The Rules of the Road
Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Cy Coleman |
| Lyricist | Carolyn Leigh |
| Year Written | 1961 |
| About The Rules of the Road | |
| While Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh are best-known for their scores for Broadway musicals, such as Little Me and Wildcat, “The Rules of the Road” was not written for a show. In addition to several recordings by Tony Bennett, the song has also been recorded by Lena Horne, Shirley Horne, Nat King Cole and Rosemary Clooney. | |
Lyrics
So these are the ropes
The tricks of the trade
The rules of the road
You’re one of the dopes
For whom they were made
The rules of the road
You follow that kiss
And recklessly miss
A bend of the road
Then suddenly this
The end of the road
So love is a hoax
A glittering string
Of little white lies
But these are the jokes
And what if they bring
The tears to your eyes
Well love often shows a funny return
The brighter it glows
The longer you burn
And Lord only knows
Love has little concern
For the fools of the road
That’s how it goes
You live and you learn
The rules of the road
Well love often shows a funny return
The brighter it glows
The longer you burn
And Lord only knows
Love has little concern
For the fools of the road
That’s how it goes
You live and you learn
The rules of the road
The rules of the road
Session / Album Information
1961
“The Rules of the Road” was recorded on April 6, 1961 and released in 1962 on the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco. It was arranged by Ralph Burns.
This recording released on:
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8669 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1869 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco
- 1962: CBS LP 12″: SBPG 62201 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco [UK]
- 1980: CBS LP 12″: 32732 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco [UK]
- 1990: CBS/Sony CD: CSCS-5241 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco [Japan]
- 1990: Columbia CD: CK 08669 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco
- 2011: Disc #23 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK23) I Left My Heart in San Francisco
1962
“The Rules of the Road” 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
- 1975: Columbia LP 12″: KG 33376 — Let’s Fall In Love With The Songs Of Harold Arlen And Cy Coleman
- 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
1964-1
“Rules of the Road” was recorded on March 26, 1964 and released in 1964 on the album When Lights Are Low. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
This recording released on:
- 1964: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8975 — When Lights Are Low
- 1964: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 2175 — When Lights Are Low
- 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-5242 — When Lights Are Low [Japan]
- 2006: RPM/Columbia/Legacy CD: 69699 85807 2 — When Lights Are Low
- 2011: Disc #29 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK28) When Lights Are Low
1964-2
“The Rules of the Road” 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