What are the lyrics to songs in Nutcracker Suite?

Answer 1

Found it!! The music to which we're referring is actually Fred Waring (not Ellington) and the arrangements are by Harry Simone. The release date is either 1947 or 1950, and CDs appear to be available on the web. Vintage vinyls are also available on eBay. And my memory for the lyrics wasn't terrific, either! Happy Listening!

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Thanks to a blog by Dr. Drake, where you can find pictures of the front and back of the Fred Waring album--the back has the lyrics. Here they are:

Overture

Come ring the curtain up, the drama is beginning!

Watch as the spotlight shows a merry bit of make believe.

First come the sugar plums, those dainty little dancers,

Pirouetting on their toes, they make a charming arabesque.

Then a Russian ballet in a Trepak dancing,

So entrancing, prancing on.

Then a tiny company of shining toy flutes

Shrilling, trilling, dancing on.

Flowers all together in a grand finale end the ballet merrily,

And now the band begins to play delightful music bright and gay,

Fiddles bowing!

Pipers blowing!

Up goes the curtain, now the drama is beginning

Watch as the spot light shows a merry bit of make believe.

Dance of the Sugar Plums

Here they dance, the sparkling sugar plums,

Gracefully pointing their tiny little feet.

Here they dance so brightly, in a ring,

Shimmering, glimmering, dainty and petite.

One by one they glide and pirouette,

Minuet, silhouette, to the tinkling beat.

In the twilight, in the moonlight, in the starlight

They dance.

Here in the glow of the moonlight

They dance to the tune of the beautiful silvery flute,

Here in the glow of the moonlight

They dance to the tune of the beautiful silvery flute,

They dance,

They dance to fairy music sparkling light,

They tread the moon beams of the night.

Trepak

Hark to the sound of the balalaika,

Hark to the shouts of the merry crowds

Who dance and sing 'til the rafters ring,

And click their feet to the pounding beat.

'Round and around see the maidens whirling,

'Round and around in a mighty swirling...

Flashing eyes and merry cries

For hearts are light this festive night.

Swing to the balalaikas playing,

Swing to the tambourines, they're saying,

"Ev'rybody, ev'rybody, join us in the dance tonight."

And if you happen to discover

Somebody dancing with your lover,

Have another vodka, have another vodka,

Vodka always makes things bright.

All to the trepak dancing, all to the trepak dancing,

On and on until the dawn

They sing and play the night away.

All to the trepak dancing, all to the trepak dancing,

On and on the night is gone

They dance and play until the day.

Hark to the sound of the balalaika,

Hark to the shouts of the merry crowds

Who dance and sing 'til the rafters ring,

And click their feet to the pounding beat.

'Round and around see the maidens whirling,

'Round and around in a mighty swirling...

High-yah! High-yah! High-yah! Ho!

Dance of the Toy Flutes

Tootie little flutes so cute and shrill,

Toe to toe they toddle to the square dance.

Here's a little boy flute,

There's a pretty coy flute,

Ev'ryone's a toy but all are filled with joy.

Listen to the flutes that toot and trill,

They just play away and wouldn't dare dance.

Lazy and legato, crazy and staccato,

For the dance they play.

Flirty little flutes in flounce and frill

See their high-falutin' tootin' pair dance.

Watch the shiny tin flute waltzin' with the thin flute,

Listen to the din when they go in a spin.

Hear them all salute that flute quadrille,

More exciting than a county fair dance.

Now a big glissando, then accelerando,

Toot! Scoot!

To the flutes they dance.

Waltz of the Flowers

Hark to the woodland call.

Come to the Waltz of the Flowers.

Ev'ry little flower on the hill;

Ev'ry little yellow daffodil

Hurries to the wonderful waltz of the flowers.

Here by the garden wall

Roses will waltz with magnolias,

Violets and morning glories fair,

Mignonettes and orchids will be there.

All the world of flow'rs join in this wonderful waltz.

And ev'ryone is singing, swinging, dancing,

Whirling, swirling, prancing,

Bending, blending, glancing

Side by side, to the melody they glide.

Lilies lilting, tulips tilting,

And forget-me-nots remembering.

Poppies playing, dahlias swaying,

And gardenias are saying

"Dance, flowers, dance!

Dance while the music brings romance."

The melody flows, the harmony grows,

Designing a magic spell to the rhythmic beat.

Dance, flow'rs, dance!

As delicate perfume fills the air,

(Enchanted with)

Love is calling you, love enthralling you,

Love had come from the flowers.

Lilies lilting, tulips tilting,

And forget-me-nots remembering.

Poppies playing, dahlias swaying,

As the trees above are rustling in rhythm.

While ev'ryone is singing, swinging, dancing,

Whirling, swirling, prancing,

Bending, blending, glancing

Side by side they glide.

As they hark to the woodland call.

Come to the waltz of the flowers!

Here by the garden wall,

Join in these magical hours.

Blooms in all their splendor,

Bending in surrender,

Then the symphony with majesty

Soars higher in triumph,

With petals flashing,

Color splashing,

Swirling, unfurling,

And caught in the whirl

Of this wonderful waltz of the flow'rs.

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I have a set of 45's from the 1950's with lyrics set to the "Nutcracker Suite" pieces. Offhand I can remember these: The Overture begins "Come, ring the curtain up, the (drama?) is beginning." The Flutes begins "Tootie little flutes in flounce and frill, see the high-falutin' tootin' flutes dance; there's the little tin flute, dancing with a thin flute, listen to the din when they go in a spin." Waltz of the Flowers begins "Here by the garden wall, (come to the?) waltz of the flowers." Russian Dance begins "Hark to the sound of the balaleikas." When I get back to Wisconsin in about a week I'll search my attic to see if anything is still playable. This has been driving me crazy ever since we took my four-year-old granddaughter to see her first (legit) Nutcracker last Sunday--actually, for some time before. I've always credited the arrangement to Duke Ellington, and in my head it sounds like it could be his, but I can find nothing online about an Ellington Nutcracker earlier than the one he did with Strayhorn in 1960, and that is definitely not the one we're thinking of. Can anyone help with any other information? Any info will be appreciated.

The below answer is not true. There are words to each song. They were created for the "play" version of The Nutcracker Suite. I know this because we did the play at my elementary school when I was a 5th grader. When I have more time I can add lyrics to the Waltz of the Flowers, the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, and the Russian Tea Cake song, but my baby is crying right now.

there's no words just music

there's no words just music

There are words. My college choir did them for Christmas Concerts but I can't remember them. Does anyone out there know the words?

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Well, I sang it in High School in St. Louis Park, MN around 1967 and we had to memorize the words but, alas, my memory is fading. Here is a website that has a few words:

http://www.rammsteinuk.com/327839

They are mostly as I remember them except for: "...Every little YELLOW daffodil..."

It was a long time ago...

Here is a link to the original arrangement on CD for $9.98 by Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians:

http://www.singers.com/4576c/Fred-Waring-and-his-Pennsylvanians/Nutcracker-Suite/

"...Conceived by arranger Harry Simeone he combines the charming lyrics written by Jay Johnson, Frank Cunkle, Daisy Bernier and Fred Waring..."

I'm going to order the CD - my wife teaches ballet and she heard me singing along once and now wants to use it in her Christmas dance recital.

Cheers!

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Hello, I did the Nutcracker for my chorus (I'm in 6th grade), and I know the flower words, here they are. It's not all the songs, and it's not the full song. We did the shortened version which practically cuts the song in half, but anyway, here they are!

March Of The Toy Soldiers

Midnight in the house, the church bells chime.

Midnight in the house, a magic time!

Listen, you will hear tiny feet draw near.

The mouse-keteers come into view!

Midnight in the house, the church bells chime.

Midnight in the house, a magic time!

Soldiers fast asleep awaken with a leap!

Oh here they come a marching two by two!

Forward march and never fear!

Oh, forward march, the foe draws near!

Midnight in the house, "To arms!" they cry!

Midnight in the house, "We'll do or die!"

Mice and soldiers come to the beating

of the drum,a raging pandemonium!

Midnight in the house, "To arms!" they cry!

Midnight in the house, "We'll do or die!"

The battle sound is all around!

Alas! A cheer from a tiny mouse-keteer!

Forward march! Don't count the cost!"

Oh! "Forward march! All is not lost!"

Oh! Midnight in the house, the battle's won!

When the mouse King fails we see

the surest sign of victory!

Midnight in the house, the siege is done!

Midnight in the house, the battle's won!

Off to sleep they go in the afterglow!

Tiny toys beneath the Christmas tree.

Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy

There's a kingdom just beyond a star, not too far;

You can go if you only dare.

In that kingdom you'll find every sweet tasty treat

you can eat waiting for you there!

It's a magic place, a lovely sight, pure delight!

If you go, you will want to stay!

If you dare now, we'll go there now,

through the air now, today!

The trees are hung with candy canes, bright red, and white, with chocolate streets and licorice lanes;

A lovely sight! Blueberry sky. Lemon sun, fields of lime where we can run! Ooo----

There's a kingdom just beyond a star, not too far;

You can go if you only dare.

In that kingdom you'll find every sweet tasty treat you can eat waiting for you there!

It's a magic place, a lovely sight, pure delight!

If you go you will want to stay!

If you dare now, we'll go there now, though the air now, today!

Russian Dance

We've got a Russian recipe!

All that a recipe should be!

It makes, it bakes sweet Russian tea cakes.

We've got a recipe so sweet,

it's sure to knock you off your feet;

It's baked a night by Russian candle light.

First, get the oven hot! If it's not,

then you may have a big surprise!

Then, butter, flour, and salt, sugar too,

fine chopped nuts a cup will do;

A touch, a touch, some sweet vanilla adds so very much!

We've got a Russian recipe!

All that a recipe should be!

It's right for every Russian appetite!

We've got a recipe so great,

We guarantee that it won't wait!

A bit or two or three or four will make you beg and cry for more!

A bit or two or three or four will make you sigh

and cry and beg for more… HEY!

Dance of the Reed Flutes(Marsipan)

We are candy flutes as you can see.

Bright and sweet as candy flutes should be!

Red and white and yummy,

Tasty in you tummy!!

Come! We'll dance for you so deliciously!

Candy flutes are playing. Too-dle-oo-dle-aying!

Hear the merry tune we play;

We'll pipe the day away!

Just hear us play; Too-dle-oo, too-dle-ay!

We are the candy flutes and in the land

Everything is sweet and simply grand!

It is plain to see here; children love to be here,

Where the sweetest things are always close at hand!

Candy flutes are playing, too-dle-oo-dle-ay-ing

So sweetly so grand!

Loo loo loo loo loo looloo, etc…

We're dancing and playing, too-dle-oo-dle-au-ing!

We are candy flutes and we believe magic happens every Chrismas Eve!

If you like to stay here permanently play here, you don't have to leave!

Arabian Dance

Desert sands that spin and blow;

Distant stars that gleam and glow;

Desert midnight; Camels lie sleeping;

Silver moon shines bright

Desert midnight;

Silent sands keeping watch while winds blow

soft and slow through the night.

Desert sands that spin and blow;

Distant stars that gleam and glow;

Desert midnight;

Chill in the air now,

Everywhere now, until dawn.

Desert midnight; Song of the night sky, of the bright sky,

Lingers on, and on.

Desert sands that spin and blow;

Distant stars that gleam and glow;

Desert midnight; Camels lie sleeping;

Silver moon shines bright; Desert midnight;

Silent sands keeping watch all through the night.

Chinese Dance

Tea! Chinese tea! What a find blend we'll brew

(we'll brew) for you!

Tea! Chinese tea! It's a new trend, long o

(long o) over due! (ver-due!)

Chinese tea is the best tea!

Chinese tea is the guest tea!

Tea! Chinese tea! Won't you try some?

Just try, (just try!)

You'll sigh! (You'll sigh)

Tea! Chinese tea! Won't you buy some?

It's great! (It's great!)

Just wait! (Just wait!)

The smell (the smell)

Is swell (Is swell)

One sip, (one sip)

You'll flip! (you'll flip!)

Get in the know just say "Pe-koe!"

Ah-so!

Waltz of the Flowers

Flowers of every hue;

Red, yellow, pink, white, and light blue.

Beauty so bright in the sunlight.

Ah….

Fair flowers surround you.

Sweet perfume fills the air;

Sweet as the breath of the fair spring.

Pretty flowers sway in a dainty way;

All the petals seem to say, "let's dance to day!"

Every flower a dream come true!

Roses red as firelight;

Daisies gold and sun bright;

Violets of deep blue;

Everyone a dream come true!

Ah… Ah…

Spinning, whirling, dancing twirling;

Every lovely bud unfurling

Spinning swaying, dancing, playing;

Turning round and round and round

and round and round and round!

Roses red as fire light!

Daisies gold and bright!

Ah…

Come join them as they bend and sway,

A dancing rainbow on a summer day!

All spinning and whirling and dancing and twirling;

All spinning and swaying and dancing and playing!

A rainbow of color, a sweet dream come true!

We didnt do Snowflakes, Spanish Chocolate, Angels, Sugar Plum with her Cavalier, or Mother Ginger. The Candy Cane dance has the Russian Bakers music/words, and the Marsipan has the Candy Flutes music/words. Hope this helps!