Tag Archives: Carpenters

♫ The End Of The World ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

Being in somewhat of a dark place at the moment (I knew I should have paid that darned electricity bill!!!) this song fit my mood to a ‘T’ tonight.  No, I haven’t lost anyone’s love, at least not as far as I know, but nonetheless I’m feeling a sense of loss … loss of hope, loss of country, loss of humanity … and so, I am reduxing this one from back in September 2019.

Originally recorded by Skeeter Davis in 1963, this is one of those songs that everybody and their brother has recorded, including including the Carpenters, Herman’s Hermits, Brenda Lee, Bobby Vinton, John Cougar Mellencamp, Johnny Mathis, Julie London and Eddy Arnold. Also British pop singer Sonia recorded a version in 1990, which peaked at #18 in the UK, the same position as Skeeter Davis’ original.

The End of the World is a sad song about the aftermath of a romantic breakup.  The End of the World was written by composer Arthur Kent and lyricist Sylvia Dee; the latter drawing on sorrow from her father’s death, writing the lyrics when she was 14 years old. Davis’ original version was produced by Chet Atkins and the song was played at the legendary country producer’s funeral in 2001.

My own preference is the Carpenter’s version, but I would be remiss if I didn’t play Skeeter Davis’ version, and come to think of it, Herman’s Hermits did a pretty decent rendition, too,  so here … I offer you all three.

The End Of The World
Skeeter Davis

Why does the sun go on shining?
Why does the sea rush to shore?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
‘Cause you don’t love me anymore

Why do the birds go on singing?
Why do the stars glow above?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
It ended when I lost your love

I wake up in the morning and I wonder
Why everything’s the same as it was
I can’t understand, no, I can’t understand
How life goes on the way it does

Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
It ended when you said goodbye

Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
It ended when you said goodbye

Songwriters: Peter Mcnulty-Connolly / Marcus Mybe / Louie St. Louis / Kurtis Deshaun Williams / Michael Angelo
The End Of The World lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

♫ Jambalaya ♫

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I’m playing tonight’s song, Jambalaya by the Carpenters, for one person … ME!  This is one of those songs that no matter how dark your mood, it will get your toes tapping!  I’ve been in a dark place of late, partly for personal reasons and partly due to the state of our nation, and I needed to smile tonight.  This song makes me smile, so bear with me, please.

Hank Williams wrote this song and originally recorded it in 1952. Williams adopts a cajun drawl and sings from the perspective of a guy headed to the bayou for some fun. There will be drinking, good company, and food. Lots of food. Jambalaya, crawfish pie and fillet gumbo.

Richard Carpenter loved the song and recorded the instrumental track in 1972 with various session players. The next year, under pressure to complete the Now & Then album, he had Karen Carpenter add vocal to the track because they didn’t have time to write another original song. Karen made no effort to sound Louisianan, singing it with her trademark perfect diction.

Admittedly, I had never heard the Hank Williams version until tonight, and the Carpenters’ will always remain my favourite … especially after listening to Hank Williams!  I am not a fan of country music, that Williams’ twang just turned me completely off.  If you’re interested, you can go find the Hank Williams’ version yourself!

Interestingly, though the Carpenters didn’t release this as a single in the U.S., their version did go on to become a huge hit in Japan, the UK, Mexico, Holland, Germany and many other countries around the world.

Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
Carpenters

A good-bye Joe, you gotta go, me oh my oh
He gotta go-pole the pirogue down the bayou
His Yvonne the sweetest one, me oh my oh
Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou

Thibodaux, Fontaineaux, the place is buzzin’
A kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen
Dressed in style they go hog wild, me oh my oh
Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou

Jambalaya and crawfish pie and filé gumbo
For tonight, I’ma gonna see my ma cher a mio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou

Settle down far from town, get him a pirogue
And he’ll catch all the fish in the bayou
Swap his mon to buy Yvonne what she need-o
Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou

Jambalaya and crawfish pie, filé gumbo
For tonight, I’ma gonna see my ma cher a mio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou

Jambalaya and crawfish pie, filé gumbo
For tonight, I’ma gonna see my ma cher a mio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou

Jambalaya and crawfish pie, filé gumbo
For tonight, I’ma gonna see my ma cher a mio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou

Jambalaya and crawfish pie, filé gumbo
For tonight, I’ma gonna see my ma cher a mio
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o
Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Hank Williams / Sr.
Jambalaya (On the Bayou) lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

♫ The End Of The World ♫

Posted on by under music

Originally recorded by Skeeter Davis in 1963, this is one of those songs that everybody and their brother has recorded, including including the Carpenters, Herman’s Hermits, Brenda Lee, Bobby Vinton, John Cougar Mellencamp, Johnny Mathis, Julie London and Eddy Arnold. Also British pop singer Sonia recorded a version in 1990, which peaked at #18 in the UK, the same position as Skeeter Davis’ original.

The End of the World is a sad song about the aftermath of a romantic breakup.  The End of the World was written by composer Arthur Kent and lyricist Sylvia Dee; the latter drawing on sorrow from her father’s death, writing the lyrics when she was 14 years old. Davis’ original version was produced by Chet Atkins and the song was played at the legendary country producer’s funeral in 2001.

My own preference is the Carpenter’s version, but I would be remiss if I didn’t play Skeeter Davis’ version, and come to think of it, Herman’s Hermits did a pretty decent rendition, too,  so here … I offer you all three.

 

The End Of The World
Skeeter Davis

Why does the sun go on shining?
Why does the sea rush to shore?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
‘Cause you don’t love me anymore

Why do the birds go on singing?
Why do the stars glow above?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
It ended when I lost your love

I wake up in the morning and I wonder
Why everything’s the same as it was
I can’t understand, no, I can’t understand
How life goes on the way it does

Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
It ended when you said goodbye

Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world?
It ended when you said goodbye

Songwriters: Peter Mcnulty-Connolly / Marcus Mybe / Louie St. Louis / Kurtis Deshaun Williams / Michael Angelo
The End Of The World lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group