If You Were the Only Girl (in the World)

"This article is about the song. For the Upstairs, Downstairs episode, see If You Were The Only Girl In The World."

"If You Were the Only Girl (in the World)" is a popular song.

The music was written by Nat D. Ayer, the lyrics by Clifford Gray. The song was published in 1916. It was republished in 1946. The song has become a standard, recorded by many artists.

Edward Elgar called it the most perfect tune ever Fact|date=February 2007. It was introduced on 19 April 1916 at the premiere of the musical/revue "The Bing Boys Are Here" at The Alhambra, Leicester Square, sung as a duet between the original stars, George Robey as Lucius Bing and Violet Loraine as Emma.

In the context of the terribly deadly battles going on at the time, it seems representative of a need for escape from a nightmare of war.

Lyrics

Sometimes when I feel low
and things look blue
I wish a boy I had... say one like you.
Someone within my heart to build a throne
Someone who'd never part, to call my own

If you were the only girl in the world
and I were the only boy
Nothing else would matter in the world today
We could go on loving in the same old way

A garden of Eden just made for two
With nothing to mar our joy
I would say such wonderful things to you
There would be such wonderful things to do
If you were the only girl in the world
and I were the only boy.

Though Robey definitely pronounces "girl" as "girl-ie".

Later performances

Actor-singer Rudy Vallee sang a version in the film "The Vagabond Lover", released in 1929.

One well-known version was recorded by Perry Como on March 21, 1946 and released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-1857-B, the flip side of "They Say It's Wonderful". This version reached #14 on the Billboard magazine charts. The recording was also released in the United Kingdom by HMV as catalog number BD-1165, the flip side of "I Dream of You (More than You Dream I Do)".

Anton Szandor LaVey, founder and High Priest of The Church of Satan, also performed the song on his 1990 album "Satan Takes A Holiday".

External links

* [http://www.firstworldwar.com/audio/ifyouweretheonlygirl.htm "If You Were the Only Girl (in the World)"] sung by Loraine and Robey, 1916 (mp3)