Friday, December 07, 2007

TV Themes... this time with lyrics (Part 3).

Covers of TV Theme Songs Known Primarily as Instrumentals
(With Lyrics That You May or May Not Know)
Part 3



Unlike the previous two theme songs, the theme from Peter Gunn by Henry Mancini had no lyrics originally. It's instantly recognizable and arguably more well-known than the show from which it originates. I'm sure if you've never heard of Peter Gunn, you'd listen to it and say "Wait a minute, I DO know this song." Technically, the lyricized version is called Bye-Bye with words written by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans.

Every night your line is busy
All that buzzing makes me dizzy
Couldn’t count on all my fingers
All the dates you had with swingers

Bye, bye
Bye, baby
I’m gonna kiss you goodbye and go right through that doorway

So long
I’m leaving
This is the last time we’ll meet on the street going your way

Don’t look surprised
You know you buttered your bread
So now it’s fair you should stare at the back of my head

If you write a letter to me
My former friend don’t you end with an R.S.V.P.

I’m going bye, bye
I’m moving
Tomorrow I may be splittin’ to Britain or Norway

I’m saying bye, bye
Bye, baby

Now that I heard all that jazzing
Whereas I have had it
I’ve had it
I’m through now
With you now

So baby it’s au revoir
Adios
Ciao ciao
Goodbye!

Sarah Vaughan - Peter Gunn
Sarah Vaughan - Peter Gunn (Max Sedgley Remix)
This remix is from the album Verve Remixed Volume 3, part of a series of albums where classic Verve Records jazz tracks are (surprise!) remixed. Accompanying the album is Verve Unmixed, a CD of the original tracks. I was immediately intrigued when I saw that jazz vocalist Sarah Vaughan was covering Peter Gunn and that's when I first heard these "new" lyrics. The Max Sedgley remix is particularly catchy and you'll never hear the Peter Gunn theme the same ever again.

The Anita Kerr Singers - Bye Bye Theme from Peter Gunn

The Jody Grind - Peter Gunn
While assembling this post, I stumbled upon this cover on my own hard drive. Turns out I got it from Cover Freak a few months ago when he posted it and asked "Who knew this song had lyrics?". Now we know!

Tune in next time for part 4 where I'll feature... well, it's a surprise.

See also:
Part 1: Theme from Star Trek
Part 2: Theme from House (Massive Attack's Teardrop)

No comments: