John Le Mesurier singing ""A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square"

[@johnfenner347]

A little masterpiece. I’m saddened, that perhaps the majority of folk, will never hear, or appreciate this gem 💎 x x .

[@3bluto]

They do not make them like this pure English gentleman anymore. Unassuming and self deprecating to the last, yet someone who I always adored to see perform. RIP Sir, you were the man for me.

[@saintetienne755]

How much I would have loved to have had John as a friend or Uncle. I hope I can look back on my life and say it's all been rather lovely. Sweet man

[@christinedennison7770]

He was always such a gentleman

[@michaelbrowne8469]

There will never be another John Les Mesurier, there never cud be, he was Dads Army and he suffered beautifully under Arthur Lowe, his laid back attitude and Gentlemanly conduct even when his best friends betrayed him shows the measure of the man, it's just a pity that he liked the booze and smoked to much but it was a pleasure to watch him acting as if it just came normal to him, a professional in every way, all the cast of Dads Army were excellent actors and the show itself was pure comic genius, I loved the way he narrated that song, u dont need to be a good singer when u have class, style and ability to make something sound absolutely perfect. Thank u John, " it's all been rather lovely " RIP.

[@parksyist]

Brilliant fellow from a lost England

[@cellocat-sm8lx]

I'm 22 years old and I just discovered this man. I'm so in love with his voice; like a cozy warm blanket that I want to wrap myself up in and never come out! ❤️ My new favorite song 🥰 Thank you, kind Sir, for blessing us with your voice: I wish I could have met you in person! Such a gentleman...

[@nick8772]

I listened, some time ago on KZbin, to John reading The Velveteen Rabbit. Definitely worth a listen, if you're able to find it.

[@lapponia77]

The grace and elegance with which John Le Mesurier delivers this beautiful song is quite simply stunning. He may not, as he says, sing .... but he captures the essence of the lyric effortlessly. Magic.

[@margaretcampbell3901]

Really enjoyed this , think he had some sad times in his life seemed like a real gentleman and great actor 😁

[@bellerophonchallen8861]

This is really in the true spirit of the song, the character isn't a singer, he's a guy in love and gives the story/song his all for his lady love. Its been done so often by accomplished singers it's easy to lose sight of that fact.

[@richardgreenhill4668]

A truly great performance by John Le Messurier which takes me back to the 1960s when I was often in Berkeley Square.

[@billygillan821]

Truly to me the most beautiful version from the meaning of a gentle lovely English man god bless his beautiful soul who will always be loved thanks to his beautiful performance as Sergeant Wilson.

[@essexpeter6116]

Almost poetry, dear old John Le Mes. Had to listen again after several years.

[@nobody-bb4di]

A great philosopher once spake: "It's all been rather lovely."

[@chaskenny]

This is brilliant. John does this song great justice. I like it.

[@scottbuckley823]

+chaskenny wish he sung more

[@ianeyre3590]

He had a soothing voice.

[@oldstuff]

A true British gentleman "performing" a classic in his own inimitable style. He may not be Tony Bennett or Harry Connick Jnr but he makes it his own purely because nobody imparted that era better than John Le Mesurier

[@stephenandrews8419]

A true true gentleman in every sense of the word. God bless you John & thanks for the memories

[@paulwebb6087]

Great actor, fine man, brilliant in my favourite tv show Dad's Army. We miss you John

[@luckymeutube]

Love everything about this. Why can't there be anyone writing songs like this today?

[@philiphamer5959]

Splendidly understated. An utterly incomparable actor and performer. Sublimely, eccentrically English.

[@deangarside6647]

Now there was a true gentleman rip John

[@tracya4087]

wish i was like him

[@Nojnotpu]

This man was always so laid back and dismissive about his talent and abilities. So he couldn''t sing, maybe not in the true sense. This piece, however is perfectly charming and so indicative of the wonderful modest man that he was.

[@martinwhite7053]

Absolutely.

[@Mike8981]

It's all been rather lovely. RIP

[@golfpark94]

I was around 10/11 years, sitting at home watching dad's army and i always saw a man with style, whatever he did. Even when he sings he is a man with the words 'great style' all over his face.

[@kimnoble2800]

Absolute magic.

[@BigDon62]

A song bird will always be in Berkeley Square John. Your greatly missed. God Bless.

[@36innertubes]

agreed, there will always be a song bird in Berkeley Square . . .

[@martinwhite7053]

Better than I expected well done old chap and RIP

[@jeremyhaines4481]

a true gent i met his wife Joan le mesurier in Ramsgate in 2012 lovely lady she signed some of my. Dads Army books x

[@driftwood1906]

When other stars try these novelty type recordings, they usually fall flat and are cringe inducing to listen to but, possibly because of his love jazz and other music; he's managed to rise above it all and produce something with subtlety, poise, style and real feeling.

[@jeremyhaines4481]

Excellent song and music

[@KeatonCar89]

loved it.

[@fewerbeansplease]

It's funny...I just discovered this video because I love playing this song on the piano. I just discovered it but it's like I've known it my life.

[@juliechristophe9847]

So lovely

[@carl3684]

There was an exquisite sadness about all he did

[@worldweary7995]

Yes. John Le Mesurier certainly had an air of melancholy about him, which in turn, gave him a unique temperament. In his customary manner, I understand that his last words were: "It`s all been rather lovely". God bless you John Le Mesurier... and thank you.

[@carl3684]

world weary nice reflection, he of course did have rather a sad life

[@Londonfogey]

Being cuckolded by Hattie Jacques must rank as one of the great humiliations in life. I really don' t know why he stuck around.

[@Torahboy1]

Londonfogey He ‘stuck around’ because he truly loved her. He wanted to see her happy. He was far too galant to divorce her. He was happy to spend his nights at Charlie Parker’s listening to jazz. He’d prop up the bar, cigarette in one hand, gin and tonic in the other. Smoking, drinking, listening to the jazz greats. Yet nobody ever, once, saw him drunk. He was a true English gentleman. And a gentle man. There’s simply been no one since to compare to him. He was a celebrity in the days when that meant something good. Could you ever imagine him prostituting himself on any of those so-called celebrity shows? No. Never. My boss is one of those Captain Mainwaring types, and whenever he blusters another hairbrained scheme, I always want to reply, á la Sgt Wilson, “Is that wise, Sir?”

[@teddyteeth]

@@carl3684 Although on his deathbed he did say "Its all been rather lovely". He was a gentleman of the first order. A lovely man.

[@jasonfernee2401]

i don't think there is an Englishman alive who wouldn't want some of John Le Mesuriers qualities in them. A wonderful man.

[@Henry-vu5sg]

This music reminds me of the most beautiful, captivating and enchanting woman who ever walked this earth.... There is no one to compare... Helen ... Dale Edinburgh....

[@SimonandJojo]

Really Lovely.

[@joshuac1000]

How many years have i been looking for this? Thank you.

[@joannafursdon2621]

Lovely.

[@leetylr]

He reminds me of Noel Coward RIP John

[@dashercronin]

Consummate theatrical performance. John was saddled with so many pot boiler roles in order to make a living his real talents were, in the main, undiscovered. RIP

[@ninajey7547]

WOW

[@nadeemathar4226]

C'mon some of you it's remarkable how he sang this song.

[@dansummer3916]

I prefer the Dad's Army stage recording as it is book-ended by some comic dialogue which adds to the poignancy of Wilson's reverie. Thanks anyway for the upload. A curiosity and always great to hear John tell an anecdote.

[@Wanda711]

He's like another English actor who couldn't really sing - Rex Harrison. Yet when he did, like Louis Armstrong said, "You were right down the middle of every note!" Le Mesurier had a voice like warm toffee - you just wanted to keep listening to it, and whatever he said would make you happy.

[@MrJericho07]

Where is he? ..I wish he was still with us

[@melclo3641]

Isn't that just delicious.

[@richardroberts3819]

That's uncle Arthur. Homepride. All because............

[@swingmanic]

Poor old John, he didn't have much luck with the women in his life, wives Hattie Jacques and Joan Malin. The latter who went onto have an affair with Tony Hancock. They filmed Dad's Army close to where I used to live and when they weren't acting, they were knocking it back down at the local pub. He was a heavy smoker and drinker who loved his jazz and despite Tony Hancock having an affair with his wife, he still continued to try and support Hancock throughout his bouts of depression and alcoholism. An overall gentleman and nice guy seen here in the audience of Jazz 625 in the front row - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jn6rpK1ri9Z_nq8

[@martinwhite7053]

I met Tony Hancock whilst he was leaning on his back gate in Godalming Surrey, he really looked depressed.

[@heathstjohn6775]

Lovely. Prefer the '70's Single version. Thanks.

[@joelhall5124]

Well, he's no Bobby Darin, but that was a wonderful rendition

[@essexpeter6116]

The remark about Hattie Jaques was unnecessary.

[@MissRosie89]

Life was better when people smoked. Thank you for cromptonenator.

[@nadeemathar4226]

You really think so? I don't smoke by the way and I have no desire to do so.

[@nadeemathar4226]

This might be a strange question to ask but since I'm aware that this song which is British in origin has also been sung by some American song artists (Frank Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole etc) what if their version of this song was named 'A Nightingale Sang in Copley Square' and so instead of making references to London (as heard in this song) these American song artists make references to Boston since Copley Square is located in that city. Ask my opinion 'A Nightingale Sang In Copley Square' would have a nice "ring" to it so to speak.

[@Torahboy1]

Nadeem Athar Nobody did ask your opinion. This song was popularised during WWII. At that time, it was meant to remind us of the normality of life and of the hope of new love in a city darkened by war.

[@nadeemathar4226]

Why did you say that?? That's not polite.@@Torahboy1

[@Mahler2006]

He's "Shatting"!

[@JillForrest64]

oh come on.....it's not THAT bad !! :-) :-)

[@tinabaker4662]

He accomplished more in his lifetime than you ever will. Maybe you “ shat” all the time. Thankfully we’ll never know.

[@MichaelJones-nn7my]

I’ve got nothing but respect for this man but this was rubbish Sorry if I’ve offended anyone

[@harveycarter9627]

He couldn't sing at all because he was a heavy smoker.

[@greasylimpet3323]

How about Dino? You never saw him without a cigarette, but he was one of the best singers around. John had a rather lovely voice too.

[@o00.05]

Stick to your acting roles John.

[@clarkclifford2927]

Awful.