Firefly
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Cy Coleman |
| Lyricist | Carolyn Leigh |
| Year Written | 1958 |
| ABOUT Firefly | |
| “Firefly” was written as an audition piece for the musical Gypsy (which went on to be written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by a 28 year old Stephen Sondheim). | |
Lyrics
I call her Firefly
Cause, oh, my
She radiates moonglow
Wants none of that noon glow
She starts to glitter
When the sun goes down
Bout eight p.m., it’s mayhem
She switches those brights up
Lights up and gives me a call
Take me to the Fireflies ball
But when I get her there
Set her there
Do I get to pet her there
And grab me some glow
No, she’s a gad about, mad about
Luring every lad about
While leaving me moaning low
Oh, Firefly, why can’t I
Latch on for you no how
Oh, how I love you but gee
While you set the night on
Firefly, shine a little light on me
But when I get her there
Set her there
Do I get to pet her there
And grab me some glow
No, she’s a gad about, mad about
Luring every lad about
While leaving me moaning low
Oh, Firefly, why can’t I
Latch on for you no how
Oh, how I love you but gee
While you set the night on
Firefly, shine a little light on
Shine a little light on
Shine a little light on me
(in the morning’)
Session / Album Information
1958-1
“Firefly” was recorded on August 1, 1958 and released that year as a single 45 rpm with “The Night That Heaven Fell.” It was arranged by Ray Ellis.
This recording released on:
- 1958: Columbia 45: 4-41237
- 1960: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8335 — More Tony’s Greatest Hit
- 1960: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1535 — More Tony’s Greatest Hits
- 1966: CBS LP 12″: DP 66010 — A String Of Tony’s Hits (UK)
- 2008: Disc #7 in the Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK7) The Columbia Singles, Vol. 5
1958-2
“Firefly” was recorded on December 22, 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]
- 1972: CBS LP 12″: CBS 68200 — All-Time Greatest Hits [UK]
- 1972: Columbia LP 12″: KG 31494 — All-Time Greatest Hits
- 1975: Columbia LP 12″: KG 33376 — Let’s Fall In Love With The Songs Of Harold Arlen And Cy Colema
- 1976: Warwick LP 12″: PR 5021 — The Very Best Of Tony Bennett: 20 Greatest Hits [UK]
- 1976: Warwick/CBS LP 12″: CBS 5021 — The Very Best Of Tony Bennett: 20 Greatest Hits [UK]
- 1983: CBS LP 12″ (Mono): 32373 — In Person! [UK]
- 1991: Columbia CD: C4K 46843 — Forty Years – The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
- 1993: CBS/Sony CD: SRCS-6641 — Forty Years: The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
- 1994: Columbia CD: CK 64276 — In Person! With Count Basie
- 1996: Columbia House Music Collection CD: C21 8653 — The Great American Composers: Cy Coleman
- 1997: Columbia CD: CK 65316 — All-Time Greatest Hits
- 1999: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab CD: UDCD743 — In Person!
- 2002: Columbia/Legacy CD: 86634 — The Essential Tony Bennett
- 2004: Columbia/Legacy CD: C5K 92784 — Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
- 2008: Columbia/RPM/Legacy CD: 731397 — The Essential Tony Bennett [Limited Edition 3.0]
- 2008: Jasmine CD: JASCD482 — Together At Last/A Perfect Combination
- 2011: Disc #14 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK14) In Person!
1962
“Firefly” was recorded live at Tony Bennett’s concert at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962 and was initially released in 1962 on the album Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. Ralph Sharon arranged the song.
This recording released on:
- 1962: CBS LP 12″: BPG62116 — At Carnegie Hall – Part 1 (UK)
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8705 — At Carnegie Hall – vol.1
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: C2L 23 — Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: C2S 823 — Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall
- 1993: Sony Music Special Products CD: 15056 — Tony Bennett Sings for You
- 1995: Sony Music CD: WK 75012 — Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall
- 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
1964
“Firefly” was recorded on April 8, 1964 and released in 2011 on Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On, as part of the 2011 Complete Collection. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
This recording released on:
- 2011: Disc #74 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK72) Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On
1998
“Firefly” was recorded in June 1998 and released that same year on the album The Playground. “Firefly” is a duet with Tony Bennett and Kermit the Frog.
This recording released on:
- 1998: Columbia CD: CK 69380 —The Playground
- 2011: Disc #64 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK62) The Playground
2014
“Firefly” was recorded in 2014 with Lady Gaga and released that year on Cheek To Cheek. It was arranged by Steve Kortkya.
This recording released on:
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: B0021493-02 – Cheek To Cheek (standard edition)
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: B0021494-02 – Cheek To Cheek (deluxe edition)
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: B0021861-03 – Cheek To Cheek (Target edition)
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: B0021688-02 – Cheek To Cheek (HSN edition)
- 2014: Columbia/RPM/Streamline/Intercept Records: Cheek To Cheek (iTunes edition)