Rose, Rose, I Love You: Lyrics

Wilfrid Thomas & Chris Langdon

Based on the traditional Chinese Folk Song, "Meigui Meigui Wo Ai Ni" - Music: Chen Gexin

• 45 Decca 27594, Gordon Jenkins & His Orchestra with Cisco Huston

(Background vocalists:)
Rose, Rose, I love you, with your almond eyes.
Fragrant and slender, 'neath tropical skies.
I must cross the seas again and never see you more.
Way back to my home on a distant shore.

(Background vocalists:)
Make way, oh, make way, for my Eastern Rose.
Men crowd in dozens, everywhere she goes.
In her rickshaw, on the street, or in a cabaret,
"Please make way for Rose," you can hear them say.

(Cisco:)
All my life I shall remember,
Oriental music and you in my arms.
Perfumed flowers in your tresses,
Lotus-scented breezes and swaying palms.

(Background vocalists:)
Rose, Rose I leave you, my ship is in the bay.
Kiss me farewell now, there's nothin' to say.
East is East, and West is West, our worlds are far apart.
(Cisco:)
I must leave you now but I leave my heart.

(Background vocalists:)
Rose, Rose I love you with an aching heart.
What is your future, now we have to part?
Standing on the jetty as the steamer moves away,
Flower of Malaya, I cannot stay.

(Cisco:)
All my life I shall remember,
(Background vocalists:)
Oriental music and you in my arms.
(Cisco:)
Perfumed flowers in your tresses,
Lotus-scented breezes and swaying palms.

(Background vocalists:)
Rose, Rose I love you, with an aching heart.
What is your future, now we have to part?
Standing on the jetty as the steamer moves away,
Flower of Malaya, I cannot stay.

Of note:

The closest Cisco ever came to a hit, this lame and irritating arrangment made it to #21 in 1951. Frankie Laine had the famous one, also in 1951, but many have recorded this early "Love 'Em and Leave 'Em" tale. Gordon Jenkins hit the Pop Charts big time with The Weavers; we're guessing he was hoping to strike gold one more time. Hear an MP3 of it Here and see for yourself.

The flip side is unfortunately not a Cisco performance, but instead a song called "Unless" with the incomparable Bob Stevens as Soloist. My disc is in dreadful shape, with many skips and pops. So I cannot share it. But Bob is unknown for a reason....

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