bing”)
Will
You Still Be Mine?
Sammy Davis Jr. on his album “Sammy Swings” Decca – DL8486 (1957)
(“when Merry Christmas has no Bing, will you still be mine”)
Winter
Dreams (Brandon’s Song). Kelly Clarkson.
From her 2013 album. “Wrapped in Red”.
(“Bing Crosby on
the Stereo”)
You
Ought to Be in Pictures (parody) - Al Bowlly (1934
- Dec F-3956 - accompanied by Monia Liter, on piano.
(“you should surely sing like Bing in a way that is
nonchalant”)
You’re the
Top.
Louis Armstrong. For his album “I’ve Got the World on a String” Verve MGVS-6101
(1957).
(“You’re Crosby’s
salary”)
The same phrase is heard in the Dinah Shore and Buddy Clark duet of “You’re the Top” recorded on November 26, 1947—but never commercially released.
Also, when Frank Sinatra and Ethel Merman starred together in a 1954 live
television broadcast of Anything Goes on The Colgate Comedy Hour
aired
on February 28, 1954, Ethel Merman sang, “You’re Crosby’s salary”)