Shine On, Harvest Moon

Words & Music:

Jack Norworth & Nora Bayes-Norworth

 

This song is credited to the husband & wife team above and debuted in the Ziegfield Follies Of 1908.  It soon became a smash hit.  It also became the standard for "moon-June" songs - in both the good and bad sense of the phrase.  It is like most of the "Oh, Yeah!" tunes of the day where no one knows the verses, but everyone knows the chorus.  There are many covers out there, most notably Leon Redbone's in 1977.  This version courtesy of Jumbo Jim.

 

      Am               E7               Am

The night was mighty dark so you could hardly see,

         C      Am       E7

And the moon refused to shine;

Am             E7             Am               D   Am7     G7

Couple sittin' underneath the willow tree; for love   they pined.

     Dm7            G7               Dm7       G7

The little maid was kinda 'fraid of darkness,  so

     C    C/B              Am7  Am7/G

She said,    "I guess I'll go."

     D            Am7    D              Am7

The boy began to sigh, looked up in the sky,

     D                 Am7           G    G7

And told the moon his little tale of woe.

 

CHORUS:

 Fdim  A7  Fdim      A7       D   Am7           D

"Shine on, shine on, harvest moon    up in the sky;

G Dm7    G     Dm7          C        F         C       G  C  C7

I ain't had no lovin' since January, February, June or Ju-ly.

Fdim  A7  Fdim      A7      D   Am7                D

Snow time ain't no time to stay      outdoors and spoon,

    G    Dm7   G        Dm7     C        F     Dm7  C

So shine on, shine on, harvest moon, for me and my gal."

 

I can't see why a boy should cry when by his side

Is a girl he loves so true;

All he has to say is, "Won't you be my bride, for I     love you."

But why should I be telling you this secret when

I know    that you can guess?

Harvest moon will smile, shine on all the while,

If the little girl should answer "Yes"!

 

CHORUS: