Waiting for the Robert E. Lee

{{Infobox song

| name = Waiting for the Robert E. Lee

| cover = Waiting for the Robert E. Lee - DPLA - b317d3fc6b5f5d17279ee33fabdc370b (page 1).jpg

| alt =

| type =

| written =

| published = 1912

| writer = Lewis F. Muir
L. Wolfe Gilbert

| composer =

| lyricist =

}}

"Waiting for the Robert E. Lee" is an American popular song written in 1912, with music by Lewis F. Muir and lyrics by L. Wolfe Gilbert. The "Robert E. Lee" in the title refers to the steamboat of that name.{{cite book|page=94|title=Reinventing Dixie: Tin Pan Alley's Songs and the Creation of the Mythic South|first=John Bush|last=Jones|publisher=LSU Press|year=2015|ISBN=9780807159453}}

Popular versions in 1912 were by the Heidelberg Quintet, Arthur Collins & Byron Harlan, and by Dolly Connolly.{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954 |date=1986 |publisher=Record Research Inc. |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |isbn=0-89820-083-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/603 603] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit/page/603 }}

It has since been recorded by such artists as Al Jolson, Benny Goodman, Wayne Newton, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Louis Jordan, Dean Martin, Russ Conway, Chas and Dave, and Lizzie Miles.{{cite web|website=SecondHandSongs|url=https://secondhandsongs.com/work/122137/versions#nav-entity|title=Waiting for the Robert E. Lee|accessdate=July 5, 2023}} It was performed by Judy Garland and, in blackface, Mickey Rooney in the 1941 MGM musical film Babes on Broadway.{{cite book|page=145|first=Todd|last=Decker|title=Who Should Sing 'Ol' Man River'?: The Lives of an American Song|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2014|ISBN=9780199389193}}

in Alec Wilder's 1972 study, American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900–1950, the songwriter and critic discusses "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee" as an early example of the evolution of American popular song and development of the Great American Songbook. Wilder asserts that with this song, "Muir caught the spirit of the new rhythms that had burst out with ragtime...This is a good song in any decade and remarkable for its time, certainly as much so as "Alexander's Ragtime Band."{{Cite book|title=American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950|last=Wilder|first=Alec|publisher=Oxford|year=1990|isbn=0-19-501445-6|location=New York|pages=[https://archive.org/details/americanpopulars00alec/page/16 16]|orig-year=1972|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/americanpopulars00alec/page/16}}

The tune has been used with other words, such as the French song "J'Ai Envie De Chanter" (not a translation), with a new lyric by Eddy Marnay, first performed by Mireille Mathieu.{{cite web|website=SecondHandSongs|url=https://secondhandsongs.com/work/251560|title=J'ai envie de chanter|accessdate=July 5, 2023}}

References

External links

[http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/inharmony/detail.do?action=detail&fullItemID=/lilly/devincent/LL-SDV-042013 Sheet music for piano] with lyrics, "IN Harmony: Sheet Music from Indiana University"
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e.-lee_jimmy-blades-music-l.-wolfe-gilbert_gbia0006394a Waiting For The Robert E. Lee by Jimmy Blade's Music]
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e-lee_ben-light-with-instrumental-accompaniment-lewis-f-mu_gbia0316862a WAITING FOR THE ROBERT E. LEE by BEN LIGHT with Instrumental Accompaniment]
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e-lee_blake-reynolds-gilbert-muir_gbia0208716a/%22WAITING+FOR+THE+ROBERT+E.+LEE%22+-+BLAKE+REYNOLDS.flac "WAITING FOR THE ROBERT E. LEE" by BLAKE REYNOLDS]
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e-lee_heidelberg-quintette-gilbert-muir_gbia0342346a Waiting for the Robert E. Lee by Heidelberg Quintette]
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e.-lee_turk-murphys-jazz-band-turk-murphy-bob-scobey-bill-n_gbia0011225a Waiting For The Robert E. Lee by Turk Murphy's Jazz Band]
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e-lee_abes-rhythm-bones-the-gian-trio-gilbert-muir_gbia0037293b Waiting for the Robert E. Lee by Abe's Rhythm Bones]
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e-lee_herb-kern-lloyd-sloop-gilbert-muir_gbia0133148a WAITING FOR THE ROBERT E. LEE by HERB KERN]
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e.-lee_guy-lombardo-and-his-royal-canadians-kenny-gardner-an_gbia0010929b Waiting For The Robert E. Lee by Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians]
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e-lee_al-jolson-gilbert-muir-morris-stoloff_gbia7014264b WAITING FOR THE ROBERT E. LEE] by AL JOLSON
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e-lee_victor-military-band_gbia0295292a "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee" by Victor Military Band]
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e-lee_dolly-connolly-mrs-percy-wenrich-muir_gbia0176592b WAITING FOR THE ROBERT E. LEE by DOLLY CONNOLLY]
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e-lee_eddie-piano-miller-gilbert-muir_gbia0119254a WAITING FOR THE ROBERT E. LEE] by Eddie "Piano" Miller
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e.-lee_lu-watters-and-his-yerba-buena-jazz-band-wolfe-gilber_gbia0009623a Waiting For The Robert E. Lee] by Lu Watters and his Yerba Buena Jazz Band
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e-lee_glen-story-jack-barbour-and-his-rhythm-rustlers-mier_gbia0182261a WAITING FOR THE ROBERT E. LEE by GLEN STORY; JACK BARBOUR and his Rhythm Rustlers]
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e-lee_beatrice-kay-and-the-elm-city-four-gilbert-muir-ray-b_gbia0030923g Waiting for the Robert E. Lee by] Beatrice Kay and the Elm City Four
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e-lee_sophie-tucker-gilbert-muir_gbia0130372a WAITING FOR THE ROBERT E. LEE] by Sophie Tucker
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e-lee_guido-deiro-muir_gbia0046486b Waiting For the Robert E. Lee] by Guido Deiro
[https://archive.org/details/78_waiting-for-the-robert-e-lee_dean-hudson-and-his-orchestra-the-sherry-sisters-muir_gbia0018028a Waiting for the Robert E. Lee by Dean Hudson And His Orchestra]

Category:Songs about boats

Category:1912 songs

Category:Rags

Category:Pop standards

Category:American songs

Category:Cultural depictions of Robert E. Lee

Category:Songs written by L. Wolfe Gilbert