Until the Real Thing Comes Along

By Mann Holiner, Alberta Nichols, Saul Chaplin, L.E. Freeman & Sammy Cahn
1936

Strangely, this song was initially published in two versions which were identical, only one listed different three composers, while the other listed five. Today, ASCAP credits all five. The song was introduced by bandleader Andy Kirk (pictured). Kirk actually made two different 1936 recordings of the tune, one in March and one in April, using two different vocalists--Ben Thigpen and Pha Terrell.

Lyrics:

I'd work for you,
I'd slave for you,
I'd be a beggar or a knave for you.
If that isn't love, it will have to do,
Until the real thing comes along.

I'd gladly move
The earth for you
To prove my love, dear,
And it's worth for you.
If that isn't love, it'll have to do,
Until the real thing comes along.

With all the words, dear, at my command,
I just can't make you understand.
I'll always love you, darling,
Come what may.
My heart is yours
What more can I say?

I'd lie for you,
I'd sigh for you,
I'd tear the stars down
From the sky for you.
If that isn't love, it will have to do,
Until the real thing comes along.

Recorded By:

Billie Holiday
Fats Waller
Frank Sinatra
Ella Fitzgerald
Dexter Gordon

Dedicated to You

By Saul Chaplin, Hy Zaret & Sammy Cahn
1936

Composer Chaplin (pictured) and lyricist Cahn had previously met while members of the same orchestra, and this tune was in fact one of Chaplin's first efforts as an official member of ASCAP. It was introduced by Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds of Joy, but a young Ella Fitzgerald would get the big hit some months later. Chaplin was also responsible for songs like "Until the Real Thing Comes Along", "If Its the Last Thing I Do" and "Please Be Kind". He later gained acclaim in Hollywood as a producer/arranger for musicals like An American in Paris, High Society and West Side Story.

Lyrics:

If I should write a book for you,
That brought me fame and fortune, too,
That book would be, like my heart and me--
Dedicated to you.

And, if I should paint a picture, too,
That showed the loveliness of you,
My art would be, like my heart and me--
Dedicated to you.

To you,
Because your love is the beacon that lights up my way.
To you,
Because with you I know one lifetime could be just one heavenly place.

If I should find a twinkling star
One half so wondrous as you are,
That star would be, like my heart and me--
Dedicated to you.

Recorded By:

John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman
Freddie Hubbard
Carmen McRae
Sarah Vaughan
Sammy Davis Jr.