"Cocktails for Two," was written in 1934 by Sam Coslow and Arthur Johnston to celebrate the end of Prohibition. Their original version was cheerful, charming, and rather gentlemanly. Similar to, say, "Putting on the Ritz."
At about the same time, the musical career of Lindley A. "Spike" Jones (1911-1965) was getting underway. Jones, who got his nickname as a kid because he was as thin as a railroad spike, played a variety of instruments in bands around the country.
But orchestra life was routine and boring. Eventually, Spike and a few friends began making parodies of popular songs for their own amusement. When a recording of one was heard by an RCA executive, he signed them to a contract. "Spike Jones and His City Slickers" was born.
Audiences loved their zany parodies, and the band was a national hit for the next two decades. Especially popular were songs dubbed "travesties," in which the lyrics were unchanged, but the music was doctored in wacky ways to contradict the lyrics.
In 1944, Spike and the boys released their goofball and unforgettable version of "Cocktails for Two."
I would love to hang out with these guys.
Cocktails for Two
By Spike Jones and His City Slickers, 1944
Written by Sam Coslow and Arthur Johnston
Prelude...
Oh, what delight to
Be given the right to
Be carefree and gay once again.
No longer slinking
Respectfully drinking
Like civilized ladies and men.
No longer need we miss
A charming scene like this…
In some secluded rendezvous (whoopee, yahoo, bang)
That overlooks the avenue (horn noises)
With someone sharing a delightful chat (yackety, yackety)
Of this and that with cocktails for two. (clink, clink)
As we enjoy a cigarette (wheezing, coughing)
To some exquisite chansonette,* (fiddle sound)
Two hands are sure to slyly meet
Beneath the serviette**
With cocktails for two. (clink)
My head may go reeling, (slide whistle)
But my heart will be obedient (heartbeat sound)
With intoxicating kisses for
The principal ingredient. (pop, fizz, laugh)
Most any afternoon at five, (ting, ting, ting, ting)
We'll be so glad we're both alive. (ahhhhh)
Then maybe fortune will complete the plan
That all began with cocktails for two. (clink, crash)
(musical interlude with hiccups, gulping, and other noises.)
Most any afternoon at five (Monday to Sunday at five,)
We'll be so glad we're both alive. (we'll be so glad we're alive.)
Then maybe fortune will complete her plan (oooh-we-ooh)
That all began
With cocktails for two, (hic) two, (hic) two-we-ooh. (hic)
* Chansonnette is French for song.
** Serviette is French for napkin.
https://rockysmith.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cocktails-for-two.mp3
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