Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Memories: Good night, sweetheart

While standing in Starbucks, I heard a version of "Goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight".



(Picture credit)

I had to stop and listen. I smiled wistfully as I remembered my grandmother singing the song softly at bedtime, while rubbing my back. Way back when at my grandparent's house in Parsippany, NJ. I don't think she ever sang in public, but when it was just the two of us, she would sing to me and rub my back. Even when I was too old for it, if I asked nicely, she would still do it. Such sweet memories.

That song and whenever I am making one of my grandmother's recipes make me feel like her spirit is with me. It makes me feel connected to her.

I lived with my grandparents every summer from when I was six to twelve years old. I learned so much from both of them. How to make a fruit pie, how to shell peas, how to use a jigsaw, a lathe, how to make a plan and build something, how to do...so many things.

My grandmother died in 1999 after a long illness. I still miss her. At her funeral, I performed my most difficult solo (on the french horn) - I played "Amazing Grace" for her. So, so hard to play when you're crying.

Apparently the song is called, "Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight". According to this source, "Originally performed by the 5 piece doo-wop group The Spaniels. Written in 1954, it was a #5 R&B hit Written by Calvin Carter and James (Pookie) Hudson (lead singer for The Spaniels). Re-released by The McGuire Sisters. Popularized in the 1970s by the group Sha Na Na, who used it to close their TV show each week." I'm sure the version my grandmother knew was the 1950's version by the McGuire Sisters.

It looks like she mostly sang the chorus to me, or at least that's what I remember. Here are the lyrics (from same source cited above):


Goodnight sweetheart, well it's time to go,
Goodnight sweetheart, well it's time to go,
I hate to leave you but I really must say,
Goodnight sweetheart, goodnight.
Goodnight sweetheart, well it's time to go,
Goodnight sweetheart, well it's time to go,
I hate to leave you but I really must say,
Goodnight sweetheart, goodnight.

Well it's three o'clock in the morning
Baby I just can't git right??
Well I hate to leave you baby,
Don't mean maybe,
Because I love you so.

Goodnight sweetheart, well it's time to go,
Goodnight sweetheart, well it's time to go,
I hate to leave you but I really must say,
Oh goodnight sweetheart, goodnight.

Mother, and your father
Don't like it if I stay here too long
One kiss in the dark,
And I'll be going,
You know I hate to go.

Goodnight sweetheart, well it's time to go,
Goodnight sweetheart, well it's time to go,
I hate to leave you but I really must say,
Oh goodnight sweetheart, goodnight.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

my dad used to sing this song to my little sister to get her to sleep at night, a really beautiful song. and thanks to this post of yours i found out who sang it so i can now get it. much love, richard

Chili Pepper said...

Richard,

I'm glad you found my post and it was helpful. I have such sweet memories of this song.

Chili.

Anonymous said...

As to…

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