Winter Was Warm

[BoldogKennel]

Best song and best voice I've heard in many, many a day. Thank you SO MUCH for posting this!

[TheCatgirl6]

Absolutely gorgeous lyrics by Bob Merrill (with partner Jule Styne; they composed the songs of "Funny Girl" and there's a wonderful picture of them with a young and smiling Streisand on Merrill's official website). Vivid imagery and a heartfelt, deceptively simple lyric. Does anyone nowadays write poetic songs like this?

[LadyFan05]

I love that song! Was that Joan Gardner singing or Dinah Shore?

[TheCatgirl6]

@LadyFan05 Neither--thanks to another poster here I recently learned it was Jane Kean, who played Trixie Norton on the Honeymooners segment of the Jackie Gleason variety show (Known as the "Color Honeymooners" 1966-'70). Very cool; I used to watch that show as a kid and don't remember ever hearing her sing in any of the episodes. I had no idea she had such a lovely voice!

[IAmARandomPerson466]

I've watched this movie at least once every December ever since I was a toddler, and this song always sticks in my head the most of all the songs in this movie

[renatethomas]

This show started as an hour special, and slowly got whittled down through the years to 1/2 hour. That's why this song was cut. Do they play this at Christmas time at all any more? Definitely means more to me now than when I was 8.

[BoldogKennel]

I'm with you all. Since childhood this song has been one of my favorites. Boy but they could write 'em and sing 'em back then, eh?

[MrCristoforoantonio]

I have loved this movie since I was a kid, and the songs are fantastic. I am glad to see that so many other people love it, too!!

[kobbywobby]

When I first heard this song as a child, I never thought many years later I would listen to it after my own divorce and weep.

[TheCatgirl6]

Ach--sorry for the double-comment. I kept getting an error message when I tried to post and thought it didn't take! :T

[TheCatgirl6]

The warmth and timbre of the singer's voice does indeed remind one of the great Judy; if I'm not mistaken, some or all of the talent involved in this production worked with her on the marvelous 1962 animated musical "Gay Purr-ee."

This song and scene remains special to me for reasons I still can't completely articulate. I was a child when I first saw it and it awakened in me the first stirrings of an adult's awareness of loss and regret. So heartfelt and moving.

[Deankut]

@TheCatgirl6 I LOVE and OWN Gay Purr-ee!!! That is really cool too!!

[TheCatgirl6]

@Deankut Oh, yeah--me too! My mom--who was born in 1936 and used to be taken to the movies all the time by her mom or one of her big sisters when she was young--introduced my brother and me to wonderful specials like "Gay Purr-ee" and "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" when we were very young and I bless her every day for it! (And can you imagine getting to see movies like "The Harvey Girls," "Gilda" and "An American In Paris" when they were newly released??)

[Deankut]

@TheCatgirl6 Yes I agree.. I love them! My Mom and I used to watch all the classics together when I was little. :)

[TheCatgirl6]

The warmth and timbre of the singer's voice does indeed remind one of the great Judy; if I'm not mistaken, some or all of the talent involved in this production worked with her on the marvelous 1962 animated musical "Gay Purr-ee."

This song and scene remains special to me for reasons I still can't completely articulate. I was a child when I first saw it and it awakened in me the first stirrings of an adult's awareness of loss and regret. So heartfelt and moving.

[CripShat27]

Whenever cartoon network airs this, they take out this song! It irritates me so much! I guess they don't want little kids around the country to start crying. When I watched this while I was younger, I thought it was just a pretty song. I didn't truly understand the meaning until I re-watched it years later. Now it makes me cry when I hear it. It irritates me that cartoon network would take away such a beautiful song just because it's sad.

[SongsJerome]

@CripShat27 During the late 80s they have deleted this song. My mother recorded this during the mid 1990s and I was always used not having hearing this song. In 1997 in kindergarden we watched this in class and I fell madly in love with this song.

[barbaricyawper14]

@CripShat27 I'm just glad I have the DVD so I can be sure to hear it every time I watch it! Marvelous song, it is. I still recall being a child watching the special and finding this song puzzling. It was obvious to me that the emotions were adult and I wasn't really meant to grasp them, at least at the time. But the emotion of "I'm All Alone in the World" hit home. Now THAT is a sad song that would make any kid (or adult for that matter) weep uncontrollably.

[TheCatgirl6]

@barbaricyawper14 OMG, I concur. That song is still tough to sit through for all the reasons you mention.

[TheCatgirl6]

@CripShat27 Well, they must have received plenty of complaints about doing that, because this aired twice last month around the holidays and "Winter Was Warm" was back and completely intact (thank goodness). My guess is CN was previously deleting the song to make room for more commercials rather than concern about feelings. Because you're right--this song is the story's beating heart. Belle's love redeemed and humanized Scrooge; losing her explains a lot of his bitterness

[jnoller49]

Thanks to all the kind folks who replied to me. My daughter just graduated college and is now going for her masters degree. She still lives with me and works on weekends. I never met anyone after that divorce. 5 yrs after the divorce I met someone but it did not work out as she clearly did not know how to treat children well...so I am alone and likely will be unless I get lucky. Life is lonely- but I have my dog and my daughter and I are very close.

[TheCatgirl6]

@jnoller49 Holidays are especially tough when you're alone, I know. God bless.

[tarmale]

I love this movie so much. I used to watch it with my dad and brothers as kids and now watch it with my own kids. It's a shame it doesn't come on tv anymore or very rarely.

[MrDJFruitloops]

Amazingly the vocals are the actress that played Trixie on the honeymooners

[laylacalif]

@MrDJFruitloops IMDB disputes this:

"Winter Was Warm"

Music by Jule Styne

Lyrics by Bob Merrill

Performed by Jane Kean

Trixie was played by Joyce Randolph.

[PatrickTheWriter]

@laylacalif That's understandable. There was a newer, color, version of "The Honeymooners" in the Jackie Gleason show. It was THAT version of "The Honeymooners" in which Jane Kean played Trixie. If you look up Jane Kean on IMDb, you'll see it. Joyce Randolph played Trixie in the ORIGINAL version of "The Honeymooners." You're quite right about that. It was the newer, less well-known version that used Jane Kean as Trixie.

[MrDJFruitloops]

this ALWAYS makes me cry

[ftsjr]

A painfully beautiful song. I remember seeing this great version of A Christmas Carol when it was first broadcast, in the early 60s. Even though I'm now in my 50s, I watch it every Christmas season.

[gahlony42]

i think I cry every time i hear this song. I just can't control it. This song is pretty much the constant in my life with a lot of bad things happening in my life. This song has stayed true in my heart. Thank you

[ladykarendean]

Such a Beautiful song. Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth.

ladykaren

[pachuco542004]

This marks a part of my childhood. I once taught my daughter to sing this very beautiful, very sad song.

[SongsJerome]

@pachuco542004 How old is she now?

[jekorb]

I always have loved this song---and in the last 10-15 years, it has been eliminated from the cartoon when it aired at Christmas. What a stupid thing to do! Thanks for posting this----you have my deepest gratitude.

[joelib]

Heartbreaking song.

[MarchingTwilightGirl]

This movie is so amazing and the music is fantastic. And yet, no one has heard of it anymore. It never got the credit it deserved.

[franciesfinds041]

I think this song means a lot of a lot of people. I'm 57 and remember this song very vividly. It has a way of bringing back not so nice memories..

[boobeedee]

AWESOME!

In reading these comments,to find that SO many feel the depth/sadness and beauty of this incredibly beautiful song...the minute jane kean starts to sing,the tears explode...this to me also means mourning one's own life eventually dying...the loss of loving life,memories and all whom we hold dear...

this masterpiece DEFINITELY deserves prominence...White Xmas,although

sentimental and beautiful doesn't remotely equal the power of this song

[jacobbean]

Is this Judy Garland?

[quicksilver57]

I hope the 2 years since you posted this things are looking up for you and your daughter, I can Imagine how it must have been listening to this song just in a reflective way but to be actually going thru a loss.

[Houdini774]

How sad. Old Ebenezer pleaded for Belle to stay, while young Ebenezer just sat there with his face in his hands. And they both truly loved her madly. Is that what greed can do to you? Let a beautiful woman you love walk out of your life just like that? I would have made her stay, and made soft beautiful love to her while the snow gently fell outside. But that's just me. Merry Christmas.

[SSArcher11]

I found this song on itunes. ".. trees with a sigh stand and shiver while their dreams fall and die."

Also, check out Rosemary Clooney and K. Carradine singing "Turn Around."

[CARDUELIS999]

They used to show this cartoon round Christmas time on tyhe local channels in New York. Now they show TMZ. Bleh. Things get worse.

[librarybob1958]

I can never hear, or sing, this great song without getting choked up. A song with something to say to anyone who's ever loved and lost, it deserves to be far better known than it is. Jane Kean "The Honeymooners") sings it beautifully here.

[OuryLN]

Winter was warm, Summer-soft that year. The winter was warm, Without a sign of frost, Like winter lost Its way that year. It seems, as I recall, No blossoms fell that fall. May didn't leave at all. Or did love paint an illusion? Now trees, with a sigh, Stand and shiver While their dreams fall and die. And all my dreams are bare, Wrapped up somewhere In summer leaves. Oh, what I'd give to be, To be in love again. This year, the winter is cold. Will it ever be warm As it was then?

[Beefsteer]

PS. Many have mentioned this sounds like Garland. She was bz for this studio-UPA in 1962 making Gay Purr-ee-a theatrical full length cartoon. Oddly after these 2 special projects-UPA promptly went out of business. But-if you want to hear Judy sing a similar song to this-for her cartoon--check out the song she recorded for UPA in 1962--called Little Drops of Rain. Think you will enjoy.

Still wish Magoo could be aired nationally annually. Meantime-to the dvds we go!

[Beefsteer]

Thanks for posting. The film is on dvd. There is a book about the making of this -& how it got passed over-& after 1970-it did not attract a national sponsor & sadly was allowed to fade away. Amazing -because this was the first full length cartoon special ever made for tv. Songs are great-as they come from B'way pros.Jane Kean sings this-sounds great. Guess Judy Garland was bz-real similar.This is my fave Xmas show. Watch it with my adult son 25 yrs tradition.

The best versionof Scrooge

[adhfan75]

Great song for a carton like that. Who's singing bcause she reminds me of Judy Garland. lol. No seriously.

Poor Ebenezer and Belle!

[railbuggy]

What a tragic song! When you're young sometimes you don't value those who truly love you but instead pursue things that turn out to be worthless. You regret hurting them the rest of your life. Great lessons in Charles Dickens' novel.

[lizziesecondstreet]

is it true that this song was cut from the original score for Funny Girl??? Thanks for any info.

[germanjaguar]

@lizziesecondstreet actually It was people by Barbara Streisand in the movie Funny Girl, that was meant for this cartoon.

[Inh722]

Yes..Im crying too....

[ellisonhorne]

Without question, Broadway legends Jule Styne and Bob Merrill (Funny Girl) created such an amazing musical which reaches far beyond the simple animation of the beloved Magoo cartoon. This song is one of the most tender, heart-wrenching pieces of music of a winter's love affair, lost to a far away time. In fact, this is one DVD you can play just for the sound--the orchestrations are so vivid and the adaptation has heart-warming spirit! Yes Networks, re-broadcast this one every year! - e

[ThatGuyTooHigh]

this makes my think of my mother and my youth.....i'm a grown man and im crying in sadness right now.

[acoustics101]

I loved this show growing up! I wish the major networks would bring it back and expose new generations to it.

[CapeCodLindsey]

I agree. I search every year for it on cable, to no avail.

[82roboc]

This was one of my favorite Christmas shows when I was young. It had such beautiful music. I wish it was still on TV for another generation to enjoy.

[los005]

Cartoon Network plays this every year. It's one of my favorites and I've watched it with my son a few times over his 12yrs.

[ThorpeGreg]

I haven't heard this song for 30 years. It was like rediscovering a old friend

[CELESTIALARIUM]

I bought the vhs film on ebay, I love it so much and rarely broadcast. The scarey parts actually did scare me when I was little.

The song is beautiful, but we are only talking about it, because the vocalist has such an incredible voice and style. It really gives me goosebumps, and makes me sad in a good way.

[lavalamp625]

I hate to say that this song and "Cheer Up Charlie" would always be fast forwarded when I was younger haha. I realize now this song is kinda pretty but it slows down the pace of the film.

[bertielemmings]

What a great song! Never fails to touch me to the core.

[misspaddylee]

Such a lovely song. It's a mystery to me that it hasn't become a standard.

[leftofmonalisa]

Truly, one of the great songs of the 20th century that went unnoticed for the most part. It bothers me to no end that a soundtrack for this movie was never released.

[metalmatt5]

I really want the sheet music to this!!!

[brownies4you]

" It was snowing, but we didn't notice."

I've always enjoyed that line.

Such a beautiful song...a heartbreaker, but still very beautiful.

[mikemanners11]

I think that there is an evil purpose in the fact that a lot of these old feel good positive films from our childhoods are not being re-aired. The government and the powers that be want us to feel defeated and rootless so that they can control us better. They want to steal our humanity....

[curlingto]

very well expressed..I think there is a good deal of sanity in your comment...

[mikemanners11]

thank you friend

[ralp3]

I am 56 years old, and I still remember the power of this song--how it speaks to the truth of love lost. And how we all long to have it back again. This song is what great music and great art is all about. For nearly 40 years it has stayed like a haunting ghost in my heart. Who said cartoons can't make you cry! You know, it reminds me so much of what Judy Garland would sing. Thank you so much for posting it.

[TheCatgirl6]

@ralp3 The warmth and timber of the singer's voice does indeed remind one of the great Judy. And if I'm not mistaken, some or all of the talents involved in this production worked with her on the wonderful 1962 animated film "Gay Purr-ee."

This song/scene is special to me for many reasons I still can't articulate. I was a child when I first saw it but it awakened something in me, the first stirrings of an adult's awareness of loss, regret and pain. So heartfelt and moving.

[Deankut]

@ralp3 WOW... I'm 43, and I can't add anything else to what you've written. As a child, I recorded this with a tape recorder (back then the tech high) and I would play it over and over and over and over again. During the day, at night as a lullaby. It too, has also haunted my heart all of my life. It truly is special. Much thanks for the post SamuraiSam. My tape deck is long gone, but I will revisit this when ever and where ever I feel the nostalgia..

[johnpatrickbear]

This is the Class of Classic

Love in a Cartoon how wonderful is that...

An oft under rated Art form

[SmileyFace4646]

I really wish someone would do a karaoke version of this so I could sing it

[pupadore]

I also recommend two other terrific Christmas entries: The Bishop's Wife with Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven, Monty Wooley, James Gleason, Elsa Lancaster, Rigis Toomey and the Twilight Zone's "Night Of The Meek" with Art Carney, John Fiedler and Val Avery

[pupadore]

Saw this for the first time when it originally aired on network TV...The Very Best of all the Christmas Specials.....The Best of all the great songs in this show...unbelievable this was never again recorded and released

[Losyark]

Joe Cascone - a writer/compser from Toronto - got the rights to use it in his stage rendition of Scrooge. It was heartbreaking.

[Beefsteer]

Great song from an under-rated holiday masterpiece. Why isn't this classic broadcast anylonger? The songs are great, and add to--rather than get in the way of- the plot. Well integrated by the 2 people that would bring us "Funny Girl" the next year. So -no wonder the music is excellent in this. Wonder why no singers ever do this song? Sounds so much like Garland-she should have! Let's bring back this show and revive Magoo for today's generation of kids that need him and this! RRR

[laylacalif]

Winter was warm

Summer soft that year

The Winter was warm

Without a sign of frost

Like winter lost

its way that year.

It seems, as I recall,

No blossoms fell that Fall.

They didn't leave at all

Or did love paint an illusion?

[frightfan1]

Oh my,I remember watching this great cartoon the very first showing on NBC.What wonderful memories.

[Redsox06]

Exactly. This is my favorite Christmas program. I remember loving it back in 1962, and nothing has changed. It's totally underrated and rare on television now, but it is a masterpiece.

[joruggs1966]

I love this show.

[ladykarendean]

This song is dedicated to our beautiful Mother, Carol.

love forever,

karen, lisa , eric and myra.

[marksman48]

song written by jules styne and bob merrill before they wrote the score to Funny Girl. One of my favorities ever and sung by Jane Kean who played Trixie Norton in 1978 version of the Honeymooners on the Jackie Gleason show.

[quizzlefits]

I still can't believe that a song this good and so full of emotion was in a Mr. Magoo cartoon. It is more like something from the 1971 musical movie Scrooge.

Actually, all the songs in this movie are good. But this is sublime; so melancholy and lovely. And if you ever broke up with someone and it stung, it's even more poignant.

I've loved this since I was a child, like so many other people. It's just very special.

[ladykarendean]

so beautiful!!! remember my Beloved Momma with this song- and her love and beauty. Hauntingly beautiful . love it!

[jnoller]

I can never ever forget this song. It was 1993 in December and I had just learned my wife was having an affair and was leaving me for him. We had just bought our 1st house only 3 months before this happened...and my daughter was but 3 years old. I was stricken with grief at the death of my marriage and the fear of what was to come..my little 3 year old sat in my lap as we watched this at Christmas time and I cried buckets. This song will haunt me all the days of my life........

[ProTwoAm]

jnoller,

I recall watching it with my sons in the upstairs room of a buddy's house where I had to live after my wife had made me leave home and then divorced me. This was 1985. As far as this song goes, I can relate to yout feelings! It's still difficult to listen to.

[jnoller]

Thank You- and I hope your life turned out ok.  I never met anyone after this happened..it's 16 years since that time but I raised my daughter alone and she is a great kid and attending college and doing well. Best of Luck to you!

[ProTwoAm]

Fortunately things turned out OK. My sons are grown and we're as close as we were back then. I'm 59 and single. Considering today's reality (relationships, finances, etc.) I feel I've made the right decision. Sure, it gets lonely at times, but it's better than the possible alternatives.

[brownies4you]

Dear Mr. Noller,

WHOA! I hope life has improved for you since 1993! Divorces can become incredibly vicious. You sound like an amiable guy...the kind of man who doesn't wear a proverbial mask. (There's pain in your life and you admit it. Sometimes exposing the hurt loosens its grip on one's soul.)  I hope you've met a special woman for your life by now.

May God continue to bless, protect, and solace you and your daughter.

[jnoller]

Hi, and thanks for the caring thoughts. It's now 16 yrs later and I am still single and have raised my daughter alone. She is a great daughter and is attending University and doing well. It's hard to meet quality people these days...but I always keep my eyes and heart open. It's still hard to watch this movie and hear that song that broke my heart!

[jnoller]

It's strange.....I recall now the very first time I saw this wonderful cartoon. I was in 4th grade and came home one December afternoon on a Saturday...just days before Christmas. I was tired from sledding in the snow and watched this in my room by myself and can recall how powerfully this affected me....even at that time as a young boy 9 years of age I can still recall how it made me feel....the sadness of the song,,and later the joy at Scrooge's second chance.

[peskylisa]

Funny how these things can evoke powerful memories!

[tarmale]

@jnoller I'm so sorry.  I hope you and your daughter have been able to move on and make a nice life for yourselves.

[cheseyitsyummyvideos]

One of the most under-appreciated songs of all time. Sweet....sadly sweet.

Like the flood of emotion when you find a love letter from a long past romance.

The warmth sweeps along your skin in a gentle rush. Like her fingertips once did.

[klooky666]

...will it ever be warm as it was then?

[barlyanne]

omg!this song is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever written. my heart aches, i feel as if i've lost a great love. this is one of the few films that can get me to feel such genuine emotion, as if adrift in a soft sad dream. lovely.

[germanjaguar]

Best song in this cartoon, Thanks!

[ProTwoAm]

One of the most beautiful songs ever written.

[jbassderby]

That's right. And the arrangement... like the strings when

she sings "to be in love again...". I thought it sounded like

Judy G, but as the other poster said, it's Jane Kean.

[laylacalif]

(continued) Now, trees with a sigh

Stand and shiver

while their dreams fall and die

And all my dreams are bare

Wrapped up somewhere in summer leaves.

Oh, what I'd give to be, to be in love again

This year the winter is cold.

Will it ever be warm as it was then?

[RilGania]

Wow... this brings back memories. Thank you so much for helping me have good ol memories!

[joestrab]

general information , jane kean sings winter was warm