Tonight You Belong To Me

Album: Ukulele Songs (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This popular American song was written in 1926 by lyricist Billy Rose and composer Lee David and originally recorded by Irving Kaufman. You might recognize the tune from Steve Martin's 1979 movie The Jerk when he performed it with Bernadette Peters.
  • Vedder first sung the song in public as a duet with Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney when he opened for the Portland, Oregon indie rock band at their last show on August 12, 2006. In 2011 he recorded it with the help of Cat Power (Chan Marshall) on his solo album, Ukulele Songs.
  • A few other artists had charting hits with this song: Frankie Laine reached #26 in 1952; Patience and Prudence reached #4 in 1956; and Lawrence Welk and The Lennon Sisters reached #15 in 1956.

Comments: 1

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 8th 1956, "The Lawrence Welk's Top Tunes and New Talent Show" debut on ABC-TV network, the show ran for two years...
    At the time "Tonight Be Belong to Me" by Mr. Welk, with the Lennon Sisters on vocals, was at #16 on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
    And on that same week two other versions of the song were on the Top 100; Patience & Prudence {at #7} and the duo of Karen Chandler & Jimmy Wakely {at #52}...
    Mr. Welk also had another record on the Top 100 at the time, "When the White Lilacs Bloom Again', it was at position #82.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.

Bible Lyrics

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.