That’s what storms were made for. #PlagueSongs, no. 32

Another of the great happy-sad songs, though – on balance – happier than sad. Introduced by Bing Crosby in 1936, it has music by Arthur Johnston and the lyrics by Johnny Burke (who also wrote the lyrics to “Swinging on a Star,” another hit for Crosby).

You likely know the chorus, but not the prologue. I don’t know why, but several songs from this era have prologues omitted from other, popular recordings. We know “As Time Goes By” for its chorus because that’s what’s performed in Casablanca, but check out the Rudy Vallee version for the full lyric. In the case of “Pennies from Heaven,” Bing Crosby recorded it with its prologue, but Billie Holiday’s version – recorded the same year – omits the prologue, as do many other versions.

It’s one of the trickier songs that I know how to play – lots of chord changes, and patterns of chords that repeat only once or never again recur in that order. But it’s fun to play – or, you might fairly point out after listening to my rendition, try to play.

As is my habit, I’ve assembled a playlist of many better versions, all in chronological order. Don’t be fooled by the presence of “Stop” – that’s Fats Navarro’s interpretation of the song.

Why not sing a song of your own? If you need ideas, the playlist below offers many tunes that (sometimes only tangentially) intersect with our current plague era. But turn to the music that speaks to you most clearly.

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• Plague Songs
  • Sing. Sing a Song. #PlagueSongs, no. 1 (17 Mar. 2020). Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”
  • Do Not Touch Your Face. #PlagueSongs, no. 2 (24 Mar. 2020). The Weeknd’s “I Can’t Feel My Face.”
  • The Bright Side. #PlagueSongs, no. 3 (31 Mar. 2020). Monty Python’s “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.” Also the first post where I began my practice of using a lyric as the title.
  • It’s later than you think. #PlagueSongs, no. 4 (7 Apr. 2020). Prince Buster’s “Enjoy Yourself.” (Also, in recording this, I discovered that I cannot play ska. Musically, my rendition of this is easily the worst #PlagueSong.)
  • There doesn’t seem to be anyone around. #PlagueSongs, no. 5 (14 Apr. 2020). Tommy James and the Shondells’ “I Think We’re Alone Now.”
  • Be an optimist instead. #PlagueSongs, no. 6 (21 Apr. 2020). The Kinks’ “Better Things.”
  • Kick at the darkness. #PlagueSongs, no. 7 (28 Apr. 2020). Bruce Cockburn’s “Lovers in a Dangerous Time.”
  • So far away, but still so near. #PlagueSongs, no. 8 (5 May 2020). Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own.”
  • If you just call me. #PlagueSongs, no. 9 (12 May 2020). Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me.”
  • In the end, they’ll be the only ones there. #PlagueSongs, no. 10 (19 May 2020). Hanson’s “MMMBop,” and a few chords from Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
  • No matter how I struggle and strive. #PlagueSongs, no. 11 (25 May 2020). Hank Williams’ “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive.”
  • Love. #PlagueSongs, no. 12 (1 June 2020). Medley of Nick Lowe’s “(What’s so Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love, and Understanding” and the O’Jays’ “Love Train,” with brief snippets of the Staple Singers’ “This Train” and the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love.”
  • This is the time. #PlagueSongs, no. 13 (9 June 2020). Lou Reed’s “There Is No Time.”
  • My neighbor and my friend. #PlagueSongs, no. 14 (16 June 2020). Fred Rogers’ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor.”
  • If you’re lost, I’m right behind. #PlagueSongs, no. 15 (23 June 2020). Everything But the Girl’s “We Walk the Same Line.”
  • Live to see another day. #PlagueSongs, no. 16 (30 June 2020). The Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive.”
  • Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives, and I decline. #PlagueSongs, no. 17 (7 July 2020). R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine).”
  • Someday we’ll find it. #PlagueSongs, no. 18 (14 July 2020). Kermit the Frog’s “Rainbow Connection.”
  • Can’t control my brain. #PlagueSongs, no. 19 (21 July 2020). Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated.”
  • 4’33” #PlagueSongs, no. 20. AND 43 notes on silence, time, and the corona era (28 July 2020). John Cage’s 4’33”, plus an essay inspired by the piece.
  • Mann, wer hätte das gedacht, dass es einmal soweit kommt #PlagueSongs, no. 21 (4 Aug. 2020). Nena’s “99 Luftballons.”
  • Banish sadness and strife. #PlagueSongs, no. 22 (11 Aug. 2020). “Look for the Silver Lining,” composed by Jerome Kern and Buddy DeSylva. My version is based on the Chet Baker recording. The final weekly #PlagueSong.
  • Don’t write yourself off yet. #PlagueSongs, no. 23 (27 Oct. 2020). Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle.” With this song, #PlagueSongs return at irregular intervals – roughly once a month.
  • What’s that sound? #PlagueSongs, no. 24 (3 Nov. 2020). The Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth.”
  • Go tell that long-tongued liar. #PlagueSongs, no. 25 (17 Nov. 2020). A song known variously as “Run on for a Long Time” and “God’s Gonna Cut You Down.”
  • I got the medicine. So, you should keep your eyes on the ball. #PlagueSongs, no. 26 (21 Dec. 2020). BTS’ “Dynamite.”
  • I’m lucky to be here. #PlagueSongs, no. 27 (5 Jan. 2021). Warren Zevon’s “Don’t Let Us Get Sick.”
  • Don’t run. #PlagueSongs, no. 28 (9 Feb. 2021). The Ventures’ “Walk – Don’t Run.”
  • Don’t worry that it’s not good enough. #PlagueSongs, no. 29 (1 Mar. 2021). “Sing,” written by Joe Raposo for Sesame Street.
  • Still worthwhile. #PlagueSongs, no. 30 (16 Mar. 2021). “Smile,” written by Charlie Chaplin, John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons. The best-known recording is by Nat King Cole.
  • Give Love. #PlagueSongs, no. 31 (2 Apr. 2021). “Under Pressure” by David Bowie and Queen.
• What Is Your COVID-19 Routine? & related
  • What Is Your COVID-19 Routine? (22 Mar. 2020)
  • What Is Your COVID-19 Routine? Part 2 (5 Apr. 2020)
  • What Is Your COVID-19 Routine? Part 3 (19 Apr. 2020)
  • What Is Your COVID-19 Routine? Part 4 (16 May 2020)
  • What Is Your COVID-19 Routine? Part 5 (29 June 2020)
  • A Shot in the Arm (10 Mar. 2021). In which I get the first shot of Pfizer’s covid vaccine.
  • A 2nd Shot in the Arm (29 Mar. 2021). In which I get the second shot of Pfizer’s covid vaccine.