I Went to Your Wedding

"I Went to Your Wedding" is a popular song written by Jessie Mae Robinson and published in 1952.

The song is a report of a wedding, attended by the ex-lover of one of the parties being married, who obviously is still in love with the person it is addressed to. While the lines "You came down the aisle/ Wearing a smile/ A vision of loveliness" might suggest the song being directed to a female, the best-known versions of the song have been sung by female singers, presumably to male ex-lovers.

The biggest hit version was recorded by Patti Page. It was recorded on August 6, 1952, and issued by Mercury Records as catalog number 5899, with the flip side "You Belong to Me." It first entered the Billboard chart on August 22, 1952, lasting 21 weeks and reaching #1 on the chart. [cite book
last = Whitburn
first = Joel
authorlink = Joel Whitburn
title = Top Pop Records 1940-1955
publisher = Record Research
year = 1973 ]

Another version was recorded by the Sammy Kaye orchestra, on August 15, 1952, and issued by Columbia Records as catalog number 39856.

The song was also recorded by Alma Cogan in the United Kingdom in 1952.

It was then famously 'spoofed' by Spike Jones and his City Slickers later in the decade. The lines quoted above were altered thus: "You tripped down the aisle/ Fell flat on your (laughter) smile/ Your father was loaded too". The male ex-lover (Jones' vocalist) is in fact now interpreted to be glad to "get rid" of the bride!

References