Willie Can
1956 single by Mitch Miller And His Orchestra And Chorus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Willie Can" Is a popular hit song written in 1955 by the American country and western songwriter Boudleaux Bryant and his wife Felice Bryant.[1][2][3] It reached the charts in 1956 in the US with the Mitch Miller version (#30)[4] and in the UK with Alma Cogan's (#13).[5]
| "Willie Can" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Mitch Miller And His Orchestra And Chorus | |
| B-side | "Lisbon Antigua" |
| Released | 1956 |
| Recorded | 1955 |
| Genre | Country and western |
| Length | 2:14 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter | Boudleaux Bryant |
The song, in a lighthearted vein, gives a list of activities and kindnesses the woman singer would wish to have in a lover and husband.
It was recorded by:
- Mitch Miller and His Orchestra and Chorus (USA) in January 1956
- Alma Cogan with Choir and Orchestra conducted by Frank Cordell (UK) in March 1956
- The Beverley Sisters with The Roland Shaw Orchestra (UK) in March 1956
- Sue Thompson (USA) in January 1963
Form of the song
The song lists the things the female singer requires of her suitor. These vary between versions but in full are:
To cook, save a dollar bill, sew, give a girl a thrill, ride a black-eyed stallion, fight a bear, love, braid her hair, do the things she asks him, dance, prance, take her to the fair, say he cares, dig a hole to China, climb a tree, kiss and kiss her, do the things she asks him (and do them true), run, catch a honey bee, sing and sing to her, try to swim the Channel, fly a kite, be bold, hold her , squeeze her tight, run, sing, sing to her.
The Beverley Sisters version adds:- crossing a burning desert and crossing the sea.
The list is broken up by a chorus which runs:
Willie can, Willie can, Willie can, fair lady If Willie takes a shine to you
