Thursday, August 9, 2007

More

Yesterday I went to Macy's to check out the end-of-season sale on summer clothes. I know we have a lot of hot weather left, and I figured I could always use a couple more tops. As I browsed the racks, it occurred to me that I was really in a very good mood. That realization was immediately followed by the understanding of why I felt that way. The sound system in the store was playing "More" by Bobby Darin.

You know the song. You think you don't, but you do. To refresh your memory, here are the lyrics:

More
Than the greatest love the world
Has known
This
Is the love I'll give to you
Alone.

More
Than the simple words
I've tried to say,
I'll only live to love you
More each day.

More than you'll ever know,
My arms long to hold you so.
My life will be in your keepin',
Wakin'... sleepin'... laughin'...weepin'.

Longer
Than always is a long, long time,
But far beyond forever,
You'll be mine.
I know I've never lived before,
And my heart is very sure
No one else could love you more.


See? You know it. I don't know whose version you are familiar with. It has been covered many times, I know that - most recently by Harry Connick, Jr, I believe. But I am telling you here and now that you haven't really heard that song until you have heard Bobby Darin sing it.

The song is meant to swing, granted. But no one else has ever made it swing like Bobby Darin did. It is irresistibly finger-poppin'. That's not what really makes this the best version evah of this song, however. It is the joy he brings to it. It is an upbeat, joyous, tell-the-world declaration of his feelings. Who can resist that? Not me. I bought two blouses.

6 comments:

Kristy said...

Thank you, now that song is stuck in my head. At least it's a good one :)

Michael said...

Anne, you have nailed the truth about Bobby Darin: "But I am telling you here and now that you haven't really heard that song until you have heard the Bobby Darin version of it." It's so wonderful to find someone who truly understands about the way Bobby could declare his love in a lyric--and the fact that he did it with more conviction, joy and sincerity than anyone else. EVAH!

--Michael
DarinLand.com
Dedicated to the Life, Legend and Legacy of Bobby Darin

anne mancine said...

Michael - Thank you very much.

I was a small child when Bobby Darin released "Mack the Knife" in 1959, but it was my favorite song even then.

Every song he sang he made his own.

Toby said...

Try shopping at Lord & Taylor - that would cheer you up!!! I love that store :)

anne mancine said...

Toby - Since there isn't a Lord & Taylor within a 100-mile radius of me, I guess I will have to settle for the Macy's in the little shopping plaza ten minutes away from my house.

Thanks for the suggestion, though. Next time I am in New York, for sure.

jamanci said...

hey, they didn't take the tune of "more" and insert some advertising jingle in the middle, did they? kaufmann's used to do that, and play them while i worked there. it drove me crazy...

i agree, that's an excellent song, best done by bobby darin. but then, i like just about everything i've ever heard him do.