Songfacts®:

• The Sandman is the mythical creature who puts children to sleep by sprinkling magical sand in their eyes - it's why we wake up with that grit in the corners of our eyes. He's part of Scandinavian folklore but was well known to American children in the 1950s when the female vocal group The Chordettes sang about him on "Mr. Sandman," where they ask the sandman to bring them dreams of the perfect guy so they won't feel so lonely.
  
  The song was a huge hit, going to #1 for an amazing seven weeks in 1954 and launching their career. It came just before the rock era, so it carries a quint nostalgia that evokes that simpler time.
• The Chordettes were Jinny Osborn, Nancy Overton, Lynn Evans and Carol Buschmann. This song is an excellent example of their main form, singing close harmony a cappella with minimal accompaniment. The Chordettes kept up the wholesome sweet-as-angels image throughout the '50s and into the '60s; their second-biggest hit was "Lollipop" in 1959.
• Music students, take note: the chorus features a circle of fifths followed for six chords in a row within the chorus' chord progression.
• The dream guy in this song has "lots of wavy hair like Liberace." It may sound unusual for this song to mention Liberace, given his later-known preferences, but in 1954 he was hotter than velcro: he completely hid the fact that he was gay, and nobody had any idea. Besides, what else rhymes with Pagliacci, heard in the previous line, "Give him a lonely heart like Pagliacci"? True, Fibonacci, but this isn't a song about math, much less a numerical sequence that approaches the Golden Ratio the higher you progress...
  
  Pagliacci is the sad clown of classic Italian opera, penned by Leoncavallo. He also shows up in the Smokey Robinson classic "Tears Of A Clown."
• This song has many covers and alternate versions, often with the title rendered "Mister Sandman." Male or female vocals may swap the sex of the requested "dream" as needed, with very little trouble. A version by the male quartet the Four Aces went to #5 in 1955, and The Fleetwoods of "Come Softly To Me" fame took it to #113 in 1964.
• This is going to sound strange in the Internet age, but back in the 1950s they had "fan clubs." A central organization would have a president and send out a newsletter. The Chordettes had one headquartered from Union City, New Jersey by one Jody Destefano. Yes, there were obsessive fans trading messages back and forth before anyone heard of the Internet.
• A cover version by the YouTube-famous duo Pomplamoose was used in a 2010 commercial for the Toyota Avalon.
• The song was written by Pat Ballard, who also wrote "Twelve O'Clock Tonight" by Doris Day.
• Emmylou Harris covered "Mr. Sandman" in 1981 on her album Evangeline, taking it to #37. On the album version, she's accompanied by Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt. This was the first time these three recorded together; in 1987 they released the highly acclaimed album Trio.
• Metallica made the Sandman scary in their 1991 metal classic "Enter Sandman," where he haunts their dreams. For a more pleasant take on the character, check out Ed Sheeran's "Sandman," which he wrote as a lullaby to his daughter.
• The lead instrument on this one is a glockenspiel, which provides that soothing, sleep-inducing rhythm. The Chordettes also sing this part, harmonizing "Bung, bung, bung, bung, bung...").
• A Christmas version of this song called "Mr. Santa" first appeared in 1955 sung by Dorothy Collins. In that one, the singer is asking Santa to bring her toys - a reasonable request. Amy Grant released a popular version in 1999.
• "Mr. Sandman" shows up in many movies and TV series, often to provide a sense of time. For instance, it plays in Back to the Future (and the sequel) to let us know we're in the 1950s. It's also used in a surprising number of horror movies. Here are some films that use it:
  
  A Son of Man (2018)
  Deadpool (2016)
  Accidental Love (2015)
  The Little Death (2014)
  Planet 51 (2009)
  Nowhere Boy (2009)
  Mr. Nobody (2009)
  Halloween (2007)
  The Ringer (2005)
  The Singing Detective (2003)
  See Spot Run (2001)
  Cotton Mary (1999)
  Beefcake (1998)
  Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
  8 Heads in a Duffel Bag (1997)
  Blood & Donuts (1995)
  Philadelphia (1993)
  The Long Walk Home (1990)
  Cry-Baby (1990)
  Uncle Buck (1989)
  Private Popsicle (1982)
  Grease 2 (1982)
  A Little Sex (1982)
  Halloween II (1981)
  
  On TV, it's been used in episodes of:
  
  American Dad!
  Euphoria
  Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
  Mr. Robot
  Bates Motel
  Doctor Who
  Limitless
  It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
  Alpha House
  Sleepy Hollow
  Grimm
  30 Rock
  Futurama
  House
  The Vampire Diaries
  Nip/Tuck
  Friday Night Lights
  Charmed
  Will & Grace
  The Simpsons
  Doogie Howser, M.D.
  Family Ties
  Fame