Goodnight, Irene

About 5 pages (1,350 words)

"Goodnight, Irene" or "Irene, Goodnight," is a 20th century American folk standard. Some sources, including blues scholar Paul Oliver, claim the version popularized by Lead Belly in the 1940s is based on the 1886 pop song by Gussie L. Davis. Lead Belly himself said he had learned it from his uncle. It was a US #1 hit for folk group The Weavers in 1950. It has since been recorded by a number of artists, in pop, country, folk and rock styles (see list below). In 2002, Lead Belly's 1936 Library of Congress recording received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. In England, it is associated with Bristol Rovers F.C. many fans sing it during matches

1 1950: the hits
2 References
3 Lyrics
4 Selected list of recorded versions
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

1950: the hits

The recording by The Weavers was recorded in New York City on May 26, 1950 and released by Decca Records as catalog number 27077. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on June 30, 1950 and lasted 25 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1. ^[1] The recording by Frank Sinatra was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 38892. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on July 10, 1950 and lasted 9 weeks on the chart, peaking at #12. ^[1] The recording by Dennis Day was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-3870. It reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart at #22 on September 22, 1950, its only week on the chart. ^[1] The flip side, a cover of Patti Page's hit "All My Love" had approximately equal success, so that if a one-week stay in the charts at #22 is considered a hit, this was a two-sided hit. The recording by Jo Stafford was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1142. It reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart at #26 on September 1, 1950, its only week on the chart. ^[1] This was her last charted hit before moving from Capitol to Columbia Records. On the Cash Box chart, where all available versions were combined in the standings, the song reached a peak position of #1 on September 2, 1950, and lasted at #1 for 10 weeks.

It was also a #1 record (3 weeks) for Ernest Tubb & Red Foley (1950) on Decca records with The Sunshine Trio (backing vocals).

Preceded by "Mona Lisa" by Nat King Cole	*U.S. Billboard* Best Sellers in Stores number-one single** August 19–November 11, 1950	Succeeded by "Harbor Lights" by Sammy Kaye
Preceded by Mona Lisa	Cash Box magazine best selling record chart #1 record September 2, 1950–November 4, 1950	Succeeded by Harbor Lights
Preceded by "Ghost Riders In The Sky" by Vaughn Monroe	Billboard Number one single of the year 1950	Succeeded by "Too Young" by Nat King Cole

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research.

Lyrics

Lead Belly's version

Irene, goodnight, Irene, goodnight,

Goodnight, Irene, goodnight, Irene,

I'll get you in my dreams

I asked your mother for you

(What'd she tell him?)

She told me that you was too young

(She's 18 years old)

I wish the lord that I'd never seen your face

I'm sorry you ever was born

(It broke his heart!)

Irene, goodnight, Irene, goodnight,

Goodnight, Irene, goodnight, Irene,

I'll get you in my dreams

Sometimes I live in the country,

Sometimes I live in town,

Sometimes I have a great notion;

Jumpin' in into the river and drown

Irene, goodnight, Irene, goodnight

Goodnight, Irene, goodnight, Irene

I'll get you in my dreams

Stop ramblin', and stop gamblin',

Quit stayin' out late at night

(What are ya gonna do?)

Go home to your wife and your family

(Where you oughta be,)

And sit down out by the fireside bright

(And people come at night)

Irene, goodnight, Irene, goodnight,

Goodnight, Irene, goodnight, Irene,

I'll get you in my dreams

I love Irene, god knows I do

(Too late); Love her until the sea run dry; If Irene turns her back on me; (Whatcha gonna do?); I'm gonna take a morphine and die
(She said, "go ahead and kill yourself then!")

Irene, goodnight, Irene, goodnight,

Goodnight, Irene, goodnight, Irene,

I'll get you in my dreams

The Weavers' Version

The very last words that I heard her say,

Was "please sing me one more song"

Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight,

Goodnight Irene, Goodnight Irene,

I'll see you in my dreams

Last Saturday night, I got married

Me and my wife settled down

Now me and my wife are parted

I'm gonna take another stroll downtown

Stop rambling, stop your gambling,

Stop staying out late at night

Go home to your wife and family

Stay there by your fireside bright

I love Irene God knows I do

Love her till the seas run dry

And if Irene turns her back on me,

I'll take morphine and die

(Amid the political and social pressure that plagued The Weavers through much of their early career, this last verse was frequently omitted from live performances to make the song more palatable to white audiences.) ANOTHER VERSE Sometimes she sleeps in pajamas, Sometimes she wears a nightgown, But when they're both at the laundry, Irene is the talk of the town