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April Showers (song)

{{Short description|1921 popular song introduced by Al Jolson}}

{{Other uses|April showers (disambiguation){{!}}April showers}}

{{Infobox song

| name = April Showers

| cover = April_Showers.pdf

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| written = 1921

| published = Harms, Inc.

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| composer = Louis Silvers

| lyricist = Buddy DeSylva

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| misc = {{Audio sample

| type = song

| file = File:April Showers (1922 recording).mp3

| description =Recording of April Showers, performed by Charles Harrison (1922)

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"April Showers" is a 1921 popular song composed by Louis Silvers with lyrics by B. G. De Sylva.

History

The song was introduced in the 1921 Broadway musical Bombo, where it was performed by Al Jolson. It became a well-known Jolson standard: the first of his several recordings of the song was on Columbia Records in October 1921. It has also been recorded by many other artists.

Spike Jones and Doodles Weaver produced a parody that began with the lyrics: "When April showers, she never closes the curtain..."

The British comedians Morecambe and Wise performed a skit featuring the song, which involved a light sprinkling of water drizzling on straight man Ernie Wise whenever he sang it, but a bucket of water being thrown over Eric Morecambe whenever he did the same.

Film appearances

  • 1926 A Plantation Act sung by Al Jolson
  • 1936 The Singing Kid sung by Al Jolson
  • 1939 Rose of Washington Square sung by Al Jolson[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDxms95faks&index=15&list=PLBohJ-Mq5mXziu3MJZ-E_WDxC7OrBCGvc "April Showers"] sung by Al Jolson (audio file only) from Rose of Washington Square, on YouTube
  • 1946 The Jolson Story sung by Al Jolson{{cite web|author=Gilliland, John. |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1633216/m1/#track/3 |title=Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #18 - All Tracks UNT Digital Library |publisher=Digital.library.unt.edu |date=197X |accessdate=2021-01-26}}
  • 1946 Margie sung by Jeanne Crain (dubbed by Louanne Hogan) and chorus
  • 1948 April Showers{{cite web|title=Internet Movie Database|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040107/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd|website=imdb.com|access-date=June 12, 2017}}
  • 1949 Always Leave Them Laughing played at the Canal Street Boys Club and sung by Milton Berle.{{cite web|title=Internet Movie Database|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041115/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd|website=imdb.com|access-date=June 12, 2017}}
  • 1949 Jolson Sings Again sung by Al Jolson
  • 1956 The Eddy Duchin Story
  • 1962 Wet Hare sung by Mel Blanc as Bugs Bunny imitating Jolson

Recorded versions

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Lyrics

Below are the lyrics of the 1921 version, which is out of copyright.

Verse 1

:Life is not a highway strewn with flowers,

:Still it holds a goodly share of bliss,

:When the sun gives way to April showers,

:Here is the point you should never miss.

Verse 2

:Though April showers may come your way,

:They bring the flowers that bloom in May,

:So if it's raining have no regrets,

:Because it isn't raining rain you know, it's raining violets.

Chorus

:And where you see clouds upon the hills,

:You soon will see crowds of daffodils,

:So keep on looking for a bluebird,

:And list'ning for his song,

:Whenever April showers come along.

References

{{Reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite book |title=Catalogue of Copyright Entries|url={{GBurl |hUccAQAAIAAJ |p=1074-IA5}} |series="Part 3: Musical Compositions." "New Series" |via=Google Books {{free access}}}}

{{hanging indent |text="April Showers," B.G. DeSylva (words), Silvers (music).}}

  1. {{hanging indent |text={{cite book |ref={{SfnRef|Copyrights, July 15,|1921|p=1078}} |title=Vol. 16. Part 2. September 1921. No. 9 |url={{GBurl |hUccAQAAIAAJ |p=1078 |dq="april showers"+"silvers" }} |series=©15 July 1921; {{nowrap|E 515575}} (Class E; musical composition); Harms, Inc. |page=1078}} }}

}}

External links

  • [http://www.jbott.com/aprils.html Melody with chords & lyrics]
  • [http://www.lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/a/aprilshowers.shtml Song lyric]

{{Al Jolson}}

{{Judy Garland songs}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Songs about weather

Category:1921 songs

Category:Songs from musicals

Category:Songs with lyrics by Buddy DeSylva

Category:Al Jolson songs

Category:Judy Garland songs

Category:Guy Lombardo songs

Category:Songs with music by Louis Silvers