The Trolley Song

The Trolley Song is a song by Ralph Blane (music) and Hugh Martin (lyrics) released in 1944.

Blane and Martin wrote The Trolley Song for the MGM film musical Meet Me in St. Louis (1944, directed by Vincente Minnelli ). The Trolley Song was presented in the film by Judy Garland , accompanied by the studio orchestra conducted by Georgie Stoll and the choir and orchestra arrangement by Conrad Salinger . The studio scene takes place in a moving, heavily frequented tram. The song received an Oscar nomination for Best Song in 1945 . The American Film Institute recorded the song at number 26 on their AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Songs list .

The lyrics of The Trolley Song came about by chance when the songwriting team Martin and Blane initially had problems writing a suitable lyrics for Judy Garland. The song was inspired by the photo of an old tram in a book about the history of transportation. Judy Garland's recording of the Trolley Song was released on shellac record ( Brunswick S2228), coupled with The Boy Next Door. As early as 1944, the song was recorded by Jo Stafford / The Pied Pipers , Vaughn Monroe , The King Sisters , Guy Lombardo , Frankie Carle and Lionel Hampton , in the following year also by Charlie Barnet , Eddie Brunner , Red Nichols , Glenn Miller and in Belgium by Gus Deloof . Further cover versions were made in the 1950s, including a. by Geraldo ( Parlophone F2055), Dave Brubeck (who appeared with the song at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1955 ), Beverly Kenney , Barbara Carroll , Bess Bonnier , Melba Liston , Buddy Collette and Tubby Hayes . In later years The Trolley Song et al. a. also Chris Hunter , Rebecca Kilgore , Ralph Sharon , Stacey Kent , Gene Di Novi , Ehud Asherie , Tony Bennett , Frank Sinatra , Dave Brubeck, Herb Alpert and Sarah Vaughan .

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