Pennies From Heaven
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Arthur Johnston |
| Lyricist | Johnny Burke |
| Year Written | 1936 |
| About Pennies From Heaven | |
| “Pennies From Heaven” was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name. It’s one of the classic Great Depression songs. | |
Lyrics
A long time ago, a million years BC
The best things in life were absolutely free
But no one appreciated
A sky that was always blue.
And no one congratulated
A moon that was always new.
So it was planned that they would vanish now and then
And you must pay before you get them back again.
That’s what storms were made for
And you shouldn’t be afraid for
Every time it rains, it rains
Pennies from heaven
Don’t you know each cloud contains
Pennies from heaven
You’ll find your fortune’s falling
All over the town
Be sure that your umbrella
Is upside down
Trade them for a package of
sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love,
You must have the showers
So when you hear it thunder,
Don’t run under a tree
There’ll be pennies from heaven
For you and me.
Session / Album Information
1958
“Pennies From Heaven” was recorded on December 30, 1958 and released in 1959 on the album In Person! . It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
This recording was also released on:
- Columbia LP 12″: LE 10125 — In Person! With Count Basie
- CBS LP 12″: 35DP159 — In Person! With Count Basie [Japan]
- CBS LP 12″: 20AP1418 — In Person! With Count Basie [Japan]
- Philips LP 12″: 840059BY — In Person! With Count Basie [UK]
- 1959: CBS LP 12″: BPG 62250 — In Person! [UK]
- 1959: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8104 — In Person! With Count Basie
- 1959: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1294 — In Person! With Count Basie
- 1959: Philips LP 12″: BBL 7398/SBBL 542 — In Person! With Count Basie [UK]
- 1983: CBS LP 12″ (Mono): 32373 — In Person! [UK]
- 1994: Columbia CD: CK 64276 — In Person! With Count Basie
- 1999: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab CD: UDCD743 — In Person!
- 2008: Jasmine CD: JASCD482 — Together At Last/A Perfect Combination
- 2011: Disc #14 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK14) In Person!
1962
“Pennies From Heaven” 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 #25 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK24) Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall