Whip-Poor-Will

Album: Zip Goes A Million (1919)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Also spelt whippoorwill, this is a species of nightjar; it is also the title of a song from the 1919 musical Zip Goes A Million. This is not to be confused with the show of the same title that starred George Formby as leading man, nor with other songs of the same title.
  • "Whip-Poor-Will" is credited to the composer Jerome Kern and lyricist B.G. DeSylva.
  • Zip Goes A Million is based on the book Brewster's Millions; although Kern was an extremely successful composer, this was his big flop, but "Whip-Poor-Will" was one of the songs rescued from the show and used in the show Sally.
  • "Whip-Poor-Will" has been widely recorded including by Jessie Matthews, but is best rendered as a duet. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for all above

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

90s Metal

90s MetalFact or Fiction

Test your metal - Priest, Maiden, and Beavis and Butt-head show up in this one.

Psychedelic Lyrics

Psychedelic LyricsMusic Quiz

Whoa man! Do you know which band came up with these cosmic lyrics?

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."