Johnny Mercer



John Herndon Mercer (November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) was an American songwriter and singer.

Sourced

 * [My] publicity agent … went to hear Father Divine and he had a sermon and his subject was 'you got to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.'  And I said 'Wow, that's a colorful phrase!'
 * Interviewed 1971 by Tape 1, side B.
 * Quoted by

Song Lyrics
You met someone and now you know how it feels - goody, goody
 * So you met someone who set you back on your heels - goody, goody
 * Song: "Goody Goody" (1936)

'bout the big corral where the doggies go, 'Cause I learned them all on the radio. Yippie yi yo kayah
 * I know all the songs that the cowboys know
 * Song "I'm an old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande)" (1936)

I been in some big towns an' heard me some big talk, but there is one thing I know A woman's a two-face, a worrisome thing who'll leave ya to sing the blues in the night.
 * From Natchez to Mobile, from Memphis to St. Joe, wherever the four winds blow
 * Song: "Blues in the Night" (1941)

and stars that fell... like the rain out of the blue.
 * I remember too, a distant bell...
 * Song: "I Remember You" (1941)

And the angels ask me to recall The thrill of them all Then I shall tell them I remember you
 * When my life is through
 * Song: "I Remember You"

Have you seen a valley green with Spring Where my heart can go a-journeying, Over the shadows in the rain To a blossom covered lane? And in your lonely flight, Haven't you heard the music in the night, Wonderful music, Faint as a will-o-the-wisp, Crazy as a loon, Sad as a gypsy serenading the moon.
 * Skylark,
 * Song: "Skylark" (1942)

E-lim-i-nate the negative And latch on to the affirmative. Don't mess with mister inbetween.
 * You got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive
 * Song: "Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive" (1944)

Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer. Lead us lest too far we wander. Love's sweet voice is calling yonder.
 * Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer.
 * Song: "The Glow-Worm" (1952)

over her shoulder she digs me: Out cattin' that Satin Doll.
 * Cigarette holder, which wigs me,
 * Song: "Satin Doll" (1953)

Through the meadow land toward a closing door A door marked "nevermore" that wasn't there before
 * The days of wine and roses laugh and run away like a child at play
 * Song: "Days of Wine and Roses" (first recorded 1961)

and it happens every day, when a passerby invites your eye to come away. Even as you smile a quick hello you let her go, you let the moment fly... Too late you turn your head, you know you've said the Long Goodbye.
 * There's a long goodbye,
 * Song: "The Long Goodbye" (1973)