Best loved songs from your childhood???

Atrig - your memory of your mum made me think of this.

During her last days in hospital my mother said her favourite song was 'Autumn Leaves'. Apparently it was playing the first time she danced with my father. Very romantic except that he was so drunk he fell down flat on the floor to her great embarrassment! Nevertheless they were married for 50 years before he died.

We played it at her funeral 8 years after he had gone which made these words particularly poignant.

"Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall."

Yes, of course feetlebaum, thank you
I remember now and remember hearing it (too much in my brain, I discard some of it)

Refers to You Are My Sunshine

I can't even think of this song without crying. My dear mum who died aged only 59 told me how she sang this when she was young to cheer herself up. She had a very harsh childhood yet remained a loving and positive person

I agree bohemian, I'm really enjoying all these great memories, humming songs I'd forgotten I knew!
It never occurred to me that the Happy Wandering song was of German origin feetlebaum but now it makes sense and I'm visualising fresh faced blond youngters in lederhosen!

@Rosequartz - German origins? The original title is "Der fröhliche Wanderer" and it was a huge hit sung by the Obernkirchen Children's Choir.
It was composed by Friedrich-Wilhelm Möller, so not a folk song as many of us had thought.

Que Sera, sera, whatever will be, will be...

Goodness me, what a trip down memory lane, wonderful!

Thank you bohemian for this thread and everyone who's contributed

'I love to go a'wandering
Along the mountain track
And as I go I love to sing
My knapsack on my back

Val de re
Val de ra
Val de ra ha ha ha ha ha
Val de re
Val de ra
My knapsack on my back!

I don't know why your mention of German made me remember that one, KatyK, perhaps it has German origins, or the Swiss mountain tracks

During our German lessons at school we learned to sing Silent Night in German (obviously!). I can still remember all the words, well to the first verse anyway. My granddaughter learned it during her German lessons and we used to sing it together

And featured on one of the Beatles' singles/album tracks.

It's Golden Slumbers, a lovely old lullaby.

feetlebaum, you are a mine of information!
(not useless information, either!)

I can't hear "you are my sunshine" without a smile! Back in the sixties, we were eating out in Singapore at one of the open air eateries, late in the evening when a large, very drunk, Norwegian sailor plonked himself down at our table and began to sing it to me! He howled his way through a couple of verses, got up, bowed and staggered off to serenade some other poor unfortunate diners. No harm in him. I have since sung my GS to sleep to the same song - but always, always sober!

"You Are My Sunshine/My only sunshine/You make me happy when skies are grey..."

I have heard that recently, once at a wedding and also at a couple of funerals right at the end.

I remember it as 'Golden Slumbers kiss your eyes' - beautiful tune. I used to sing it too.

When my kids were little I used to sing this lullaby
Golden wonders kiss your eyes
Smiles awake you when you rise
Sleep little baby, do not cry and I will sing a lullaby.
But don't know where it came from.
Thanks to you all for all the wonderful memories of songs past.
Especially MaggieMaybe as I lived in The NE when young and they used to sing Bladon Races and Lampdon worm in the folk clubs there.
Also an earlier post mentioned Shirley Abacair. I remember she was Australian and played a harp type of instrument called the Zither.

Poor Rosemary Clooney - Mitch Miller lumbered her with some dreadful songs! Only later in life was she able to blossom into the excellent singer she really was.

That Eartha Kitt number is actually called "Just an Old-Fashioned Girl" (Maura Fisher)

"Non, je ne regrette rien" (Charles Dumont/Michel Vaucaire) was dedicated to the French Foreign Legion, and is still sung on parade.

Not a lot of people...

Max used to pay a bloke to heckle him, shouting 'Big 'ead!' during his act, just so he could say 'I could put it in your mouth, and it'd still rattle!'

When I was a chee-ild during WWII, Community Singing was (unaccountably) popular*, and I remember they ALWAYS sang "You Are My Sunshine/My only sunshine/You make me happy when skies are grey..."
and (Clap, clap, clap, clap) "Deep In the Heart of Texas"...

*even worse than Karaoke, which I suppose could have got you shot.

I'm still singing!! What about Max Bygraves? In the spring I often find myself singing;

'Out there the sun is a big yellow duster polishing the blue, blue skies
With white fluffy clouds in a cluster
Hanging on the breeze to dry.
Trees everywhere, with blossom in their hair
And Mother Nature wears her newest gown.
Troubles there are so much rarer
Out of town.

There was also 'You Need Hands', 'Tulips from Amsterdam' and 'Why does everybody call me Big Ed'. (my brother had an enormously large head. Plus many many more.

Eartha Kitt sang the old-fashioned millionaire.
Non, je regrette rien was Edith Piaf.

Just thought of two other songs I loved but can't remember the names of the singers. Old fashioned millionaire and je na regret. Anyone help me out with their names?

Yes, rose quartz! Sisters by the Beverly sisters brings back many memories and your list of songs. I remember them all. Jail house rock by Elvis Presley comes to mind.

Oh yes - Shakin' Stevens did sing that one

The Welsh Elvis!

Oh yes, I remember that one too! And didn't Shakin' Stevens revive it at some time?

Rosemary Clooney sang "This ol' house" about a house that was falling to bits. Maybe it was the same house after the railroad had finished with it!