"The Love Nest" (John Steel, 1920)

From the George M. Cohan musical, "Mary", lyrics by Otto Harbach with music by Louis A. Hirsch. In Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby" it's the song played by Klipspringer just before he sings "Ain't We Got Fun".

The song served as the theme for both the "George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" and the early TV series, "Ethel and Albert".

THE LOVE NEST

Many builders there have been
Since the world began,
Palace, cottage, mansion, inn
They have built for man.
Some were small and some were tall,
Long or wide or low...
But the best one of them of the all
Jack built long ago.
Was built in bygone days,
Yes, millions sing its praise:

Just a love nest, cozy and warm,
Like a dove rest, down on a farm,
A veranda with some sort of clinging vine,
Then a kitchen where some rambler roses twine;
Then a small room, tea set of blue,
There's the ball room, dream room for two,
Better than a palace with a gilded dome,
Is the love nest you can call home!

Building houses still goes on
Now as well as then
Ancient Jack and Jill are gone,
Yet return again.
Ever comes the question old,
"Shall we build for pride? Or,
Shall brick and mortar hold
worth and love inside?"
The answer you may know,
Jack solved it long ago...

Then a small room, tea set of blue,
There's the ball room, dream room for two,
Better than a palace with a gilded dome,
Is the love nest you can call home!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 1920
• John
• Steel
• George
• M.
• Cohan
• Mary
• Otto
• Harbach
• Louis
• Hirsch
• Burns
• Gracie
• Allen
• Ethel
• Albert
• gatsby
• klipspringer

[DavidN23Skidoo]

Very Nice! Thank You!

[RReady555]

You're entirely welcome, friend! As always, it's an honor to have the tune featured on your fine blog. ;)

Best wishes,

-RR

[Corrie121]

I really like this song, and this rendition enhances my liking for it.

Thanks for sharing.

[RReady555]

It's a great example of post-WWI optimism, Corrie...neat to hear all the verses in Steel's rendition.

Regards,

-RR

[mrdee11091]

john Steel had enjoyed his greatest success to date in the 1920 Follies, but his career was about to be briefly derailed by domestic problems. In August 1921, Steels wife—a minor vaudeville

[RReady555]

Sadly, that very messy divorce alienated him from the public...still, an amazing entertainer, Paul. ;)

[mini2bini]

The description was really helpful, i searched this because im reading The Great Gatsby and thought i could paint a more vivid image knowing what the music was like :)

[musicmonsterfaces]

i was reading the book too and wanted to hear the song :D

[JudyILove]

I thought it was on the Burns & Allen show

[LondonPostman]

A theme song to an early Marilyn Monroe starrer of the same title, Love Nest.

[bwc3821]

The Great Gatsby! At least it's better than saying "Thumbs up if Family Guy brought you here!"

[rhino787]

Everyone is here from the Great Gatsby! I am too!

[vpo2g2]

A wonderful and free voice, and a perfect example of "singing on the breath."

[horarwgt]

This was the second of John Steel's two #1 hits (the other being "A Pretty Girl Is Just Like A Melody" in 1919). In all, he racked up 13 hits between 1919 and 1922 ("A Rose, A Kiss and You," "Whispering, " "The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise," etc.). "The Love Nest" (Victor 18676) spent four weeks at #1 over a ten week run in the fall of 1920. An instrumental version, of course, later became the theme song of George Burns & Gracie Allen. Steel died in 1971 at the age of 71.

[slayerfan1994]

the great gatsby!



[amarcordeon]

Fantastic vintage song

Very emotional performance

I liked so much it

******

Lillo

[elxitotico]

I too am reading the Greaty Gatsby and decided to hear the song..i don't understand the words though lol

[nutsbutdum]

Is this the song Klipspringer plays on the piano in the novel The Great Gatsby?