Mr. Sandman

Album

Single

Label

Cadence Records

Genre

Traditional Pop

Media Type

78

Composer(s)

Patt Ballard

Entered Chart

Oct 27, 1954

Peak Date

Dec 8, 1954

Released

1954

Recorded

1964

Catalog #

Cadence 1247

B-Side

I Don't Want To See You Cryin'

Original Artist

Vaughn Monroe

"Mr. Sandman" was written by song-writer Pat Ballard and first recorded by The Chordettes. It became the first hit for them, staying at #1 for an amazing seven weeks in 1954 and launching their career. The Chordettes eventually went on to peek into the Top-40 nine times total. The Chordettes were Jinny Osborn, Nancy Overton, Lynn Evans and Carol Buschmann. This song is an excellent example of their main form, singing close harmony a cappella with minimal accompaniment. The Chordettes kept up the wholesome sweet-as-angels image throughout the '50s and into the '60s; their second-biggest hit was "Lollipop" in 1959. Music students, take note: the chorus features a circle of fifths followed for six chords in a row within the chorus' chord progression. It may sound unusual for this song to mention Liberace, given his later-known preferences. But in 1954 Liberace was hotter than velcro: he completely hid the fact that he was gay, and nobody had any idea. Besides, what else rhymes with Pagliacci? True, Fibonacci, but this isn't a song about math, much less a numerical sequence that approaches the Golden Ratio the higher you progress... You young whippersnappers don't even know who Pagliacci is, do you? He is the sad clown of classic Italian opera, penned by Leoncavallo. He also shows up in the Smokey Robinson classic "Tears Of A Clown." This song has so many covers and alternate versions, it's almost worth a book listing in itself. Male or female vocals may swap the sex of the requested "dream" as needed, with very little trouble. Ballard even wrote a Christmas version substituting "Mr. Santa." The song also gives itself over well to parody. This is going to sound strange in the Internet Age, but back in the 1950s they had "fan clubs." A central organization would have a president and send out a newsletter. The Chordettes had one headquartered from Union City, New Jersey by one Jody Destefano. Yes, there were obsessive fans trading messages back and forth before anyone heard of the Internet. A cover version by the YouTube-famous duo Pomplamoose was used in a 2010 commercial for the Toyota Avalon.

(Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung)
(Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung)
(Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung)
(Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung)

Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream (bung, bung, bung, bung)
Make him the cutest that I've ever seen (bung, bung, bung, bung)
Give him two lips like roses and clover (bung, bung, bung, bung)
Then tell him that his lonesome nights are over
Sandman, I'm so alone (bung, bung, bung, bung)
Don't have nobody to call my own (bung, bung, bung, bung)
Please turn on your magic beam
Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream

(Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung)
(Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung)
(Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung)
(Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung)

Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream
Make him the cutest that I've ever seen
Give him the word that I'm not a rover
Then tell him that his lonesome nights are over
Sandman, I'm so alone
Don't have nobody to call my own
Please turn on your magic beam
Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream

(Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung)
(Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung)
(Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung)
(Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung)

Mr. Sandman (yes) bring us a dream
Give him a pair of eyes with a "come-hither" gleam
Give him a lonely heart like Pagliacci
And lots of wavy hair like Liberace
Mr. Sandman, someone to hold (someone to hold)
Would be so peachy before we're too old
So please turn on your magic beam
Mr. Sandman, bring us, please, please, please
Mr. Sandman, bring us a dream

(Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung)
(Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung, bung)