Goodnight, Irene

"Goodnight, Irene" or "Irene, Goodnight," is a 20th century American folk standard. The lyrics tell how the singer lost his love through "rambling and gambling". He contemplates suicide in the famous line "Sometimes I take a great notion to jump in the river and drown". The final verse urges the listener to "go home to your wife and family". In addition to many recorded versions, it is also a favorite camp and fireside song.

Some sources, including blues scholar Paul Oliver, claim the version popularized by Lead Belly in the 1940s, which he titled just "Irene," is based on the 1886 pop song by Gussie L. Davis. Lead Belly himself said he had learned it from his uncle. It was a US #1 hit for folk group The Weavers in 1950. The song is written in 3/4 time.

It has since been recorded by a number of artists, in pop, country, folk and rock styles (see list below). In 2002, Lead Belly's 1936 Library of Congress recording received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. English football (soccer) club Bristol Rovers have adopted it as their "club song" and the fans often sing it during matches.

1950: the hits

The recording by The Weavers was recorded in New York City on May 26, 1950 and released by Decca Records as catalog number 27077. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on June 30, 1950 and lasted 25 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1.cite book
last = Whitburn
first = Joel
authorlink = Joel Whitburn
title = Top Pop Records 1940-1955
publisher = Record Research
year = 1973 ]

The recording by Frank Sinatra was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 38892. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on July 10, 1950 and lasted 9 weeks on the chart, peaking at #12.

The recording by Dennis Day was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-3870. It reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart at #22 on September 22, 1950, its only week on the chart. The flip side, a cover of Patti Page's hit "All My Love" had approximately equal success, so that if a one-week stay in the charts at #22 is considered a hit, this was a two-sided hit.

The recording by Jo Stafford was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 1142. It reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart at #26 on September 1, 1950, its only week on the chart. This was her last charted hit before moving from Capitol to Columbia Records.

On the Cash Box chart, where all available versions were combined in the standings, the song reached a peak position of #1 on September 2, 1950, and lasted at #1 for 10 weeks. It was also a #1 record (3 weeks) for Ernest Tubb & Red Foley (1950) on Decca records with The Sunshine Trio (backing vocals).

The song was basis for the 1950 parody called "Please Say Goodnight to the Guy, Irene" by Ziggy Talent.

References

Lyrics

Lead Belly's version
* Irene, goodnight, Irene, goodnight,: Goodnight, Irene, goodnight, Irene,: I'll get you in my dreams

* I asked your mother for you:(What'd she tell him?): She told me that you was too young:(She's 18 years old): I wish the Lord that I'd never seen your face: I'm sorry you ever was born:(It broke his heart!)
* Irene, goodnight, Irene, goodnight,: Goodnight, Irene, goodnight, Irene,: I'll get you in my dreams

* Sometimes I live in the country,: Sometimes I live in town,: Sometimes I have a great notion;: Jumpin' in into the river and drown

* Irene, goodnight, Irene, goodnight: Goodnight, Irene, goodnight, Irene: I'll get you in my dreams

* Stop ramblin', and stop gamblin',: Quit stayin' out late at night:(What are ya gonna do?): Go home to your wife and your family:(Where you oughta be,): And sit down out by the fireside bright:(And people come at night)

* Irene, goodnight, Irene, goodnight,: Goodnight, Irene, goodnight, Irene,: I'll get you in my dreams

* I love Irene, God knows I do:(Too late): Love her until the sea run dry: If Irene turns her back on me:(Whatcha gonna do?): I'm gonna take a morphine and die;(She said, "go ahead and kill yourself then!")

* Irene, goodnight, Irene, goodnight,: Goodnight, Irene, goodnight, Irene,: I'll get you in my dreams

The Weavers' Version
* The very last words that I heard her say,: Was "please sing me one more song"

* Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight,: Goodnight Irene, Goodnight Irene,: I'll see you in my dreams

* Last Saturday night, I got married: Me and my wife settled down: Now me and my wife are parted: I'm gonna take another stroll downtown

* Stop rambling, stop your gambling,: Stop staying out late at night: Go home to your wife and family: Stay there by your fireside bright

* I love Irene God knows I do: Love her till the seas run dry: And if Irene turns her back on me,: I'll take morphine and die

(Amid the political and social pressure that plagued The Weavers through much of their early career, this last verse was frequently omitted from live performances for obvious reasons.)

ANOTHER VERSESometimes she sleeps in pajamas,Sometimes she wears a nightgown,But when they're both at the laundry,Irene is the talk of the town

Selected list of recorded versions

* 1936 Lead Belly, Library of Congress
* 1950 The Weavers, US #1
*1950 Frank Sinatra, US #1
*1950 Ernest Tubb & Red Foley, US #1 country
*1979 Raffi (album: Corner Grocery Store)
*1967 Originals on Soul Records, part of Motown Group
*1969 The Kingston Trio (album: Once upon a Time)
*1976 James Booker (album: Junco Partner)
*1992 Dr. John (album: Goin' Back to New Orleans)
*1994 Meat Puppets (EP: Raw Meat)
*1999 Kelly Joe Phelps (album: Shine Eyed Mister Zen)
* Gene Autry
* Moon Mullican
* Jerry Reed, instrumental version
* Gordon Jenkins
* Jerry Lee Lewis
* Johnny Cash
* Jackie Greene [http://www.streamjackiegreene.com 'Free Stream'] .
* Ry Cooder
* Bill Frisell
* Alex Harvey
* Michelle Shocked
* Bryan Ferry
* Half Man Half Biscuit
* Kelly Joe Phelps
* Little Richard
* Pete Seeger
* The Irish Rovers
* The Chieftains
* Les Paul & Mary Ford
* Peter, Paul & Mary
* Mississippi John Hurt
* Bob Hope
* Nat King Cole
* Odetta
* Carl Perkins
* Big Bill Broonzy
* Lonnie Donegan
* Robert Johnson
* Chet Atkins
* Mantovani
* Leon Russell
* Tom Waits
* Van Morrison with Lonnie Donegan
* Brian Wilson
* Jim Reeves
* Jimmy Buffett
* Shivaree, on their cover album
* Grateful Dead 12-31-83
* The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl played and recorded this together live.
* Maximum Roverdrive - A mysterious group of musicians associated with Bristol Rovers FC, recorded another version. This version is played at the Memorial Stadium on matchdays.
* Mitch Miller and the gang (On the album of their singalong folk songs) from 1959.
* Peter, Paul and Mary, as a finale of a live concert in the 1980s.
* John Sebastian (1971) on Cheapo-Cheapo Productions Presents Real Live John Sebastian. Credit given to Huddie Ledbetter AKA Leadbelly
* The Swampnobs to be released 2008 on the album "The Hidden Mantra of Damnation"

See also

* Kisses Sweeter Than Wine, another song The Weavers borrowed from Lead Belly
* Van Morrison, growing up as a fan of Lead Belly, did his very first performance singing "Goodnight, Irene" as a child.
* Moxy Früvous, a Canadian band, incorporates the chorus of "Goodnight, Irene" into their song "The Drinking Song".
* Book by Ken Kesey titled Sometimes a Great Notion from the song "Goodnight, Irene".
* PJ Harvey sings the chorus of "Goodnight, Irene" on the track "Goodnight" featured on the album 4-Track Demos.
* The phrase "Goodnight Irene" also appears in the song "Reckless Burning" by Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter.
* The phrase "Goodnight Irene" is used in the song "Love and death in the dark" by The Beasts of Bourbon on their first album.
* Irene Goodnight is used in the soundtrack of Take This Hammer, a documentary about the building of dry stack stone walls, http://www.take-this-hammer.com

References

*Oliver, Paul (1984). "Songsters and saints: vocal traditions on race records". Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge. ISBN 0-521-24827-2.

External links

* [http://www.rienzihills.com/SING/G/goodnightirene.htm Good Night Irene - lyrics and midi on RienziHills.com]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjKx4ekMpVw Bristol Rovers football fans singing Goodnight Irene]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbdOFz_PQOQ "Good Night Irene"]