When you come to the "End of a Perfect Day..."

The sound of a victrola playing an old recording, on the yellowdog plains... truly a Perfect Day! The coyotes must have been perking up their ears to catch the words.

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A PERFECT DAY (1909).
Words and Music by Carrie Jacobs-Bond (1862-1946), who resided in Iron River Michigan in the 1890s, until her husband died...


When you come to the end of a perfect day,
And you sit alone with your thought,
While the chimes ring out with a carol gay,
For the joy that the day has brought,
Do you think what the end of a perfect day
Can mean to tired heart,
When the sun goes down with a flaming ray,
And the dear hearts have to part?
Well, this is the end of a perfect day,
Near the end of a journey, too,
But it leaves a thought that is big and strong,
With a wish that is kind and true.
For mem'ry has painted this perfect day
With colors that never fade,
And we find at the end of a perfect day,
The soul of a friend we've made.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• victrola

[TotallyItalian1]

I just heard this song sung by Sterling Holloway in the movie "Remember the Night". (also starring Fred MacMurry & Barbara Stanwyck) I'm so glad I found it here on YouTube. Thank you uploading this precious song.

[nielswinkel]

I remember many years ago I heard this song for the first time on Radiio Luxembourgh

Niels Winkel

[doctorpsycho1960]

A rather good video to go with this song.

[LePrince1890]

Years ago I read a book by Dale Carnegie, LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT WELL KNOWN PEOPLE, and it had a chapter on Mrs. Bond. She became a song writer to support herself and her family after her husband died. This is the best known song, and it was the favorite song of Presicent Warren Harding.

[FERENCEFF]

The opening notes of this composition are very similar to the Joachim Raff Cavatina.

[w0103411]

The singer is possibly Evan Williams. See the English Wikipedia article on "Evan Williams (tenor)" and also compare this recording with one of the versions of "A Perfect Day" sung explicitly by Evan Williams on YouTube.

[Spaguy62]

It's not John McCormack. He had a considerably stronger voice. Same era though. I collect records from the 1900's through the 1930's and haven't come across this version. I also sing in barbershop quartets and this is a great closing number at the end of the night. Beautiful lyrics and sung almost to this timing and voicing is the way to sell it. People love the images it conjures up - "when you're left all alone with your thoughts" and "can mean to the tired heart" are outstanding lyrics.

[INGRIDELISAANNA]

somebody knows how or where i can download this song??? want to put it for my old neighbour on cd....thanks!!!

[w0103411]

Read the English Wikipedia articles on Carrie Jacobs-Bond and "A Perfect Day" (song).

[lugifust]

Absolutely wonderful !