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I'm Always Chasing Rainbows

{{short description|Vaudeville song composed by Harry Carroll}}

{{Infobox song

| name = I'm Always Chasing Rainbows

| cover = I'm Always Chasing Rainbows 1918.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Sheet music (1918)

| type =

| artist = the Dolly Sisters

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| EP =

| written =

| published = 1917

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| writer =

| composer = Harry Carroll

| lyricist = Joseph McCarthy

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| misc = {{Audio sample

| type = song

| file = Harry Fox with Arthur Fields And Peerless Quartette – I'm Always Chasing Rainbows (1918 sound recording).mp3

| description =Recording of I'm Always Chasing Rainbows, performed by Harry Fox (1918)}}

}}

"I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" is a popular Vaudeville song. The music is credited to Harry Carroll, but the melody is adapted from Fantaisie-Impromptu by Frédéric Chopin. The lyrics were written by Joseph McCarthy, and the song was published in 1917. It was introduced in the Broadway show Oh, Look! which opened in March 1918.{{cite book|

title= Popular Songs of the 20th Century: Chart Detail & Encyclopedia, 1900-1949|

last = Gardner|

first = Edward Foote|

publisher= Paragon House|

location= St. Paul, Minnesota|

year= 2000|

isbn= 1-55778-789-1

}} The song was sung in the show by the Dolly Sisters. Judy Garland sang it in the 1941 film Ziegfeld Girl. It was subsequently sung by Jack Oakie in the 1944 film The Merry Monahans and was again featured in the 1945 film The Dolly Sisters (1945), where it was sung by John Payne. It was also included for part of the run (and in the cast album) of the 1973 revival of Irene. More recently, it was included in Hazbin Hotel Pilot

Additionally, the pre-chorus would not have been included until later covers in the 1940s, where the song would gain its iconic libretti.

Lyrics

{{poemquote|At the end of the rainbow there's happiness

And to find it how often I've tried

But my life is a race just a wild goose chase

And my dreams have all been denied

Why have I always been a failure?

What can the reason be?

I wonder if the world's to blame

I wonder if it could be me?

Chorus

I'm always chasing rainbows

Watching clouds drifting by

My schemes are just like all my dreams

Ending in the sky

Some fellows look and find the sunshine

I always look and find the rain

Some fellows make a winning some time

I never even make a gain, believe me

I'm always chasing rainbows

Waiting to find a little bluebird in vain

I've looked to the west as the sun goes down

And I've followed its glorious rays

But the faster I'd run I would miss the sun

My life's full of wasted days

I've always been a natural loser

Each thing I touch must fail

If good luck ever came to me it would never seem right at all

ChorusLyrics from the original 1918 sheet music published by McCarthy and Fisher Inc., New York}}

Recorded versions

=Hit versions in 1918=

The biggest hit version in 1918 was recorded by Charles W. Harrison on July 26, 1918, and released by Victor Records as catalog number 18496A,{{cite book|

title= Joel Whitburn Presents a Century of Pop Music|

last = Whitburn|

first = Joel|

author-link = Joel Whitburn|

publisher= Record Research|

location= Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin|

year= 1999|

isbn= 0-89820-135-7

}}{{cite web| title=Victor matrix B-22181. I'm always chasing rainbows / Charles Harrison |url= https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/700007305/B-22181-Im_always_chasing_rainbows |website=Discography Of American Historical Recordings| access-date=October 9, 2024}} with the flip side “I Miss That Mississippi Miss That Misses Me”{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/vic18000.html|title=VICTOR 78rpm numerical listing discography: 18000 - 18500|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}})

There were also very popular versions recorded by Harry Fox and by Prince's Orchestra (Columbia catalog number A-6064) in the same year.

Harry Fox's version was recorded April 16, 1918, and released by Columbia Records as catalog number A-2557, with the flip side “I Wonder What They're Doing Tonight”{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/COLA2500.htm|title=Columbia A Series 78rpm numerical listing discography: A2500 - A3000|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}})

The Prince's Orchestra (referred to as Prince's Band on {{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/COLA6000.htm|title=Columbia A Series numerical listing discography: A6000 - A6300|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}}) version was recorded July, 1918, and released by Columbia Records as catalog number A-6064, with the flip side “Oh, Frenchy”)

=Hit versions in 1946=

The biggest hit versions in the 1946 revival were by Perry Como, by Helen Forrest and Dick Haymes, and by Harry James's Orchestra with a vocal by Buddy DeVito. There was also a recording by Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians, with a vocal by Erno Rapee, which had a degree of popularity that year.

Perry Como's recording was made October 17, 1945,{{cite web|url=http://www.kokomo.ca/early_years/im_always_chasing_rainbows.htm|title=I'm Always Chasing Rainbows|website=www.kokomo.ca|access-date=7 April 2018}} and released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-1788, with the flip side “You Won't Be Satisfied”.{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/RCA201500.htm|title=RCA Victor 78rpm numerical listing discography: 20-1500 - 20-2000|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}} It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on January 24, 1946, and lasted 4 weeks on the chart, peaking at #7;

{{cite book

| last = Whitburn

| first = Joel

| author-link = Joel Whitburn

| title = Top Pop Records 1940-1955

| publisher = Record Research

| location = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

| year = 1973 }}

it was re-released by RCA Victor as catalog number 20-2663, with the flip side “If We Can't Be the Same Old Sweethearts”{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/RCA202500.htm|title=RCA Victor 20-prefix 78rpm numerical listing discography: 2500 - 3000|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}}

The recording by Helen Forrest and Dick Haymes was made on November 1, 1945, and released by Decca Records as catalog number 23472, with the flip side “Tomorrow Is Forever”.{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/Dec23000.htm|title=DECCA (USA) 78rpm numerical listing discographyL 23000 - 23500|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}} It reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on January 31, 1946, at #10, its only week on the chart.

The recording by Harry James and his orchestra was made on November 7, 1945, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36899, with the flip side “Baby What You Do to Me”{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/COL36500.htm|title=COLUMBIA 78rpm numerical listing discography: 36500 - 37000|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}} and as catalog number 38434, with the flip side “I'm Beginning to See the Light”{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/COL38000.htm|title=COLUMBIA 78rpm numerical listing discography: 38000 - 38500|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116234015/http://78discography.com/COL38000.htm|archive-date=16 January 2016|url-status=dead}}

The recording by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians was released by Decca Records as catalog number 3586, with the flip side “Tea for Two”{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/Dec3500.htm|title=DECCA (USA) numerical listing discography: 3500 - 3599|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}} and as catalog number 18789A, with the flip side “Make Believe”{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/Dec18500.htm|title=DECCA (USA) 78rpm numerical listing discography: 18500 - 19000|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}})

=Other recorded versions=

on YouTube

  • Ferrante & Teicher
  • The Four Freshmen – Voices In Love (1958), Road Show (1960) Road Show is a concert album with the singers backed by Stan Kenton and his band.
  • Judy Garland and the David Rose orchestra (released by Decca Records as catalog number 3593B, with the flip side “Our Love Affair”); Garland also performed the song in the film Ziegfeld Girl (1941)[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TzgjCmmdxc Judy Garland] singing "I'm Aways Chasing Rainbows" in Ziegfeld Girl (1941) on YouTube
  • Jackie Gleason
  • Al Goodman and his orchestra (released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36216, with the flip side “The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise”{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/COL36000.htm|title=COLUMBIA (USA) 78rpm numerical listing discography: 36000 - 36500|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}})
  • Benny Goodman and his orchestra (recorded December 20, 1940, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 35916, with the flip side “Somebody Stole My Gal”{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/COL35500.htm|title=COLUMBIA 78rpm numerical listing discography 35500 to 36000|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}})
  • Betty Grable
  • Ken Griffin (recorded September 1954, released by Columbia Records as catalog number 40569, with the flip side “Ain't She Sweet”{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/COL40500.htm|title=COLUMBIA Records (USA) 78rpm numerical listing discography: 40500 - 41000|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}})
  • Walter Gross (recorded June 6, 1940, released by Bluebird Records as catalog number 10795, with the flip side “A Slight Case of Ivory”)
  • Ted Heath
  • Gordon Jenkins (released by Capitol Records as catalog number 106, with the flip side “He Wears a Pair of Silver Wings”,{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/Capitol100.htm|title=Capitol 100 - 499, 78rpm numerical listing discography|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}} and as catalog numbers 1263{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/Capitol1000.htm|title=Capitol 1000 - 1500, 78rpm numerical listing discography|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}} and 15202,{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/Capitol15000.htm|title=Capitol 15000 series numerical listing discography|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}} both with the flip side “White Christmas”)
  • Sumi Jo, for HBO's 2011 miniseries Mildred Pierce.
  • Al Jolson{{cite web|author=Gilliland, John. |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1633216/m1/#track/4 |title=Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #18 - All Tracks UNT Digital Library |publisher=Digital.library.unt.edu |date=197X |access-date=2021-01-26}}
  • Hal Kemp's Carolina Club Orchestra (recorded May 24, 1929, released by OKeh Records as catalog number 41409, with the flip side “Allah's Holiday”{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/OK41000.html|title=OKEH 78rpm numerical listing discography: 41000 - 41499|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}})
  • Andre Kostelanetz
  • Liberace
  • Hamish Linklater in the 2014 film Magic in the Moonlight
  • Elsie Lovelock, in the opening of the Hazbin Hotel pilot.
  • Tony Martin
  • Buddy Morrow (recorded January 1946, released by Mercury Records as catalog number 2057, with the flip side “Jalousie”{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/Merc020.htm|title=MERCURY 2000-series 78rpm numerical listing discography|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}})
  • Harry Nilsson
  • Jane Olivor on her 1977 album Chasing Rainbows (Columbia Records)
  • Mandy Patinkin
  • Johnnie Ray
  • Della Reese
  • Debbie Reynolds
  • Buddy Rich – Rags To Riches (1994)
  • Voices of Walter Schumann (released by Capitol Records in the United States as catalog number 1752, with the flip side “Far Above Cayuga's Waters”{{cite web|url=http://www.78discography.com/Capitol1500.htm|title=Capitol 1500 - 2000, 78rpm numerical listing discography|website=www.78discography.com|access-date=7 April 2018}} and in the United Kingdom in 1951 as catalog number CL 13638, with the flip side “Moonglow”{{cite web|url=http://www.globaldogproductions.info/c/capitol-uk-13000.html|title=78 Discography for Capitol Records - UK - CL 13000 series|first=Global Dog|last=Productions|website=www.globaldogproductions.info|access-date=7 April 2018}})
  • Frank Sinatra - The Radio Years 1939-1955, Disc 3
  • Jo Stafford - Broadway Revisited (2007)
  • Barbra Streisand in the 1967 television special, The Belle of 14th Street. Released on her 1991 compilation Just for the Record.{{cite web|url=http://barbra-archives.com/record/albums/just_for_record_streisand.html|title=Barbra Streisand Archives - Just for the Record (box set 1991)|website=barbra-archives.com|access-date=7 April 2018|archive-date=12 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312194021/http://barbra-archives.com/record/albums/just_for_record_streisand.html|url-status=dead}}
  • Take 6 from the soundtrack of the film Glengarry Glen Ross, 1992 Grammy nominee for Best Jazz Vocal Performance
  • Jackie Walker (released 1962 by Everest Records as catalog number 20010, with the flip side "Dearly Beloved"{{cite web|url=http://www.globaldogproductions.info/e/everest.html|title=45 discography for Everest Records|first=Global Dog|last=Productions|website=www.globaldogproductions.info|access-date=7 April 2018}})
  • Barry Wood with Mitchell Miller Orchestra (released by Cosmo Records as catalog number 469, with the flip side “Symphony”[http://www.78discography.com/Cosmo.htm Cosmo Records listings])
  • Peter Yorke

References

{{wikisource}}

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Harry James}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Songs with music by Harry Carroll

Category:Songs with lyrics by Joseph McCarthy (lyricist)

Category:1918 songs

Category:Vaudeville songs

Category:Alice Cooper songs

Category:Songs from musicals

Category:Barbra Streisand songs

Category:Okeh Records singles

Category:Bluebird Records singles

Category:Songs banned by the BBC

Category:Popular songs based on classical music