Singin' in the Bathtub

"Singing in the Bathtub"
Song
Published1929
Songwriter(s)Herb Magidson
Ned Washington
Composer(s)Michael Cleary

"Singing in the Bathtub" is a song written in 1929 by Michael H. Cleary, with lyrics by Herb Magidson and Ned Washington for the film The Show of Shows.[1] The Show of Shows was Warner Bros.' answer to MGM's The Hollywood Revue of 1929, and "Singing in the Bathtub" spoofs Hollywood Revue's song "Singin' in the Rain".[2] In Show of Shows, the number features an enormous bathtub and is performed by Winnie Lightner and a chorus of male performers (some dressed as women) wearing antiquated bathing suits.[3]

The song was recorded by many performers of the time, including Guy Lombardo,[4] Dorothy Provine,[5] Dick Robertson,[6] King Ben Nawahi,[7] Gracie Fields,[8] Vaughn De Leath,[9] The Georgians,[10] and Danny Kaye, and more recently by Robert Crumb, John Lithgow, Mic Conway and Mandy Patinkin.[11] In Vaughn DeLeath's rendition of the song, she sings the line "the ring around the bathtub is a rainbow to me" as "a rainbow from me", substantially changing its meaning.[12]

The lyrics often include a quotation of the title air from "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles".

  1. ^ Sinkin' in the Bathtub Archived 2007-04-08 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ NY Times, Movies
  3. ^ NY Times movie review
  4. ^ Warner Chappell Music
  5. ^ Warner Chappell Music
  6. ^ jcgi.pathfinder.com
  7. ^ MrGosh Playlist
  8. ^ Vitaphone Varieties
  9. ^ Vitaphone Varieties
  10. ^ "The Georgians". redhotjazz.com. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  11. ^ Starpulse.com
  12. ^ Vitaphone Varieties