| INDEX OF SONGS & LYRICS “P-Q” | |
| P.S. I Love You | |
| Pennies from Heaven | 2 versions |
| Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone | 8 versions |
| Please Keep Me in Your Dreams | |
| Please Tell Me Now | |
| Porgy (I Love You) | 6 versions |
| Practice Makes Perfect | 4 versions |
| Prelude to a Kiss | |
195. P.S. I Love You (1934)
lyrics by Johnny Mercer
music by Gordon Jenkins
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1954 | MT | 244 | Complete on Verve v.3 | 6 | 3’35” |
Dear, I thought I’d drop a line
The weather is cool
The folks are fine
I’m in bed each night at nine
P.S. I love youYesterday we had some rain
But all in all
I can’t complain
Was it dusty on the train
P.S. I love youWrite to the Brown’s just as soon as you’re able
They came around to call
And not burned a hole in the dining room table
Now let me think I guess that’s allNothing else for me to say
And so I’ll close
But by the way
Everybody’s thinking of you
P.S. I love youWrite to the Brown’s just as soon as you’re able
They came around to call
And not burned a hole in the dining room table
Now let me think I guess that’s allNothing else for me to say
And so I’ll close
But by the way
Everybody’s thinking of you
P.S. I love youLove you, love you
Notes |
NC
196. Pennies From Heaven (1936)
lyrics by Johnny Burke
music by Arthur Johnston
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1936 | MT | 34 | Complete on Columbia v.2 | 9 | 3’15” |
Oh every time it rains it rains
Pennies from heaven
Don’t you know each cloud contains
Pennies from heaven
You’ll find your fortune
Falling all over town
Be sure that your umbrellaIs upside down
Trade them for a package of
Sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love
You must have showers
So when you hear it thunder
Don’t run under a tree
There’ll be pennies from heaven
For you and me
2nd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1936 | AT | 34a | Complete on Columbia v.7 | 19 | 3’14” |
Oh every time it rains it rains
Pennies from heaven
Don’t you know each cloud contains
Pennies from heaven
You’ll find your fortune
Falling all over town
Be sure that your umbrellaIs upside down
Trade them for a package of
Sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love
You must have showers
So when you hear it thunder
Don’t run under a tree
There’ll be pennies from heaven
For you and me
Notes |
It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name. It was recorded in the same year by Billie Holiday. The 1936 recording by Bing Crosby on Decca Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004.
197. Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone (1930)
Lyrics by Sidney Clare
Music by Sam H. Stept
follows 8 versions of this song
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1954 | LR | 131 | Perfect Complete Collection v.7 | 13 | 2’04” |
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
If you can’t say anything really nice
Just don’t talk at all
That’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
And I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a kiss
I hope that this brings
Lots of luck to you
It makes no difference how I carry on
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gonePlease don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
If you can’t say anything really nice
Just don’t talk at all
That’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
And I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a little kiss
And I hope that kiss this brings
Lots of luck to youIt makes no difference how I carry on
Please don’t talk about me
Don’t you talk about me
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
2nd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1955 | MT | 262 | Complete on Verve v.5 | 13 | 4’19” |
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And listen if you can’t say anything really nice
It’s better not to talk at all that’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
And I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a kiss
I hope that this brings
Lots of luck to you
Makes no difference how I carry on
Just don’t you talk about me when I’m gone(long bridge)
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And listen, if you can’t say anything really nice
Just don’t talk at all, that’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
But here’s a little kiss
And I hope that kiss this brings
Lots of luck to youMakes no difference how I carry on
Just don’t talk
Please don’t talk
Don’t you talk about me when I’m gone
3rd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1956 | LR | 146 | Perfect Complete Collection v.8 | 15 | 1’48” |
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can’t say anything really nice
Just not to talk at all that’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
And I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a kiss
I hope that this brings
Lots of luck to you
It makes no difference how I carry on
Please don’t you talk about me when I’m gonePlease don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can’t say anything really nice
Just don’t talk at all, that’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a little kiss
And I hope that this brings
Lots of luck to youMakes no difference how I carry on
Don’t talk about me
Please don’t talk about me
Don’t you talk about me when I’m gone
4th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1956 | LR | 150 | Perfect Complete Collection v.9 | 11 | 1’57” |
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Although our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can’t say anything really nice
Just not to talk at all that’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
And I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a kiss
I hope that this brings
Lots of luck to you
It makes no difference how I carry on
Please don’t you talk about me when I’m gonePlease don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can’t say anything really nice
Just don’t talk at all that’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a little kiss
And I hope that this brings
Lots of luck to youIt makes no difference how I carry on
Please don’t talk about me
Don’t you talk about me
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
5th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1956 | LR | 151 | Perfect Complete Collection v.9 | 12 | 1’57” |
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can’t say anything really nice
Just don’t talk at all that’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
And I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a kiss
I hope that this brings
Lots of luck to you
It makes no difference how I carry on
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gonePlease don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can’t say anything really nice
Just don’t talk at all that’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
And I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a little kiss
And I hope that this brings
Lots of luck to youIt makes no difference how I carry on
Please don’t talk about me
Don’t you talk about me
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone(applauses)
6th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1956 | LR | 156 | Perfect Complete Collection v.9 | 17 | 1’54” |
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can’t say anything really nice
Just don’t talk at all that’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a kiss
I hope that this brings
Lots of luck to you
It makes no difference how I carry on
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gonePlease don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can’t say anything really nice
Just don’t talk at all that’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
And I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a little kiss
And I hope that this brings
Lots of luck to youIt makes no difference how I carry on
Please don’t talk about me
Don’t you talk about me
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
7th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1956 | LR | 169 | Complete on Verve v.8 | 11 | 1’43” |
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can’t say anything really nice
Just don’t talk at all that’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a kiss
I hope that this brings
Lots of luck to you
Makes no difference how I carry on
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gonePlease don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can’t say anything really nice
Just don’t talk at all that’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
And I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a little kiss
And I hope that this brings
Lots of luck to youIt makes no difference how I carry on
Please don’t talk about me
Don’t you talk about me
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
8th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1959 | LR | 222 | Perfect Complete Collection v.12 | 13 | 2’24” |
Billie introduces the next song: “thank you, and now I’d like to do a little tune, title Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone”.
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can’t say anything really nice
Just don’t talk at all that’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a kiss
I hope that this brings
Lots of luck to you
It makes no difference how I carry on
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gonePlease don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can’t say anything really nice
Just don’t talk at all that’s my adviceWe’re parting
You go your way
I’ll go mine
It’s best that we do
Here’s a little kiss
And I hope that this brings
Lots of luck to youIt makes no difference how I carry on
Don’t you talk about me
Please don’t talk about me
Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone
Notes |
This song is sung by Norma Shearer’s character Mary Haines in the 1939 film The Women as a joke when she leaves her girl friends alone at tea while she takes a call from her philandering husband Stephen Haines. Throughout The Women, not a single male is seen — although the males are much talked about, and the central theme is the women’s relationships with them. Lesbianism is intimated in the portrayal of only one character, Nancy Blake. The attention to detail was such that even in props such as portraits only female figures are represented, and several animals which appeared as pets were also female. The only exceptions are a poster-drawing clearly of a bull in the fashion show segment and an ad on the back of the magazine Peggy reads at Mary’s house before lunch (Wikipedia).
Out of the eight Billie’s recorded versions of this song, one has been videotaped: the show “Stars of Jazz” broadcasted in 1956 by KABC in Los Angeles. More details, see LR 151 on the menu Live Recordings. See the actual videotape of the whole session:
Billie Holiday, The Stars of Jazz
198. Please Keep Me In Your Dreams
Tot Seymour & Vee Lawnhurst
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1937 | MT | 40 | Complete on Columbia v.2 | 15 | 2’18” |
Please keep me in your dreams
In your sweet dreams let me hold you
When through your window
The breeze comes swingin’
It’s just bringin’ this love song that I’m singin’
Please keep me in your dreams
My kiss it seems must have told you
My heart you’ll borrow until tomorrow
So please keep me in your dreams(bridge)
Please keep me in your dreams
In your sweet dreams let me hold you
When through your window
The breeze comes swingin’
It’s just bringin’ this love song that I’m singin’
Please keep me in your dreams
My kiss it seems must have told you
My heart you’ll borrow until tomorrow
So please keep me in your dreams
Notes |
NC
199. Please Tell Me Now
Arnold Clawson & Toussaint Pope
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1949 | MT | 211 | Complete on Decca v.2 | 21 | 3’03” |
Please tell me now
How much you care
Before we say good night my dearYou’ll never say
That you’ll be mine
Why keep me waiting?
Please tell me nowDay and night I’m wondering
Do you really care
Must I go on wondering
About this love affairMy heart will cry
And that’s no lie
Don’t keep me waiting
Please tell me nowDay and night I’m wondering
Do you really care
Must I go on wondering
About this love affairMy heart will cry
And that’s no lie
Don’t keep me waiting
Please tell me now
Notes |
NC
200. Porgy (I Love You)
George and Ira Gershwin &DuBose Heyward
follows 7 versions of this song
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1948 | MT | 198 | Complete on Decca v.2 | 6 | 2’55” |
I love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
And drive me madIf you can keep me
I want to stay
With you forever
And I’ll be gladI love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
With his hot handsIf you can keep me
I want to stay here
With you forever
I’ve got my manSomeday I know he’s coming
Back to call me
He’s gonna handle me and
Hold me soIt’s going to be like dying, Porgy
When he calls me
But when he comes, I know
I’ll have to goI love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
And drive me madIf you can keep me
I want to stay here
With you forever
I’ve got my man
2nd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1949 | LR | 62 | Perfet Complete Collection v.3 | 22 | 2’59” |
(TV show intro)
I love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
And drive me madIf you can keep me
I want to stay
With you forever
And I’ll be gladI love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
With his hot handsIf you can keep me
I want to stay here
With you forever
I’ve got my manSomeday I know he’s coming
Back to call me
He’s gonna handle me and
Hold me soIt’s going to be like dying, Porgy
When he calls me
But when he comes, I know
I’ll have to goI love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
And drive me madIf you can keep me
I want to stay here
With you forever
I’ve got my man
3rd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1951 | LR | 91 | Perfet Complete Collection v.4 | 23 | 3’03” |
I love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
And drive me madIf you can keep me
I want to stay
With you forever
And I’ll be gladI love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
With his hot handsIf you can keep me
I want to stay here
With you forever
I’ve got my manSomeday I know he’s coming
Back to call me
He’s gonna handle me and
Hold me soIt’s going to be like dying, Porgy
When he calls me
But when he comes, I know
I’ll have to goI love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
And drive me madIf you can keep me
I want to stay here
With you forever
I’ve got my man
4th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1953 | LR | 101 | Perfet Complete Collection v.5 | 11 | 3’10” |
I love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
And make me careIf you can keep me
I want to stay here
With you forever
And I’ll be gladI love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
With his hot handsIf you can keep me
I want to stay here
With you forever
I’ve got my manSomeday I know
He’s coming back to call me
He’s going to handle me and
Hold me soIt’s going to be like dying, Porgy
When he calls me
But when he comes, I know
I’ll have to goI love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
And drive me madIf you can keep me
I want to stay here
With you forever
I’ve got my man
5th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1956 | LR | 160 | Perfet Complete Collection v.10 | 3 | 2’32” |
I love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
With his hot handsIf you can keep me
I want to stay here
With you forever
I’ve got my manSomeday I know
He’s coming back to call me
He’s going to handle me and
Hold me soIt’s going to be like dying, Porgy
When he calls me
But when he comes, I know
I’ll have to goI love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
And drive me madIf you can keep me
I want to stay here
With you forever
I’ve got my man(applauses)
7th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1959 | LR | 221 | Perfet Complete Collection v.12 | 12 | 2’59” |
I love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
And drive me madIf you can keep me
I want to stay here
With you forever
And I’ll be gladI love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
With his hot handsIf you can keep me
I want to stay here
With you forever
I’ve got my manSomeday I know
He’s coming back to call me
He’s going to handle me and
Hold me so
It’s going to be like dying, Porgy
When he calls me
But when he comes, I know
I’ll have to goI love you Porgy
Don’t let him take me
Don’t let him handle me
And drive me madIf you can keep me
I’ve gotta stay here
With you forever
I’ve got my man
Notes |
Porgy opened on Broadway at the Guild Theatre (today’s August Wilson Theatre) on October 10, 1927.
201. Practice Makes Perfect
D. Roberts & E. Gold
follows 4 versions of this song
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1940 | MT | 140 | Complete in Columbia v.6 | 20 | 2’34” |
If practice makes perfect
Let’s try that old embrace
In some romantic place
Where we can take our timeIf practice makes perfect
Just close your eyes again
We’ll try those sights again
And make them more sublimeWe’re in love’s kindergarten
Learning from A to Z
And if it’s fun just starting
Think what it’s going to beIf practice makes perfect
Let’s have that kiss again
We must’n miss again
We’re not doing bad right now(bridge)
We’re in love’s kindergarten
Learning from A to Z
And if it’s fun just starting
Think what it’s going to beIf practice makes perfect
Let’s have that kiss again
We must’n miss again
We’re not doing bad
Let’s practice some more
We’re not doing bad right now
2nd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1940 | AT | 140a | Complete in Columbia v.9 | 20 | 2’35” |
If practice makes perfect
Let’s try that old embrace
In some romantic place
Where we can take our timeIf practice makes perfect
Just close your eyes again
We’ll try those sights again
And make them more sublimeWe’re in love’s kindergarten
Learning from A to Z
And if it’s fun just starting
Think what it’s going to beIf practice makes perfect
Let’s try that kiss again
We must’n miss again
We’re not doing bad right now(bridge)
We’re in love’s kindergarten
Learning from A to Z
And if it’s fun just starting
Think what it’s going to beIf practice makes perfect
Let’s have that kiss again
We must’n miss again
We’re not doing bad
Let’s practice some more
We’re not doing bad right now
3rd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1940 | AT | 140b | Complete in Columbia v.9 | 21 | 2’42” |
If practice makes perfect
Let’s try that old embrace
In some romantic place
Where we can take our timeIf practice makes perfect
Just close your eyes again
We’ll try those sights again
And make them more sublimeWe’re in love’s kindergarten
Learning from A to Z
And if it’s fun just starting
Think what it’s going to beIf practice makes perfect
Let’s have that kiss again
We must’n miss again
We’re not doing bad right now(bridge)
We’re in love’s kindergarten
Learning from A to Z
And if it’s fun just starting
Think what it’s going to beIf practice makes perfect
Let’s have that kiss again
We must’n miss again
We’re not doing bad
Let’s practice some more
We’re not doing bad right now
4th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1940 | AT | 140c | Complete in Columbia v.9 | 22 | 2’41” |
If practice makes perfect
Let’s try that old embrace
In some romantic place
Where we can take our timeIf practice makes perfect
Just close your eyes again
We’ll try those sights again
And make them more sublimeWe’re in love’s kindergarten
Learning from A to Z
And if it’s fun just starting
Think what it’s going to beIf practice makes perfect
Let’s have that kiss again
We must’n miss again
We’re not doing bad right now(bridge)
We’re in love’s kindergarten
Learning from A to Z
And if it’s fun just starting
Think what it’s going to beIf practice makes perfect
Let’s have that kiss again
We must’n miss again
We’re not doing bad
Let’s practice some more
We’re not doing bad right now
Notes |
NC
202. Prelude To A Kiss (1938)
lyrics by Irving Gordon & Irving Mills
music by Duke Ellington
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1955 | MT | 258 | Complete on Verve v.5 | 5 | 5’32” |
If you hear a song in blue
Like a flower crying for the dew
That was my heart serenading you
My prelude to a kissAnd if you hear a song that grows
From my tender sentimental woes
That was my heart trying to compose
A prelude to a kissThough it’s just a simple melody
With nothing fancy, nothing much
You could turn it to a symphony
A Schubert tune with a Gershwin touchOh! how my love song gently cries
For the tenderness within your eyes
My love is a prelude that never dies
A prelude to a kiss(long bridge)
Though it’s just a simple melody
With nothing fancy, nothing much
You could turn it to a symphony
A Schubert tune with a Gershwin touchOh! how my love song gently cries
For the tenderness within your eyes
My love is a prelude that never dies
A prelude to a kiss
Notes |
NC
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