String of Pearls

By Jerry Gray & Eddie De Lange
1942

Prolific big band arranger Gray (born Generoso Graziano) made a career out of reworking other composers' material, but in a few cases he create his own work from the ground up. Such was the case with this inventive number written specifically for the Glenn Miller orchestra. It would be a number-one hit; and Gray (pictured) would also have success with another Miller standard, "Pennsylvania 6-5000".

Lyrics:

Baby, here's a five and dime,
Baby, now's about the time
For a string of pearls a la Woolworth.

Every pearl's a star above,
Wrapped in dreams and filled with love,
That old string of pearls a la Woolworth.

Till that happy day in spring,
When you buy the wedding ring,
Please, a string of pearls a la Woolworth.

Baby, you made quite a start,
Found a way right to my heart,
With a string of pearls a la Woolworth.

Recorded By:

Glenn Miller
Ritchie Lee
Narciso Yepes
Harry James
Benny Goodman