Swanee (song)
1919 song by George Gershwin and Irving Caesar / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"Swanee" is an American popular song written in 1919 by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Irving Caesar. It is most often associated with singer Al Jolson.
"Swanee" | |
---|---|
Single by Al Jolson, "Incidental whistling by Mr. Jolson" (disc label) | |
B-side | "My gal" by Frank Crumit |
Published | October 31, 1919 (1919-10-31) T. B. Harms & Francis, Day & Hunter, Inc., T.B. Harms, Inc., Warner Bros, Inc. |
Released | April 1920[1] |
Recorded | January 9, 1920[2] |
Studio | New York City |
Venue | Sinbad (1919 Broadway musical) |
Genre | Popular Music |
Length | 2.39 |
Label | Columbia A-2884 Label Printing Code BW (February 1920) |
Composer(s) | George Gershwin |
Lyricist(s) | Irving Caesar |
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The song was written for a New York City revue called Demi-Tasse, which opened in October 1919 at the Capitol Theater. Caesar, who was then aged 24, claimed to have written the song in about ten minutes riding on a bus in Manhattan, finishing it at Gershwin's apartment. It was written partly as a parody of Stephen Foster's "Old Folks at Home", including the title in its lyrics. It was originally used as a big production number, with 60 chorus girls dancing with electric lights in their slippers on an otherwise darkened stage.[3]