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THE SONGS AND LYRICS
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FOLLOW ME (music - Nino Rota, lyrics - Ray Hoffman)
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Ray sings a theme from one of the signature films of Italian cinema, La Dolce Vita. The music --written to accompany a nightclub scene-- is by one of the signature composers of Italian cinema, Nino Rota. The English language lyrics --entitled "Follow Me"-- are by Ray Hoffman (the lyrics are printed in the lyric section below).
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The wonderful Bill Perkins (1924-2003) is heard on tenor saxophone. Larry Koonse is the guitarist, with Tom Warrington on bass.
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The band track was recorded at Stagg Street Studio in Van Nuys, California in 1999. It was mixed by Joe DiGeorgi of Headline Studios in Irvington, NY.
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©1997 Editiones Cam, Rome
also recorded by Anita Gravine on her CD,
Lights! Camera! Passion! – Jazz and the Italian Cinema
Soulnote Records 121306
DANCE WITH ME, OUTSIDE (music - Pete Rugolo, lyrics- Ray Hoffman)
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Ray collaborated on a number of song projects with Pete Rugolo (1915-2010). Pete, who first made his name as chief arranger and staff composer for Stan Kenton's groundbreaking orchestra of the 1940s and early '50s, went on to write many film and television scores, including The Fugitive TV series.
Pete and Ray collaborated on a number of songs in the 1990s and early 2000s, including this one: "Dance With Me, Outside" (the lyrics are below). Again, Bill Perkins is featured on tenor saxophone. Mark Lewis plays the trumpet echoing in the distance. Larry Koonse is joined by his father, Dave Koonse, in a guitar duet (befitting the theme). Tom Warrington is on bass, Joe LaBarbera on drums.
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Eau Gallie Music (ASCAP)
also recorded by Marlene VerPlanck on her CD,
My Impetuous Heart
Audiophile Records ACD-334
SELECTED RAY HOFFMAN LYRICS:
I'm a paragra d your own text and edit me. It's easy.
IISIS THERE S TERIS THERE E
IS THERE TIME FOR PARIS?
MUSI
Music by John Basile
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman
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Is there time for Paris?
For the things we still can be?
Could we care? Should we dare?
With our own autumn in the air?
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Can we trust this feeling,
Reeling from our separate pasts?
If you'll stay, I won't stray
We'll have the lamp to light the way now.
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Some disbelief, there should be,
Past passions to resolve
Our wiser hearts can take them all,
Then make them all just dissolve.
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Come and share this vision
Indecision could be wrong
Come along, try again,
The golden hour awaits us by the Seine
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So our question begs an answer, not a guess
Is there time for Paris? Yes, yes, yes.
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Eau Gallie Music (ASCAP)
Recorded by Alexis Cole, at alexiscole.com
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BUT I CAN’T GET CLOSER TO YOU
Music by Al Cohn
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman
adapted from the instrumental theme Mr. George
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I pour Dom Perignon when you’re thirsty.
The Mouton when you’re feeling “Grand Cru”
On the sea and on land,
Vintage always on hand
But I can’t…get closer to you
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Ship you, from Singapore, sprays of orchids
Send you alpaca packed in Peru
For whatever your need, I endeavor with speed
But I can’t …get closer to you
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Not when we
Are one from shoulder to knee
Be it said that it’s true
Any closer and I’d be in back of you
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No lovers knot could knot us as tightly
Nightly, nightly we rendezvous
You are under my sleeves, we are thicker than thieves
And I can’t…get closer to you
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second chorus:
Caffe latte and roses at breakfast,
Pavarotti in concert for two
In the dark, in the light
When you spark, I ignite
But I can’t… get closer to you
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For some fresh air, I’d buy you a county
Like a Mountie I would pursue.
To your every desire
I’m a clever suppli’r
But I can’t…get closer to you
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Tied in bows, in close proximity,
I conclude, heaven knows,
Any closer and you’d be in back of me
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No lovers knot could knot us as tightly
Nightly, nightly we rendezvous
You are under my sleeves, we are thicker than thieves
And I can’t…get closer to you
©LaFlo Music (ASCAP)
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DANCE WITH ME OUTSIDE
Music by Pete Rugolo
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman
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No gold, no polished parquet
No band-upon-the-stand to play
But dance with me,
Come dance with me, outside
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The trees swing softly in time
The rhythm in the breeze, sublime
So if you please
Come dance with me, outside
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We’ll slide and sway and lose the light
And glide away far out of sight
And till the dawn we’ll hide away, we’ll stay
In this interlude
Even rain won’t intrude
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So let me lead out the door,
There we’ll share a starlit floor
Tonight you’ll see
You’ll dance with me, evermore
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©Eau Gallie Music (ASCAP)
Recorded by Marlene VerPlanck
on her CD “My Impetuous Heart” DRG Records 8481
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FOLLOW ME
Music by Nino Rota
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman
(From La Dolce Vita)
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Follow me to nights you’ve never known
Round the world on flights you’ve never flown
Follow if you dare
To a fountain, where
We can share a dance until the dawn
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Follow me beyond the farthest lights
To a magic pond of starlit nights
Drifting on until, high upon a hill,
We can find a place where time stands still
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Follow on and on above the crowd
Ever drawn inside a cloud
Round and round the stair
Higher, higher there
Breathless in a sigh
As in mid-air
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Flying out tonight, you’re next to me
Private satellite to ecstasy
So away we’ll ride,
Sitting side by side
Follow me, and I will be your guide
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© 1997 Editiones Cam, Rome
recorded by Anita Gravine on her CD,
"Lights! Camera! Passion! – Jazz and the Italian Cinema"
Soulnote Records 121306
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LOVE LOOKS GOOD ON YOU
Music by Pete Rugolo
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman
(the instrumental theme Diamond on the Move
from Richard Diamond, Private Detective)
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Brighter than stars, shooting on high
You look at me, sending a sigh
And I reply, “It must be love in view”
And love looks good on you
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There, in your smile, there is a place
Wherein your heart wears on your face,
There in that place,
A look you couldn’t misconstrue
And love looks good on you
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And on me, you’ll see
In reflection,
That glow, bestowed with
Such affection
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Soft as a blush, met by the dawn
Then like a rush when it comes on
Here it comes on!
A look that looks forever true
So good love looks on you
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© Eau Gallie Music (ASCAP) & Jimmy McHugh Music (ASCAP)
Recorded by Marlene VerPlanck
“It’s How You Play the Game” Audiophile Records ACD-325
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SING ME TO SLEEP
Music by Billy VerPlanck
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman
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Pillows on the floor, rugs by the fire,
Blankets snug, warm and tight,
Just right,
Night is here, sing me to sleep,
Sing me to sleep, my dear
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Sing of sunset skies, sing of my eyes.
Fly me on clouds of white,
All night,
Lullabies, nice little sighs,
Sing me to sleep, tonight
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Crackling logs make do
Accompanying you,
Just mention I’m your choice.
Softly ‘round your themes,
Your thoughts, your schemes
It seems my dreams are in your voice
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Add some kindling, now; fire’s dwindling, now,
Shadows break high, tonight,
So right
Till the dawn, sing me to sleep
No counting sleep from now on
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©1994 Mounted Music (ASCAP)
Recorded by Marlene VerPlanck
“What Are We Going To Do With All This Moonlight?”
Audiophile Records ACD-304
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WAIT AND SEE
Music by Armando Trovajoli
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman
(From the movie Marriage, Italian Style)
Wait and see
Wait and see
I may be here with you forever
Wait and see
Wait and see
Come the fates, come the stars, whatever
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It’s not by chance that this dance isn’t ending
With one more glance we’ll advance beyond pretending
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Here’s the key
Turn the key
We’ll be locked and embracing
Our hearts ever racing
We’ll be……
…..just you wait and see.
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©1997 Southern Music (ASCAP)
recorded by Anita Gravine
"Lights! Camera! Passion! – Jazz and the Italian Cinema"
Soulnote Records 121306
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AROUND ABOUT A HALF PAST NINE
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Music by Billy VerPlanck
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman
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Give me an hour to court you
And then an hour to transport you
I'll let you see all that can be
And around about half past nine you'll be mine
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One little hour to divert you
Another to disconcert you
I guarantee that you'll agree
Right around a half past nine...
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Not to dwell but there's just no concealing.
Feeling this must unfold, let's behold.
And if you've any doubt over what it's about
It's only your heart I'm stealing.
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An hour for me to un-twist you
And just one more to have kissed you
So take my bet. Get ready, set,
Right around half past nine...
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c2008 Mounted Music and Eau Gallie Music (ASCAP)
recorded by Marlene VerPlanck
"Once There Was A Moon"
Audiophile Records ACD-334
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_______________________________
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YOU’LL COME TO ME
Music by Nino Rota
Lyrics by Ray Hoffman
(the theme from Fellini’s Amarcord)
Memories steal from the past
Breaking the seal on the past
Much they reveal
Much they still conceal
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On the breath of spring there comes a wind
Sweetly blowing blossoms into play
Tossing in the breeze, my memories
Drifting back again from yesterday
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Reminiscing here, where once we kissed
This is where we’ll always be
On the wind forever we’ll exist
This I know, you’ll come to me
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Were we really there, beneath the trees?
Did it happen quite the way it seems?
Standing here amid those memories
These are not the springtime’s idle dreams
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Some horizon, somewhere you’ll appear
Like a ship out on the sea
In my eyes you’re growing ever near
Here you’ll come, you’ll come to me
You’ll come, you’ll come to me…
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©1997 Editiones Cam, Rome
recorded by Anita Gravine
"Lights! Camera! Passion! – Jazz and the Italian Cinema"
Soulnote Records 121306