Hinky Dinky Parlez Vous

No I am not speaking some strange language. I just got to thinking about what people enjoyed listening to before rock and roll came along and through two World Wars. Oh yes, as horrible and as frightening as it might seem there were plenty of songs and a lot of music to like but there was no rock and roll. However people did survive and they also danced and enjoyed themselves.

“Hinky Dinky Parlez Vous” was also known as “Mademoiselle from Armentieres” and was a very popular song during WW I. It was an English song cleverly mixing in some French as well.

In different versions, this song has presented itself in two episodes of I Love Lucy since Fred Mertz was a WW I veteran, in an episode of The Lucy Show, with Sophia singing it making up her own words in The Golden Girls, and in Cheers where the regulars attempt to sing the song to brighten up the mood of a WW I veteran who appears as the only member of his unit attending a reunion just to mention a few.

People always have to have some joy in life even during war as bombs go flying the joy of life goes way beyond the fear of death and there is always hope for better times on the horizon. These songs are worth listening to and enjoying once again.

“Mademoiselle from Armentiers” is an English song that was popular during WW I. It is best known by its French line “Inky Pinky Parlez Vous” or Americanized “Hinky Dinky Parlez-vous”. The first recording of the song was made in 1915 by music hall baritone Jack Charman.

“After the War is Over” is a song from 1918. It was written during WW I and composed by Harry Andrieu with lyrics by Joseph Woodruff, E,J. Pourmon, and Andrew B, Starling, There are four versions of the score, The song is a celebratory song that anticipates American soldiers ending the war and returning home.

“It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” is an English music hall song, It was first performed in 1912 by Jack Judge and written by Judge and Harry Williams. Recorded in 1914 by Irish tenor John McCormack it was used as a marching song by soldiers. Welcoming signs in the town of Tipperary, Ireland said “You’ve come a long way” in reference to the song.

“Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile” is the full name of another WW I marching song that was published in 1915 in London, England. It was written by Welsh songwriter George Henry Powell. The song is best remembered for its choruls and was featured in the American shoe “Her Soldier Boy” 1916.

“Over There” is a 1917 war song that was written by American singer George M. Cohen and was popular with the US Military and the American public during WW I and WW II. It was written shortly after the American entry into WW I.

During WW II households in the US had radios to listen to. They could hear news about the war and listen to popular music of that era. Among the popular singers were Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, the Andrew Sisters, and Bing Crosby.

“Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” is a WW II jump blues song. It was written by Don Raye and Hughie Price. The song was introduced by the American close harmony group The Andrews Sisters in the Abbott and Costello comedy film “Buck Privates” in 1941. The song charted on the US Pop Singles chart and in the Top Ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It has become an iconic song of WW II.

“I’ll Be Seeing You” is a popular song about missing someone you love, The song was written by Irving Kahal and Sammy Fain, It was published in 1938 and used in the Broadway musical “Right This Way”. A popular version of the song was recorded by American singer and actor Frank Sinatra.

“My Blue Heaven” is a popular song that was written by Walter Donalson and George A, Whiting. The song was used in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1927. It became a big hit for crooner Gene Austin accompanied by the Victor Orchestra. In 1978 the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

“(There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover” is a popular WW II song that was written in 1941 by Walter Kent and Nat Burton. It became famous in the UK when sung by British singer Vera Lynn in 1942. It became one of her best-known recordings and among the most popular WW II tunes.

“Lili Marleen” is a German love song that became popular in WW II throughout Europe. It was written in 1915 as a poem and published as a song in 1937. It was originally sung by Lake Andersen but the most well-known version was sung by German-American actress Marlene Dietrich.

“When the Lights Go on Again (All Over the World)” is a popular song that was composed during WW II. It was written by Bennie Benjamin, Sol Marcus, and Eddie Seiller. It was first recorded by American baritone singer Vaughn Monroe and went to number one on the charts in 1943. The song expresses the hope for the war to end. The title of the song comes from the refrain found all throughout the song:

When the lights go on again all over the world

And the boys are home again all over the world

And rain or snow is all that may fall from the skies above

A kiss won't mean "Goodbye" but "Hello to love"

“We’ll Meet Again” is a song from 1939 sung by British singer Vera Lynn, It was written by English songwriters Ross Parker4 and Hughie Charles. It became one of the most famous songs of the WW II era.

“As Time Goes By” is a jazz song that was written by Herman Hupfield in 1931. It was featured in the 1942 film “Casablanca” and performed by Dooley Wilson as Sam. The song remains popular to this day and is remembered by everyone.