A Cottage for Sale
| "A Cottage for Sale" | |
|---|---|
 Version of song as recorded by Julie London | |
| Song by The Revelers | |
| Published | 1929 |
| Composer(s) | Willard Robison |
| Lyricist(s) | Larry Conley |
"A Cottage for Sale" is a popular song. The music was composed by Willard Robison, and the lyrics were written by Larry Conley.[1] The song was first published in 1929,[2] and over 100 performers have recorded versions of "A Cottage for Sale."[3] The first versions of the song were released by The Revelers in January 1930 and Bernie Cummins with the New Yorker Orchestra in March 1930.[4]
Lyrics and Themes
The song uses an empty cottage as a metaphor of a failed relationship or the end of a long relationship perhaps in death.
- Our little dream castle
- With every dream gone
- Is lonely and silent
- The shades are all drawn
- And my heart is heavy
- As I gaze upon
- A cottage for sale
- The lawn we were proud of
- Is waving in hay
- Our beautiful garden has
- Withered away.
- Where we planted roses
- The weeds seem to say...
- A cottage for sale
- Through every window
- I see your face
- But when I reach that window
- There's empty space
- The key's in the mailbox
- The same as before
- But no one is waiting for me anymore
- The end of our story
- Is there on the door
- A cottage for sale. [5]
Recordings
The song has become a standard, with artists from a variety of genres creating many notable recordings. A partial list follows:
1930: Victor vocal quartet The Revelers
1930: Ruth Etting
1930: Grey Gull Studio Dance Band with vocalist Jack Parker (Piccadilly 616 / 3990-B)
1957: Nat King Cole ("Let's Fall In Love" album)
1958: Tony Bennett with Frank De Vol and his Orchestra ("Long Ago And Far Away" album).
1959: Frank Sinatra ("No One Cares" album).
1960: Billy Eckstine ("Once more with feeling" album).
2005: Les Deux Love Orchestra ("King Kong" album, featuring Bobby Woods on vocals and Page Cavanaugh on piano).
Chuck Berry sings the song, accompanied by electric guitar and Johnnie Johnson on piano, in an intimate moment during rehearsal (at a rehearsal lounge on Berry's property) in his concert film Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll.
Bette McLaurin ("The Masquerade Is Over" album)
Bill Farrell (also in "Lush Life" album)
Johnny Mathis ("Isn't It Romantic: The Standards Album")
2003 Jerry Jeff Walker (Jerry Jeff Jazz)
References
- ↑ Cf. website dedicated to Larry Conley
- ↑ "New Songs of Larry Conley". 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
- ↑ "Willard Robison - Biography". Billboard. 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
- ↑ "Victor 22000 - 22500". 2010-02-01. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
- ↑ The Sinatra recording