Cole Porter's "You're the Top" Lyrics

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Cole Porter's "You're the Top" Lyrics

Post by HMVDevotee »

I have an HMV recording B.D. 172 (Jack Hylton) of Cole Porter's "You're the Top" with some lyrics that are indistinguishable. The record is quite good, and sounds great on my HMV 193, but apparently there are many versions of lyrics to Porter's song, including some written by P. G. Wodehouse for a British production of "Anything Goes." I've searched the net and cannot find lyrics to this particular recording.

Hoping someone has the lyric as sung on this recording that you might share.
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Inigo
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Re: Cole Porter's "You're the Top" Lyrics

Post by Inigo »

I have another copy, here's the data:

you're the top (m: anything goes) (cole porter) — JACK HYLTON O + PAT OMALLEY & EVE BECKE V — hmv bd 172 (4351 25cm s) — Mx. 0ea 1897 2 [] — Rec. 1935 06 06 lon

For the lyrics, I could check a book on songs by porter, with the lyrics and piano sheet music. I believe there were several versions there, will come back later...
Inigo

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Re: Cole Porter's "You're the Top" Lyrics

Post by HMVDevotee »

Inigo,

Thanks for the tip. The version I posted uses three lines (out of about 20) that are Porter's originals. The remainder were written by someone else. I haven't been able to source Wodehouse's lyrics either. Apparently , ol' P.G. wrote a version that excluded references that were thought to be particular to the US market.

R.
Last edited by HMVDevotee on Sun May 02, 2021 7:51 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Cole Porter's "You're the Top" Lyrics

Post by Roaring20s »

HMVDevotee,

I took on the challenge and deciphered most of the lyrics.
Here's a link to the song with my findings listed below it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YIP_9aO8YE

Just the key parts are listed in the order sang...

Male singer ...

You're A Dress By Cocteau (Jean Cocteau, surrealist, collaborated with Elsa Schiaparilli clothing designer)
You're An Espstein Statue (Jaboc Epstein, controversial British sculpture)

You're The Nimble Tread Of The Feet Of Fred Astaire
You're Mussolini, You're Mrs. Sweeney, You're Camembert (Margaret Sweeney, British socialite)

You're The Run On The Film By _____???_______
You're The Sun On The Crystal Palace (famous iron and glass building)

I'm The Lazy Lous That's Just About To Stop

Female singer ...

You're A New Invention, You're The Fourth Dimension
You're The Green And Gold, The Love Of The Old School Tie
(the only Green and Gold that I found was for the Australian cricket team)

You're The Brothers Western, You're Harry Preston, You're (Custard?) Pie
(Western Brothers, music hall and film stars) (Harry Preston, Knighted boxer)

You're An Ode, By A Leading Songster
You're A Rogue Were There's Not A Bouncer
I'm A Frog Without A Log On Which To Hop

James.

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Re: Cole Porter's "You're the Top" Lyrics

Post by recordmaker »

Could be a film by Ariss, George Arliss was pretty popular in the late 20s and 30s this works as a rhyme with the upper-class a pronunciation of British English at the time.
The run, of course being how many weeks it would be showing for at the cinema.

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Re: Cole Porter's "You're the Top" Lyrics

Post by HMVDevotee »

James,

Thanks for your time helping me solve this puzzle! Your remarks (including Recordmaker's observation about George Arliss) certainly confirms that the lyric was re-written for a British market. One wonders if this was done with the consent of/collaboration with Porter because of copyright... I wonder if music and lyrics are copyrighted separately.

Nonetheless, the adaptation speaks to Porter's genius as both a composer and a lyricist.

R.

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Re: Cole Porter's "You're the Top" Lyrics

Post by Roaring20s »

recordmaker wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 5:52 am Could be a film by Ariss, George Arliss was pretty popular in the late 20s and 30s this works as a rhyme with the upper-class a pronunciation of British English at the time.
The run, of course being how many weeks it would be showing for at the cinema.
Sounds good, in 1934 British film goers named Arliss their favorite male star.

James.

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Re: Cole Porter's "You're the Top" Lyrics

Post by Roaring20s »

HMVDevotee wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 8:22 am James,

Thanks for your time helping me solve this puzzle! Your remarks (including Recordmaker's observation about George Arliss) certainly confirms that the lyric was re-written for a British market. One wonders if this was done with the consent of/collaboration with Porter because of copyright... I wonder if music and lyrics are copyrighted separately. ...
R.
Some folks do crossword puzzles, this was very much like that! :lol:

There are other songs that use a tune and the lyrics are changed. I think as long as credit is given and royalties paid, it's ok. Porter receives credit on the label.

James.

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Re: Cole Porter's "You're the Top" Lyrics

Post by recordmaker »

The show anything goes was produced in New York in 1934 and London in 1935, for many years shows moved across the Atlantic in both directions with varying success, and topical lyrics were often changed for the local audience.
in this case it is not clear who did the rewrite.

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Re: Cole Porter's "You're the Top" Lyrics

Post by Inigo »

It's one of my favorite songs. A colleague at work and I were very fond of this song, and used to sing it... I believe this porter song was written allowing anyone to add the lyrics as the moment dictated... It is a song that could be exported to anything the fashion of the moment will dictate..
Inigo

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