TV Show Theme Song Lyrics, Part 2

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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - OK, last week, we blogged about the Dick Van Dyke Show and the lyrics to its theme song, "Keep Your Fingers Crossed."  Now we will remember another show and song.

Comedian Jack Benny was a star of vaudeville before he moved to network radio in the 1930's, motion pictures, and later television. He was a long time NBC Radio Network personality until CBS Chairman William S. Paley signed him on November 24, 1948 to move to CBS Radio and eventually the CBS Television Network. Benny was signed along with other NBC Radio stars in what historians refer to as "The Paley Raids."

Benny's theme song was called, "Love In Bloom", written by Leo Rubin with music by Ralph Rainger. The song first appeared in the 1934 movie "She Loves Me Not" starring Bing Crosby and Kitty Carlisle. Crosby recorded the song that year and topped the music charts of that era in just a few weeks. Benny was known for playing the song on his violin but off-key which triggered the laughs. Carlisle wanted it for her theme song but Benny beat her to it.

The lyrics go like this:

Blue nights and you
Alone with me.
My heart has never known such ecstasy.
Am I on earth?
Am I in Heaven?

Can it be the trees
That fill the breeze
With rare and magic perfume?
Oh no, it isn't the trees
It's love in bloom.

Can it be the spring
That seems to bring
The stars right into this room
Oh no, it isn't the spring
Its love in bloom.

My heart was a desert
But you planted a seed
And this is the flower
This hour of sweet fulfillment.

Is it all a dream, a joy supreme
That came to us in the gloom?
You know it isn't a dream
It's love in bloom.

My heart was a desert
But you planted a seed
And this is the flower
This hour of sweet fulfillment.

Is it all a dream, a joy supreme
That came to us in the gloom?
You know it isn't a dream
It's love in bloom.

On an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Jack tells Johnny that he never liked his theme song. Johnny asked why. So Jack starts reciting the lyrics in Stanza 2 above. After he finishes he says, "Now what the hell does this have to do with me??!!".  Too funny!!

Now for your listening pleasure, Love In Bloom by Lew Stone & His Orchestra with vocals by Al Bowlly. Watch the video above to check it out.