If you listen to Peggy Lee singing “Things Are Swingin'” I probably don’t have to write a word about why it makes me happy. Great song. Great arrangement. Great delivery. It’s on the iPod that lives in my bathroom, so it’s often the shower soundtrack (a change from Que Sera Sera in my early twenties, but that’s another story). It’s so well crafted on every level – the lyrics are witty but not too clever, that sparkling piano against the horn arrangements, swing that makes you want to move, and the delight of Peggy Lee’s singing (she had to be smiling while she was recording).
Here are the lyrics so you can sing along:
Things are swingin’,
Birds are singin’,
And just what do you think those bells are doin’ but ringin’?
‘Cause they have to ring to make this whole thing rhyme,
And you know that things are swingin’ all the time.
Birds are singin’,
And just what do you think those bells are doin’ but ringin’?
‘Cause they have to ring to make this whole thing rhyme,
And you know that things are swingin’ all the time.
If the news is
What the blues is,
Then we’d better just practice up on our ones and twoses,
‘Cause where love is you can always find a rhyme,
And where love is, things are swingin’ all the time.
What the blues is,
Then we’d better just practice up on our ones and twoses,
‘Cause where love is you can always find a rhyme,
And where love is, things are swingin’ all the time.
It’s as simple as
As a dimple,
Just remember that
You can find some brand new swingin’ ideas
Underneath your hat!
As a dimple,
Just remember that
You can find some brand new swingin’ ideas
Underneath your hat!
So keep countin’,
Keep it mountin’,
Till you think it must be Ponce de Leon’s fountain!
Yes, the fountain of youth, for those who know the score,
Means that things will keep on swingin’ for evermore.
Keep it mountin’,
Till you think it must be Ponce de Leon’s fountain!
Yes, the fountain of youth, for those who know the score,
Means that things will keep on swingin’ for evermore.
Like an ocean
That’s in motion,
Like the wind that’s blowin’ the boat right in to shore,
It’s the livin’est thing to live and breathe
And keep on laughin’ up your sleeve;
That’s in motion,
Like the wind that’s blowin’ the boat right in to shore,
It’s the livin’est thing to live and breathe
And keep on laughin’ up your sleeve;
Things are swingin’ and they’ll keep swingin’ some more.
Yes, things are swingin’ and they’ll keep swingin’ some more,
Let’s keep on swingin’ and swing right out the door!
Let’s keep on swingin’ and swing right out the door!
Songwriters: Jack Marshall / Peggy Lee
