I’ve Got the World on a String
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Harold Arlen |
| Lyricist | Ted Koehler |
| Year Written | 1932 |
| About I’ve Got the World on a String | |
| “I’ve Got the World on a String” was written for the 1932 Cotton Club Parade, where it was introduced by Cab Calloway and Bing Crosby. Alec Wilder, in American Popular Song, considers it one of Arlen’s loveliest songs. | |
Lyrics
Merry month of May
Sunny skies are blue
Clouds have rolled away
And the sun peeps through May Express
Happpiness, joy you may define
In thousand ways
But a case like mine needs a special phrase
To reveal, how I feel
I’ve got the world on a string
I’m sitting on a rainbow
Got the string around my finger
What a world, what a life, I’m in love
I’ve got a song that I sing
I can make the rain go
Anytime I move my little finger
Lucky me, can’t you see, I’m in love
Life is a beautiful thing
As long as I hold the string
I’d be a silly so and so
If I should ever let go
I’ve got the world on a string
Sittin’ on a rainbow
I’ve got the string around my finger
What a world, what a life, I’m in love
Session / Album Information
1960
This song was recorded on August 17, 1960 and released in 1960 on the album Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen.
This recording released on:
- 1960: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8359 — A String Of Harold Arlen
- 1960: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1559 — A String Of Harold Arlen
- 1960: Philips LP 12″ (Mono): BBL 7455 — Sings A String Of Harold Arlen (UK)
- Sony Music CD: SMSP A 8359 — A String Of Harold Arlen
- 1975: Columbia LP 12″: KG 33376 — Let’s Fall In Love With The Songs Of Harold Arlen And Cy Coleman
- 1990: CBS/Sony CD: CSCS-5244 — Sings A String Of Harold Arlen [Japan]
- 1993: Smithsonian CD: RD 048-5 — American Songbook Series: Harold Arlen
- 1993: Smithsonian Collection CD: A 23653 — American Songbook Series: Harold Arlen
- 2011: Disc #18 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK18) Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen
1962
“I’ve Got the World on a String” was recorded live at Tony Bennett’s concert at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962, but was not released until 1997 on the album Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall: Complete Concert. Ralph Sharon arranged the song.
This recording released on:
- 1997: Columbia CD: C2K 64609 — At Carnegie Hall June 9, 1962: Complete Concert
- 2011: Disc #24 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK24) Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall
1992
“I’ve Got The World On a String” was recorded in June 1992 and was released that year on Perfectly Frank. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
This recording released on:
- 1992: Columbia CD: CK 52965 — Perfectly Frank
- 1992: CBS/Sony CD: SRCS-6565 — Perfectly Frank [Japan]
- 1999: Sony International CD: 91207 — The Essential Tony Bennett: A Retrospective
- 2002: Columbia/Legacy CD: 86634 — The Essential Tony Bennett
- 2008: Columbia/RPM/Legacy CD: 731397 — The Essential Tony Bennett [Limited Edition 3.0]
- 2011: Disc #58 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK57) Perfectly Frank
2000
“I’ve Got The World On A String” was recorded September 2, 2000 with Diana Krall and was released in 2006 on Duets: An American Classic [Target Stores version].
This recording released on:
- 2006: RPM Records/Columbia CD: 82876887352 — Duets: An American Classic [Target Stores]
- 2011: RPM Song: Duets II [UK Tesco Release]