"Oh, You Beautiful Doll" is a

ragtime Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style that flourished from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers such as Scott ...

love song A love song is a song about romantic love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. A comprehensive list of even the best known performers and composers of love songs would be a large order. ...

published in 1911 with words by Seymour Brown and music by

Nat D. Ayer Nathaniel Davis Ayer (August 5, 1887 – September 19, 1952) was an American composer, pianist, singer and actor. He made most of his career composing and performing in England in Edwardian musical comedy and revue. He also contributed songs to Br ...

. The song was one of the first with a twelve-bar opening. The tune has been recorded hundreds of times by many artists from first publication until recent times.

Lyrics

Verse 1

: Honey dear, when you're near, : Just turn out the light and then come over here, : Nestle close, up to my side, : My heart's on fire, with love's desire. : In my arms, rest complete, : I never thought that life could ever be so sweet, : 'til I met you some time ago, : But now I know I love you so.

Chorus

:''Oh! you beautiful doll,'' :''You great big beautiful doll!'' :''Let me put my arms about you,'' :''I could never live without you;'' :''Oh! you beautiful doll,'' :''You great big beautiful doll!'' :''If you ever leave me how my heart will ache,'' :''I want to hug you but I fear you'd break'' :''Oh, oh, oh, oh,'' :''Oh, you beautiful doll!''

Second verse

: Precious prize, close your eyes, : Now we're goin' to visit love's paradise, : Press your lips again to mine, : Love is king of ev'ry thing, : Squeeze me dear, I don't care! : Hug me just as if you were a grizzly bear, : This is how I'll go through life, : No care or strife, when you're my wife.

Notable use in film

As well as being used in the 1949 film of the same name, the tune had been featured in several major movies — ''

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle ''The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle'' is a 1939 American biographical musical comedy directed by H.C. Potter. The film stars Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edna May Oliver, and Walter Brennan. The film is based on the stories ''My Husband'' and ...

'' (1939), '' For Me and My Gal'' (1942), ''

Broadway Rhythm ''Broadway Rhythm'' (1944) is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Technicolor musical film. It was produced by Jack Cummings and directed by Roy Del Ruth. The film was originally announced as ''Broadway Melody of 1944'' to follow MGM's ''Broadway Melody' ...

'' (1944), '' Strangers on a Train'' (1951), ''

The Eddie Cantor Story ''The Eddie Cantor Story'' is a 1953 American musical film, musical drama film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Keefe Brasselle, Marilyn Erskine and Aline MacMahon. It is a biopic based on the life of Eddie Cantor featuring Brasselle as Ca ...

'' (1953) and ''

The Taming of the Shrew ''The Taming of the Shrew'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken ...

'' (1969) as well as some

Looney Tunes ''Looney Tunes'' is an American Animated cartoon, animated comedy short film series produced by Warner Bros. starting from 1930 to 1969, concurrently with its partner series ''Merrie Melodies'', during the golden age of American animation.

cartoons such as '' Hair-Raising Hare''. The

Kidsongs ''Kidsongs'' is an American children's media franchise that includes Kidsongs Music Video Stories on DVD and video, The Kidsongs TV Show, CDs of favorite children's songs, song books, sheet music, toys and an ecommerce website. It was created by ...

Kids and Billy and Ruby Biggle sang this song with a baby elephant named Belle in their 1995 video and DVD, ''Baby Animal Songs''. The song also appears on the animated series ''

Hey Arnold! ''Hey Arnold!'' is an American animated comedy television series created by Craig Bartlett. It originally aired on Nickelodeon from October 7, 1996, to June 8, 2004. The show centers on fourth grader Arnold Shortman, who lives with his grandpare ...

'' where Grandpa Phil sings the song while taking a shower, as well as in the last

Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer. He is often called the greatest dancer in Hollywood film history. Astaire's career in stage, film, and tele ...

variety special, in which he and dance partner Barrie Chase danced to it. It appears in '' Somewhere in Time'' (1980), starring

Christopher Reeve Christopher D'Olier Reeve (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004) was an American actor, best known for playing the title character in the film ''Superman'' (1978) and three sequels. Born in New York City and raised in Princeton, New Jersey, ...

and

Jane Seymour Jane Seymour (c. 150824 October 1537) was List of English consorts, Queen of England as the third wife of King Henry VIII of England from their Wives of Henry VIII, marriage on 30 May 1536 until her death the next year. She became queen followi ...

, during a scene where Reeve and Seymour dance briefly.

Other recordings

* 1911 – Billy Murray and The American Quartet recorded the song on September 29, 1911. It was released on Victor 16979. * 1954 –

John Serry Sr. John Serry Sr. (born John Serrapica; January 29, 1915 – September 14, 2003) was an American concert accordionist, arranger, composer, organist, and educator. He performed on the CBS Radio and Television networks and contributed to Voic ...

and his accordion ensemble for RCA Victor (See "

RCA Thesaurus thumb RCA Thesaurus, a brand owned by RCA Victor, was a supplier of electrical transcriptions. Efforts were made as early as 1936 to consolidate The RCA Victor Transcription service with NBC's independent transcription service within the NBC radio n ...

"). * 1966 –

Nancy Sinatra Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940) is an American singer and actress. She is the elder daughter of Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra ( Barbato), and is best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'. Nancy Sinatra ...

, covered the song for her 1967 album ''

Sugar Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides or double ...

''.

References

Bibliography

* Ayer, Nat D.; Brown, Seymour. "Oh, You Beautiful Doll" (sheet music). New York: Jerome H. Remick & Co. (1911).

External links

Recording by Billy Murray and the American Quartet
Rags 1911 songs Songs with music by Nat Ayer {{1910s-song-stub