White Christmas: The Story of a Song. Jody Rosen

      

Copyright

      Fourth Estate

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      This paperback edition published in 2003

      First published in Great Britain in 2002

      Copyright © Jody Rosen 2002

      The right of Jody Rosen to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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      Source ISBN: 9781841156323

      Ebook Edition © FEBRUARY 2017 ISBN: 9780008245917

      Version: 2017–02-17

      Permissions Acknowledgments

      “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” Copyright © 1911 by Irving Berlin. Copyright renewed. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

      “An Old-Fashioned Tune Is Always New,” copyright © 1939 by Irving Berlin. Copyright renewed. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission. “Be Careful, It’s My Heart,” copyright © 1941, 1942 by Irving Berlin. Copyright renewed. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission. “God Bless America,” copyright © 1938, 1939 by Irving Berlin. Copyright renewed 1965, 1966 by Irving Berlin. Copyright assigned to the Trustees of the God Bless America Fund. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission. “I’ve Written Another Song,” copyright © 2001 by The Estate of Irving Berlin. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

      “It’s in Three Acts Instead of the Usual Two,” copyright © 2001 by The Estate of Irving Berlin. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission. “Let Me Sing and I’m Happy,” copyright © 1928, 1929 by Irving Berlin. Copyright renewed. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission. “Let’s All Be Americans Now,” copyright © 1917 by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co. Copyright renewed and assigned to Irving Berlin. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

      “Let’s Face the Music and Dance,” copyright © 1935, 1936 by Irving Berlin. Copyright renewed. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission. “Marie from Sunny Italy” by Irving Berlin. Copyright © 1907 Jos. W. Stern & Company. Copyright renewed and assigned to Irving Berlin. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

      “No Strings (I’m Fancy Free),” copyright © 1935 by Irving Berlin. Copyright renewed. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

      “Of All the Tin Pan Alley Greats,” copyright © 2001 by The Estate of Irving Berlin. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

      “Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning,” copyright © 1918 by Irving Berlin. Copyright renewed. Copyright assigned to the Trustees of the God Bless America Fund. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

      “Old Men,” copyright © 2001 by The Estate of Irving Berlin. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

      “Old Songs,” copyright © 2001 by The Estate of Irving Berlin. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

      “Santa Claus—A Syncopated Christmas Song,” copyright © 2001 by The Estate of Irving Berlin. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

      “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails,” copyright © 1935 by Irving Berlin. Copyright renewed. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

      “What Is a War Song?” copyright © 2001 by the Trustees of the God Bless America Fund. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

      “When This Crazy World Is Sane Again,” copyright © 1941 by Irving Berlin. Copyright renewed. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission. “White Christmas,” copyright © 1940, 1942 by Irving Berlin. Copyright renewed. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

Dedication

       To my parents

       I’m dreaming of a white Christmas

       Just like the ones I used to know,

       Where the treetops glisten

       And children listen

       To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

       I’m dreaming of a white Christmas

       With ev’ry Christmas card I write:

       “May your days be merry and bright

       And may all your Christmases be white.”

       Contents

       Cover

       Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

1.

       Introduction: The Hit of Hits

2.

       The Best Song Anybody Ever Wrote