Al Jolson and Cab Calloway: "I Love to Sing-a" (1936)

Music and film greats Cab Calloway and Al Jolson sing about the love of singing. They croon to each other across the perilous gulf between their neighboring high-rise penthouses, teetering on their respective ledges without care.
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from Disintegrating the Musical: Black Performance and American Musical Film, by Arthur Knight (2002):
Jolson's film, The Singing Kid (1936), wanted to stage an explicit autocritique of the old-fashioned content of Jolson's past while maintaining some of his modernist form and style. It wanted to both erase and celebrate boundaries and differences, including most emphatically the color line.
The Singing Kid's narrative opens with the multimedia star Al Jackson (Jolson) singing on the balcony of his sleek, modern penthouse. From another penthouse across the way, Cab Calloway and his band join in, and the song, "I Love to Sing-a," develops into a duet between Al and Cab. This number introduces and celebrates the Jolsonian verities (love of nature and song, romance, the South, the nation, mammy). Jolson sings the lyric -- including the syncopated, punctuating, and accurate line, "microphone's got [i.e. ruined] me!" -- in his characteristic old-fashioned premicrophone, declamatory style. . . When Calloway begins singing in his characteristic style -- in which the words are tools for exploring rhythm and stretching melody -- it becomes clear that American culture is changing around Jolson and with (and through) Calloway. . .
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Song lyrics:
I love to sing-a
About the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a,
I love to sing-a,
About a sky of blue-a, or a tea for two-a,
Anything-a with a swing-a to an "I love you-a,"
I love to, I love to sing!
Give me a song-a
About a son-a gun that went and done her wrong-a.
But keep it clean-a,
With a cottage small-a by a waterfall-a,
Any sob-a that will throb-a to a bluebird's call-a,
I love, I love to sing!
I was born a singin' fool-a,
Lah-de-dah!
Ol' Major Bowes is gonna spot me,
Got through Yale with boula-boula,
Lah-de-dah!
Old microphone's got me!
I love to sing-a,
I love to wake up with the south-a in my mouth-a,
And wave a flag-a,
With a cheer for Uncle Sammy and another for my mammy,
I love to sing!
____________________________________
Some notes about the lyrics:
Major (Edward) Bowes was an American radio personality of the 1930s and 40s whose Major Bowes' Amateur Hour was the best-known amateur talent show in radio during its eighteen-year run (1934-1952) on NBC Radio and CBS Radio.
"Boula-boula" (or boola boola) is a traditional Yale University cheer -- as well as the name of a turtle-and-puréed-pea soup (sometimes served at Yale, I believe).
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I claim no ownership.

[@BillyBob_McSanchez]

The owl from Looney Tunes brought me here

[@jewe1z]

Crypto looney tunes ? 😂wtf

[@carlospascual3634]

It's called owl jolson. Look it up. Classic WB cartoon about 8 mins long. It brought me here too. I think it came out at the same time as this movie, as promotion.

[@BillyBob_McSanchez]

Juliette Aguirre Wow, I guess you never seen that episode then

[@jewe1z]

Crypto no I haven't actually lol I didn't know it even existed 😂

[@Itto0069]

owl jolson also brought me here damn old school cartoon network shows.

[@215_Philly_4for4]

Crazy to think that jazz/swing/big band was considered rebellious music at one point. It just sounds so wholesome and fun and happy

[@johnpaulcastillo8403]

Yet it transform into lofi as we know it. A new type of jazz

[@because_the_internet]

There is a black guy and a white guy hanging performing together. That seems like ot could have been considered pretty rebellious.

[@Reneesfun]

@@because_the_internet Al Jolson was Jewish and poor growing up in the streets with no mom. He experience lots of prejudice which made him feel a kinship to black people/performers like Cab.

[@garyjohnson1970]

It was the band breaks, and the off stage antics!

[@galagize9233]

Because black people invented jazz, lots of white people still hated blacks at this time so it makes sense being "rebellious"

[@supersmashdragon]

It took me this long to get the "al jolson" "owl jolson" joke.

[@METALITHrevetments]

Better late than never!

[@rminor500]

Ohhhh I just saw that because I read your comment 😂😂😂

[@kaybee5008]

How?!? 😭😭😭😭😭

[@hmackie6823]

haha,I was an al fan b4 so put 2 and 2 together

[@Powerranger-le4up]

At one time, Cab Calloway was given dressing rooms inferior to Jolson’s. When Jolson heard about it, he went to the head of the studio and threatened to walk out unless Cab was given equal accommodations. He also insisted Cab be given star billing.

[@toddinthemiddle]

Powerranger: sounds like the nobility of a white man

[@hplovecraft2122]

@@toddinthemiddle it would be hilarious if he met with the head of the studio in blackface

[@metelicgunz146]

@@toddinthemiddle Jolson is Jewish

[@hulkamania5071]

@@metelicgunz146 white jewish man

[@gachapinCUEVA]

@@toddinthemiddle It's called looking out for your fellow man, genius

[@shannsimms9072]

Omgggg “Owl Johnson” and “Al Johnson” are the same person lol

[@MattMurdockCZ]

I would love to live my whole life with Cab's energy in this video!

[@socialgutbrain7774]

G'morning Al! G'morning Cab! Oh that is just adorable.

[@RalphTho]

Best part

[@YiddishDancingClown]

Never knew this was a real song. The play on the name with Owl Jolson is really good.

[@KarinaCappucci]

I grew up with Looney Tunes and saw the Owl Jolson cartoon! And I found this masterpiece. I'm 21 but I have a love for all music. ❤️

[@reyj1022]

I did too, and I agree with you! I am almost 70 years old!

[@JHaras]

You have a good taste, and you’re real pretty 😊

[@nayhem]

Hey, I did too, but I'm in my 40s. What the hell?!

[@James-vi7bq]

Looney tunes brought me here to just now I'm watching that owl right now lmao 😂😂😂!!!!

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

Cab is dangerously close to being my favorite musician of all time.

[@antfbi]

Especially when he wears black face at klan rally’s

[@guiltypleasures01]

He was and will forever be the Bee's Knees

[@colinl5951]

Dangerously close to the ledge lol

[@fruitdirt7269]

@@antfbi source for this? Can’t find anything myself. Edit: are you referring to Al Jolson? The other singer in the video? He has been in films where he has worn blackface (which, gross, but unfortunately par for the course in this era of film which isn’t much of an excuse) but again, cannot find any real sources for any involvement with any specific hate groups (perhaps it’s been destroyed or buried on purpose?)

[@ButteryAftertaste]

@@antfbi Cab Calloway was an African American. Unfortunately, you're confusing him for Al Jolson, who is the other singer in this video, and was a blackface performer during this era. Relative to our own cultural expectations and perceptions, Cab had light skin when compared to many African Americans. This was actually a contributing factor to white audiences of the day accepting him in an era where blackface was still common. Ironically, his lighter skin complexion may also be a contributing factor in your own misconceptions of him, and may be why you made such a regrettably uneducated statement.

[@hmackie6823]

whoever posted this is my new hero

[@davidkoba]

I had no idea this was an actual song. No wonder it is so catchy.

[@buddhistsympathizer1136]

Two supremely talented guys ♥

[@TheNight469]

0:19 If anybody else was wondering what they said at the beginning: *Al Jolson:* Oh, ain’t it grand, to live and breathe, and let your chest expand? Morning, Cab!” *Cab Calloway:* “Good Morning, Al!” *Al Jolson:* “The skies are blue, the world’s a song when life is notes to you! I’ve got eternal youth because… I’ve got my heart where it belongs! Don’t care who makes the nation’s laws, As long as I can sing its song!”

[@AmAxel35]

The purest song ever written. A song about loving to sing. 🥺

[@joehellno9097]

I was gonna say, but everybody else already did.....of course that was Owl Jolson! Achhhhhhh,.....a croooner! The actual Al Jolson and ever incredible Cab Calloway are animated cartoons anyway, in the very best way! What voices! Better than any owl. Better moves too. But we all love the little bird with the great big eyes. Jack Bunny too.

[@NoahSpurrier]

Everyone loves good music.

[@guiltypleasures01]

Two truly great Americans. Cab Calloway is utterly divine in every way and his zoot suits are unrivaled in the category of iconic male fashions. He also wrote and published a dictionary of jazz that is brilliance personified. like Al Jolson and I truly appreciate the context and intentions of his blackface performances and fully approve of him for 1936 as well as for 2022!

[@thekidfromiowa]

Indeed Al really went to bat for black performers.

[@Eyes-of-Horus]

The whole use of "blackface" was not an insult to the Blacks. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery it was more than flattery. It was an honorific to all the talented Black performers before and since.

[@UriNateTion]

I don’t think that’s how blackface works

[@buddhistsympathizer1136]

@@UriNateTion Then you don't understand history - Do some research. In those 'Blackface' wasn't done for racist reasons. Maybe one day 'Blackvoice' will be considered racist, and then music of Amy Winehouse and Paulo Nutini will be banned, because they are clearly emulating black singers when they sing . . . but they are both white.

[@cdarw]

@@Eyes-of-Horus respectfully, you are clearly a white person who has the audacity to look upon blackface as flattery. What's next, slavery was a jobs training program?

[@hmackie6823]

Cab and Al on same stage these guys are ICONS

[@bruhcaldwell]

I love to sing-a About the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a, I love to sing-a, About a sky of blue-a, or a tea for two-a, Anything-a with a swing-a to an "I love you-a, " I love to, I love to sing! Give me a song-a About a son-a gun that went and done her wrong-a. But keep it clean-a, With a cottage small-a by a waterfall-a, Any sob-a that will throb-a to a bluebird's call-a, I love, I love to sing! I was born a singin' fool-a, Lah-de-dah! Ol' Major Bowes is gonna spot me, Got through Yale with boula-boula, Lah-de-dah! Old microphone's got me! I love to sing-a, I love to wake up with the south-a in my mouth-a, And wave a flag-a, With a cheer for Uncle Sammy and another for my mammy, I love to sing! The swingin'est, Hot singin'est, Bell-ringin'est, Song singin'est High tootin'est, Sky tootin'est, I love to sing!

[@EnianLooks]

I FINALLY FOUND IT !!!!

[@HassoBenSoba]

Two Greats: Harold Arlen (music) and E.Y. Harburg (lyrics) wrote this terrific tune. Three years later, they would create the songs for "The Wizard of Oz"

[@bigbandsrock1]

There was only one Al Jolson! What a performer!!

[@hmackie6823]

Owl Jolson brought me here,I had to know if it was a real song,being the Jolson fan I am,I had never heard it...til now.

[@philipclifford2314]

This is really good. I wish you could bottle the enthusiasm. These artists glow.

[@f1guremeout]

I love how this spirits me away. I remember the Looney Tunes as a kid ('88) and oh the sound, how it is sung, the arrangement, everything about this tune takes me away! Thank you so much to the Gods we have such music

[@damienthorn9064]

Eric Cartman under alien mind control 😂😂😂😂

[@caelinnis]

I FUCKING LOVE TO SING-A

[@hplovecraft2122]

Fock yeah

[@ChimpaStudios2024]

Arcade ganon coment in a movie from Vegas (You profile photo)

[@AdamFerrari64]

Best crossover of the Jazz era

[@lucky_nucky]

Honestly you might be right

[@Street__Soul4]

Owl Jolson!! 😂😂😂😂 I get it now!

[@hmackie6823]

hahaha

[@jonsmith8721]

Man. I wonder if Cab ever took a dive dancing on platforms like that. Seems dangerous.

[@MARIANSCATLIFFE]

It might have been but I am sure the studio would have protected him from harm

[@mars281]

Cab calloway...sure can get down....michael jackson...james brown....n cab calloway...the evolution of dance thru the decades

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

Watch his scene in Stormy Weather. The dancers are the Nicholas brothers. Those are the guys who taught MJ everything he knew about dancing.

[@TheShizue777]

This never gets old.

[@LoneWolfMcQuadeUSA]

I can't believe that it's taken me 47 years to actually find some classic, good & clean music to get into. What a fool I've been. Thank you!

[@MARIANSCATLIFFE]

Didn't you know about Sinatra Tony Bennett Dean Martin and so many others I grew up with them on radio and records

[@Geoduck.]

Mick Jagger wished he had 1% of Cab Calloways talent. Incredible.

[@shardaesimpson2865]

All of this music LIVED in the Looney tunes love it! lol

[@pubcle]

No, swing lived in the 1930's and earliy 1940's and revitalized in late 1950's and 60's with singers like the legendary Frank Sinatra. These were what was popular at the times.

[@shardaesimpson2865]

+Ganondorf The Dark Lord (King of Disrespect) as in it was always heard on the looney toones tone it down a thousand, I had forgot I even wrote this comment 😂😂

[@shardaesimpson2865]

+Ganondorf The Dark Lord (King of Disrespect) but thanks for the brief lesson babez 😌

[@DJB1PlanetFunksville]

Cab callowsy put soul into this song

[@TeMiL]

owl jolson bring me here

[@FreedomKat]

So classic...Love Al Jolson!

[@hmackie6823]

I was aware of AL,but,not this song til I saw Owl Jolson again

[@lisazinna1694]

Will always love this!!!

[@RAMROD4708]

Two of the greats!

[@hmackie6823]

I love to singa...like the moona and the JUne a and the springa

[@NivaZimel]

Oh, do I hear you...I must have brain damage, too, because this is one of those songs that can get stuck in my head and I'll go around singing it for days! Not all songs are like that, for me, but I love the old '20's songs. They were so silly and just plain fun. Used to have a 78 rpm of "Crazy Words, Crazy Tune," but have not found the version I had on here as yet. Maybe some day. Thanx so much for putting this song up. Love Cab from the Blues Brothers. He lived and breathed music.

[@SatchmoSings]

Wonderful Arlen-Harburg tune beautifully done by two total masters of entertainment.

[@edkaresky5191]

A great song writing team! A couple of immigrant kids who changed their names and became song writing stars!

[@MARIANSCATLIFFE]

I didn't know Harold arlen wrote that thanks so much

[@dw438]

Of course the cartoon owl came later. Owl Jolson, of course. "I Love To Singa" - Warner Bros. Cartoons.

[@ColtDee]

Jolly looks good singing with Cab Calloway two greats together.

[@GregorysRecords]

Awesome streamlined architecture!

[@jazzpianoman01]

There was Elvis/Sinatra/Bing/Michael Jackson and then there was Al Jolson who was the greatest of them all par none! His story is virtually the story of entertainment itself and helped pave the way for everybody else!

[@LucyHaskell-qx6nu]

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the greatest Collab in history

[@hmackie6823]

Coolest song EVER

[@hmackie6823]

and I LOVE IT

[@anthonyshepard1407]

Wonderful def love this one

[@Satans_Legion_of_Evil]

This is Al Jolson, only 9 years after The Jazz Singer was made.

[@liberte5847]

Merci beaucoup from Paris France and happy New Year 👍 👍 👍.

[@Mr.Rocklight]

Fantastic!!!! Great !!!! Cab

[@jeremyoconnor169]

Many many thanks for posting the background notes. I can't help noticing elements of a singer's warm up at the start and Jolson's way of pronouncing 'I' as 'nguy' suggests some deliberately trained technique. Incidentally, another clip of this song was once out on KZbin and it showed Calloway performing a backflip at some point in the song.

[@kpdelaney6460]

Never heard of Cab until this video but his singing is amazing! Gotta check out more of his stuff

[@BarbaraPineda-v9p]

Rapper's al jolson,& cal, callawau's, can sangs well...and also very talented,

[@williamwright9079]

love!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks

[@williamwright9079]

I'm lovin it still!

[@hulkamania5071]

I like the Owl version way more

[@Lboog789]

Me too

[@garfieldgoose]

I love this

[@CREEDO.]

cab's hair going crazy like shyd

[@margaritazagorska371]

Fantastic and the so funny 😁😄😂😂😂😂😂🤣🌅💐💐💐

[@JPL-md]

Amazing performers I see Prince influence here

[@beasst94]

ok kids, this is whats called music

[@SatchmoSings]

I prefer what you described happening as it did; today electronics would have just homogenized the whole thing. Anyway, despite brain damage, I'm glad you took the time to learn this song; it's a very good one.

[@mindsurfer101101]

I also love to sing.

[@MARIANSCATLIFFE]

Keep on singing hon

[@lowellthomasjr.468]

GREAT singers, yes, SIR ! lol

[@kayedeedid]

love this so much

[@spasticpug5209]

One of the best things ever

[@thetruth45678]

So, the premise is that these two essentially rap battle daily from across skyscraper penthouses. I can dig it.

[@soulassassin0g]

This guy is definitely under alien control.

[@Pax_Mayn3]

Cab is on that good cure all.

[@JPL-md]

I love this and to see Cab featured, is he from Penn Ave Baltimore. Looney Tunes brought me here btw. Born in 87

[@ttrung0101]

I’m disappointed that South Park brought me here, but this song is perfection.

[@pallen1065]

Alas, what I see is a great divide; 2 penthouses and a gulf between them ..

[@radtibs]

My animation history professor brought me here!

[@GoldDragon0000]

Me too 😊

[@Joe-ru2oj]

"he's under alien control!"

[@johnmassoud930]

Owl Jolson brought me here!

[@jodam1543]

If only these men lived long enough to see the Macarena. I wonder what they would have thought of it?

[@IndianBandit1]

South Park S01 E01brought me here...

[@jack_inconclusive]

They're both under alien mind control 🤣

[@gmodplayerxd6886]

0:52 this guy's under alien control

[@AMPProductions]

The tie tucked into the pants is tickling my soul 😅

[@thedrunkchuck5002]

0:52 he’s under alien controll

[@hmackie6823]

Owl Jolson

[@JustJazzuki]

I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS ONE YET!!!! I have commited a sin

[@PabloToonimations]

He's under alien control!

[@SatchmoSings]

Interestingly, the architecture on display assumes that the building went up right before the two men moved in to shoot this scene and we all know that was essentially impossible because there was precious little private construction this way because of The Depression; it would have been more accurate to have shown a building five years older but that obviously would have failed "the art direction test" because of of Hollywood's then penchant for showing only what was then totally "au courant."

[@theundead2603]

Yep he is under alien control

[@TheAviator100]

I am not under alien control!

[@Mugsycup]

The looney toons owl!!

[@hmackie6823]

Love al did not know the Owl was telling the truth

[@thomasjorge4734]

Owl Jolson!

[@martintanksley3561]

Cab Calloway was only ALLOWED to do ONE number ;the movie was one of Jolson's LAST movie (his popularity was shrinking).....

[@tuxguys]

I had never heard this tune, anywhere, in my entire life, except in an old, non-series Warner Bros. Cartoon... The cartoon was, in some ways a burlesque of Jolson's movie, "The Jazz Singer:" A young owl, forced during voice lessons to sing "Drink To Me Only," goes on an "Amateur Hour"-type show, hosted not by Major Bowes, but by Jack Bunny, and sings this tune... and wins. But apparently, the tune originated here (and notice that Major Bowes is mentioned in the lyric)... And Jolson, the biggest name in the world in entertainment at the time, shares the art-deco stage with Cab Calloway... and they each seem to be genuinely enjoying the presence of the other. Jolson: The First White Guy With Soul. (And could we PLEASE put to rest, forever, the calumnious canard that Jolson was a racist? In entertainment terms, he may have been the first Freedom Rider.) Addenda: At 1:16, Calloway anticipates James Brown by 25 years; note the architecture in the beginning: If "The Fountainhead" had had a musical number, this could have been it.

[@gabingston3430]

0:52 When you're under alien control.