Helen Morgan - Bill

Performer - Helen Morgan
Music - Jerome Kern
Lyrics - P. G. Wodehouse and Oscar Hammerstein
This performance comes from the 1936 movie version of Show Boat. For some inexplicable reason, it has not been put on DVD in the US. George Gershwin said that Jerome Kern had succeeded in composing the ultimate American operetta with Show Boat, and I agree with that assessment.

[@countrymonkOSB]

Just watch her face and especially her eyes in this song, she even uses her hands... she tells a whole story as she sings. For anyone who loves someone just because they exist...

[@theresaparks]

this was our song mine and my husband BILL.he passed away 1-20-2010.like she said he's just my BILL,the love in this song was our love and my dearBILL i miss you so much i had my special BILL.and this song now brings me to tears.I LOVE YOU BILL

[@TedWms521]

My dad loved this song and as sung by Helen Morgan. When I reached a certain age I realized how comforting the song must have been. He was someone who worried he was too ordinary to be loved. But he wasn't ordinary at all and I loved him despite his flaws.

[@torch1917]

Listen to the other versions of this song on KZbin. She simply outclasses all of the others. Helen Morgan died relatively young but she had an incredible gift. We're fortunate to be able to both hear and see her at her best.

[@georgestrum3478]

To Helen in Heaven. You were so beautiful and sang so lovely. I'm sorry that alcoholism eventually ruined your chances for further successes, but it was so nice to have had you in something to remember you by. May you rest in peace.

[@chg657]

Me, too...I have a 1927 recording of this, remember playing it for my granmother when I was a kid...Her husband's name was Bill, he died in '29. All my mom remembered of him was his funeral..She was 3 or 4 at the time. All I have now is a small picture, & a few old letters. Would have liked to have known him, everything I've heard says he was a quiet, affable man. This song means a lot to me because of this. Bless you, Helen !

[@rincemor]

Have always preferred this version of Showboat and particularly this song.

[@kennethfreund123]

At this point in her career, Helen was an alcoholic like her character in the movie; and her voice was getting a bit thin. But could she act the lyrics!! And the scene was well-staged with the cleaning ladies stopping to listen and wipe a way a tear. One of the great moments in movie musicals.

[@60Singing]

Devastating. She is one of the most expressive singers ever. It just tears at my heart to hear her sing this!

[@Yates33333]

She was one of the all time greats. I saw her singing while sitting on piano. She couldn't stand.

[@waratah08]

Love this song and especially this version. The sad part is that Helen was so much like Julie in real life.

[@rossharmonics]

One of the most electrifying vocal performances in movie history. The staff dropping everything they are doing would have seemed a gimick if it were another singer.

[@buzzbaybear]

I love him- because he's...I don't know, because he's just my Bill great post thanks!

[@SilkMiller]

That stunning close-up of her towards the very end is one of the most emphatic of a singer in a film-amazing!

[@lalkana]

Even with her talent diminished by alcoholism Helen was great. She and Irene Dunne were 37 when this film was made. Irene looks 15 years younger, while poor Helen looks at least 15 years older.

[@philipkuttner7945]

I've watched this many times, and each time I discover another subtext in her face-tragic and sublime.

[@pwnycny]

This song, and its rendition by Helen Morgan, is iconic.

[@TheKristobald]

One of the most beautifuls songs ever ! Sung by a divine lady :)

[@deszinator]

This song always makes me teary-eyed, especially the end... the way she performs it is just so tragic... and I know she had a tragic life herself...

[@Broblem12]

Lovely. So sad that she had so short of a time among us. I will have to see this whole movie, and gladly. What a sad, beautiful voice. She knew sadness well and it came out deeply in her singing.

[@waynebrasler]

Morgan...no one like her before or since. She was the greatest of stars in her lifetime. It was that voice, that convinction, that baring of the soul that struck every listener. Bless her forever.

[@davidwalsh3439]

What an exquisite performance by the wonderful Helen Morgan. These old stars have a magic about them.

[@TheRevelationmaster]

ABSOlutely wonderful. A real-life tragic woman, but talent?? Wow.

[@CarlD2]

@Chutson353 I have heard other versions of this that are so technically focused that they lose all the pain. This song is acted as beautifully as it's sung. It's stunning.

[@williamcampbell4137]

Happy Birthday Helen Morgan.

[@stevenwinn3346]

I wish my name was Bill, then a woman could sing about me naming me. Wonderful song. Even when I was 20 years old, liking CCR, etc, I liked this seeing this film late night, on rare occasion you got to see a movie on free tv by antennae

[@dayfan1962]

The song is beautiful however the interpretation by Helen Morgan makes this a priceless piece of cinema! Thank you for posting it. Young people today haven't a clue what music really is!

[@BalletBabyBoy]

Helen Morgan, exquisite.

[@henrycbrennan]

So beautiful and so long ago...

[@carolineandrews3292]

Lovely song, so well sung. It always makes me cry.

[@Gydinglight12]

In the just out cd box of unknown Judy Garland recordings is Judy singing Bill when she was c. 15. The reviewer in the Wall Street Journal says that Judy sang the performance of her lifetime. Hopefull YT will someday have it for us.

[@ballaratboy1]

Magical rendition

[@jwb1949]

Helen Morgan is terrific, and never more so then singing this song...

[@TheRevelationmaster]

Genius. What feeling, what emotion. Who can dublicate that?

[@DiamondRedd1]

She owned that song.

[@jwb1949]

A great performance by one of the greatest Torch Singers...

[@plato12000]

Tears rolling down my cheeks!! Trust me, that's not something that happens easily.

[@yankiemog]

Wasn't she just wonderful?

[@acgogoacgogo8854]

I love him because - I don't know - because, he's just my Bill

[@5420lindley]

The greatest of the great...Heart rending

[@ichimonjiguy]

Love Jerome Kern. I think I have a DVD copy of a movie made on Jerome Kern. Starring June Allyson. :)

[@tessiemae4038]

I can't believe Wodehouse (the creator of Jeeves and Wooster) co-wrote the lyrics for this song. The funniest writer who ever lived. His are the only books that make me laugh out loud.

[@martinwhite7053]

I'm watching this because my Mother "Mary Maynard" born 1911 used to sing it a lot. If you like Wodehouse and don't we all? I'd wager you'd also like "Three men in a boat" by Jerome K Jerome, I come from Kingston Surrey where the scene is set. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Men_in_a_Boat

[@tessiemae4038]

I LOVE P.G.Wodehouse and have almost his entire collection. I'll look it up-thanks!

[@MadredeAgua9]

TheKristobald--Not only a divine lady but a brilliant, brilliant artist. No one comes close to this and never will.

[@kirby19711]

Wonderful,thanks!

[@cherryedwards3]

This is her song, others just imitate it! after Helen Morgan has sung this song, its been sung... like Judy Garland and over the rainbow

[@artistphx]

+cherry edwards Cleo Laine has a rather interesting approach to this song. Very different.

[@zac613]

@DENNISTHEMENACE48 It's from the 1936 movie version of ShowBoat ( in my opinion the best version... but that's my opinion)

[@LePrince1890]

I read they had to get special permission from Wodehouse to use this song. It had been in one of the "Princess Theatre" musicals Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, and Kern did in the teens of the 20th Century, "Oh Lady, Lady." I once saw a revival of that musical, and the tune (sung by Bill's girlfriend) fits it.

[@vladeckk21]

Jeff Bloomfield Dunno about special permission, but in his memoir PGW talks about going on a (river?)boat with Ziegfeld and the show's prospective backers in Florida and claims "Bill" was the demo song they used to sell the show. (He gave the singer most the credit, but I've forgotten who it was.)

[@mabhekaphansi]

wonderful! Thanks so much.

[@guyveloz4382]

Originally Included in the Veloz and Yolanda home movies montage finally released 3 days ago, there was a long sequence of Helen Morgan at Manhattan West's Place Pigalle, during Prohibition time, sort of slouching dolefully upon her eternal perch on a grand piano, her ever present tumbler of whisky nearby and brandishing her far famed handkerchief used to dry her eternal tears. I'l ask the editor of that montage why he cut out the fascinating Helen Morgan stuff.

[@terisamanraotaku8399]

i love the female voices are so beatiful

[@astromanism]

the Helen Morgan story is pretty good as well. The songs were sung by Gogi Grant and she did a fine job.

[@TheKatiew97]

my mums called helen morgan :)! i showed her this video aswell:)!

[@joannamichelle72]

the original. love her

[@babsbunny92]

i have a boyfriend named bill... & i love this song.

[@bigcity233]

I can see how she mesmerized live audiences in intimate night clubs. She actually had a couple of clubs of her own that were backed by underworld characters. Her live audiences were transfixed when she performed, usually sitting atop a grand piano. Too bad she didn't make more movies and and she didn't record many 78's. Most of her work was on Broadway, road companies (a lot of Show Boat) and her NY nightclubs.

[@janairtreubig4255]

nice...smokin a blunt

[@luisamiller81]

Is this out on DVD? One of the greats.

[@Arkelk2010]

@coast0385 Me too.

[@morganfreemanwannabe]

He's just by bill

[@XX-gy7ue]

SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC

[@ericstrattendgtmy]

Picture Epstien's painting of Bill Clinton in a blue dress and red pumps while she sings.