94. I Cover The Waterfront (1933)

lyrics: Edward Heyman

music: Johnny W. Green 

follows 14 versions of this song

 

Away from the city that hurts and mocks
I’m standing alone by the desolate docks
In the still and the chill of the night

I see the horizon the great unknown
My heart has an ache it’s as heavy as stone
Will the dawn coming on make it light?

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me?

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
And I’m covered
By a starlit sky above

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Are you forgetting
Do you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
For the one I love
Must soon come back to me

(very short bridge)

For the one I love
Must soon come back to me

 

2nd version

(no verse; lyrics different from 1941 session)

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
And I’m covered
By a starlit sky above

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

 

3rd version

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
And I’m covered
By a starlit sky above

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

 

4th version

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
And I’m covered
By a starlit sky above

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

 

5th version

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
And I’m covered
By a starlit sky above

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

 

6th version

rec date	type	#	discography	tk	rec time
1945	LR	22	Perfect Complete Collection v.1	19	3’02”

Away from the city that hurts and mocks
I’m standing alone by the desolate docks
In the still and the chill of the night
I see the horizon the great unknown
My heart has an ache
It’s as heavy as stone
With the dawn coming on make it light

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
And I’m covered
By a starlit sky above

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Will the one I love
Be coming back
To me

 

7th version

rec date	type	#	discography	tk	rec time
1947	LR	46	Complete on Verve v.1	16	2’58”

(no verse)

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
And I’m covered
By a starlit sky above

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Will the one I love
Be coming back
To me

(audience applauses)

 

8th version

rec date	type	#	discography	tk	rec time
1948	LR	47	Perfect Complete Collection v.2	18	3’29”

Away from the city that hurts and mocks
I’m standing alone by the desolate docks
In the still and the chill of the night
I see the horizon the great unknown
My heart has an ache
It’s as heavy as stone
Will the dawn coming on make it light

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
And I’m covered
By a starlit sky above

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Will the one I love
Be coming back
To me

 

9th version

rec date	type	#	discography	tk	rec time
1949	LR	66	Perfect Complete Collection v.3	18	2’58”

(only half verse)

I see the horizon the great unknown
My heart has an ache
It’s as heavy as stone
With the dawn coming on make it light

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
And I’m covered
By a starlit sky above

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Will the one I love
Be coming back
To me

 

10th version

rec date	type	#	discography	tk	rec time
1951	LR	84	Perfect Complete Collection v.4	16	3’37”

Away from the city that hurts and mocks
I’m standing alone by the desolate docks
In the still and the chill of the night
I see the horizon the great unknown
My heart has an ache
It’s as heavy as stone
Will the dawn coming on make it light

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
And I’m covered
By a starlit sky above

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Will the one I love
Be coming back
To me

 

11th version

rec date	type	#	discography	tk	rec time
1952	LR	95	Perfect Complete Collection v.5	4	3’45”

Away from the city that hurts and mocks
I’m standing alone by the desolate docks
In the still and the chill of the night
I see the horizon the great unknown
My heart has an ache
It’s as heavy as stone
Will the dawn coming on make it light

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
And I’m covered
By a starlit sky above

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Will the one I love
Be coming back
To me

 

12th version

rec date	type	#	discography	tk	rec time
1953	LR	99	Perfect Complete Collection v.5	9	3’25”

(intros)

Away from the city that hurts and mocks
I’m standing alone by the desolate docks
In the still and the chill of the night
I see the horizon the great unknown
My heart has an ache
It’s as heavy as stone
Will the dawn coming on make it light

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
And I’m covered
By a starlit sky above

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Will the one I love
Be coming back
To me

You’ll get bold

 

13th version

rec date	type	#	discography	tk	rec time
1954	LR	124	Complete on Verve vol.2	22	3’17”

Away from the city that hurts and mocks
I’m standing alone by the desolate docks
In the still and the chill of the night
I see the horizon the great unknown
My heart has an ache
It’s as heavy as stone
Will the dawn coming on make it light

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
And I’m covered
By a starlit sky above

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Will the one I love
Be coming back
To me

 

14th version

rec date	type	#	discography	tk	rec time
1956	LR	174	Complete on Verve vol.8	17	3’46”

Away from the city that hurts and mocks
I’m standing alone by the desolate docks
In the still and the chill of the night
I see the horizon the great unknown
My heart has an ache
It’s as heavy as stone
Will the dawn coming on make it light

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

I cover the waterfront
In search of my love
And I’m covered
By a starlit sky above

Here am I
Patiently waiting
Hoping and longing
Oh how I yearn
Where are you
Have you forgotten
Will you remember
Will you return

I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
Will the one I love
Be coming back to me

Will the one I love
Be coming back
To me

(applauses)

Notes

The song was inspired by Max Miller’s 1932 best-selling novel I Cover the Waterfront. The song became instantly popular, and many artists covered it. A 1933 motion picture, also inspired by Miller’s book and also titled I Cover the Waterfront, was re-scored at the last minute to include the tune. Sheet music publishers later used the film’s success by claiming that the song was “inspired by the United Artist Picture of the same name” (Wikipedia).