Shirley Bassey - If Ever I Would Leave You

1967 (Bassey and Basie TV Special)

Shirley recorded and released this song on her 1965 LP titled, 'Shirley Bassey Belts The Best'

ABOUT the song:
The song, 'If I Ever Would Leave You' is from the Musical, Camelot. This is a musical by Alan Jay Lerner (book and lyrics) and Frederick Loewe (music). It is based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the T. H. White tetralogy novel The Once and Future King.

The original 1960 production, directed by Moss Hart and orchestrated by Robert Russell Bennett and Philip J. Lang, ran on Broadway for 873 performances, winning four Tony Awards and spawning several revivals, foreign productions and a 1967 film version. The original cast album was America's top-selling LP for 60 weeks. The musical has become associated with the (USA) Kennedy Administration.

Camelot opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre on December 3, 1960 and closed on January 5, 1963 after 873 performances and 2 previews.

Shirley recorded and released this song on her 1965 LP titled, 'Shirley Bassey Belts The Best'.

LYRICS:
If ever I would leave you
It wouldn't be in summer.
Seeing you in summer I never would go.
Your hair streaked with sun-light,
Your lips red as flame,
Your face witha lustre
that puts gold to shame!

But if I'd ever leave you,
It couldn't be in autumn.
How I'd leave in autumn I never will know.
I've seen how you sparkle
When fall nips the air.
I know you in autumn
And I must be there.

And could I leave you
running merrily through the snow?
Or on a wintry evening
when you catch the fire's glow?

If ever I would leave you,
How could it be in spring-time?
Knowing how in spring I'm bewitched by you so?
Oh, no! not in spring-time!
Summer, winter or fall!
No, never could I leave you at all!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Shirley Bassey
• Count Basie
• Alan Jay Lerner
• Frederick Loewe

[donnagirl66]

great song.............lousy arrangement!

[stanibol]

It's not difficult to flick past the most consistent top performers like Shirley Bassey and Nana Mouskouri, cos it's just impossible to fault them. When you sing as good as they do every time, it can get monotonous for the critic. lol But I love Shirley Bassey and Nana Mouskouri to bits.

[MusicLoverBrian1]

I love listening and watching EARLY SHIRLEY!! The only 2 renditions of "If Ever I Would Leave You" that I love is the one from Robert Goulet and the other is none other than Shirley Bassey herself!

[hunkhk]

looks like a christmas tree ornament - but impeccable performance as always - what a star

[lydee09]

Wow, what a treasure this is. It is great to see. I don't think I have ever seen her arms so still as at the beginning of this song. By the end though they came alive as only our dear Dame Shirley can make them. Thanks