It’s tempting for those who love an older art form — such as swinging jazz — to romanticize the past. “Oh,” we think, “they wrote such wonderful songs back in those days! If I could turn on my radio (or: if I had a time machine) in the Thirties, I would hear marvelous creative music all the time!” Perhaps. I have been doing research into the songs of Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin — who wrote many of Bing Crosby’s hits as well as IF I SHOULD LOSE YOU, YOU STARTED SOMETHING, PLEASE, and THANKS FOR THE MEMORY — and this unknown gem surfaced. I’m sure that someone out there has a recording of it, even that the performance is on YouTube. But I’m afraid to look. Here are the lyrics. They’ll do for me.
CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE
From the film “Kiss And Make Up” (1934)
(Music: Ralph Rainger / Lyrics: Leo Robin)
Helen Mack & Edward Everett Horton (Film Soundtrack) – 1934
“I’m simply wild about you
I couldn’t do without you
Corned beef and cabbage, I love you
You always set me raving
You satisfy that craving
Corned beef and cabbage, I love you
If I could have you every day
My life would have more spice
And even if I’d have to pay
I’d gladly pay the price
I see you and surrender
Oh, won’t you please be tender
Corned beef and cabbage, I love you!
I’m always happy when you
Are featured on the menu
Corned beef and cabbage, I love you
Although you’re so plebeian
You’re fit for any queen
Corned beef and cabbage, I love you
You fill me with a strange desire
That haunts me all night through
You seem to set my heart on fire
You give me heartburn, too
Why don’t you try a load
O’ bicarbonate of soda
Corned beef and cabbage, I love you!”
Can you see Edward Everett Horton warbling this? In Hollywood, anything was and is possible.
