Begin the Beguine

"Begin the Beguine" is a song written by Cole Porter that Frank Sinatra first performed in 1938.

The song became a huge hit for Sinatra to sing in concert though he never wanted to do a studio version of the song. In May of 1943, however, Sinatra performed along Axel Stordahl to perform the song for the first time in a studio setting. Sinatra enjoyed the arrangement, and decided to use it as a studio recording of the song, but in 1944, he wanted to try another take on the song, however, the arrangement was too similar to the first.

Sinatra recorded this song yet again, this time in the autumn of 1945. Stordahl wrote an entirely new arrangement for Sinatra. Aside from the initial rumba rhythm of the first two takes, Stordahl decided to take a more big band approach to the song.

As Sinatra performed the song, now swinging, throughout the 40s, he realized that he wanted to perform the song in its original style he had performed it in in his earlier days. He got together with Stordahl for a recording of the song yet again, and this new rendition of the song was released as a single with a B-side of "Where Is My Bess?."

Sinatra later performed the song throughout the rest of the 40s, and into the 50s.

History
"Begin the Beguine" was written by Cole Porter in 1935. Porter gained inspiration for the song during his Pacific cruise along Indonesia, Kalabahi, and Figi during 1935. The song was introduced in the Musical Jubilee, the same musical that brought Porter's "Just One of Those Things," in which the song was performed by June Knight.

Releases

 * Reissues
 * The Best of the Columbia Years: 1943–1952 (1998)
 * Super Hits (2000)
 * Gold Collection (2001)
 * Sinatra Sings Cole Porter (2003)

Lyrics
When they begin the beguine It brings back the sound of music so tender It brings back a night of tropical splendor It brings back a memory ever green

I'm with you once more under the stars And down by the shore an orchestra's playing Even the palms seem to be swaying When they begin the beguine

To live it again is past all endeavor Except when that tune clutches my heart And there we are swearing to love forever And promising never, never to part

What moments divine, what rapture serene Till clouds come along to disperse the joys we had tasted, And now when I hear people curse the chance that was wasted, I know but too well what they mean.

So don't let them begin the beguine, Let the love that was once a fire remain an ember Let it sleep like the dead desire I only remember When they begin the beguine

Oh yes, let them begin the beguine, make them play Till the stars that were there before return above you Till you whisper to me once more, Darling, I love you And we suddenly know what heaven we're in When they begin the beguine When they begin the beguine