Song of the Week: “Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think) (1950/1980)”

Here’s a song that celebrates a cornerstone of my personal philosophy as well as yesterday’s shift to daylight saving time, Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think), written in 1948 by Carl Sigman (music) and Herb Magidson (lyrics).

The Guy Lombardo Version (1950)

I’m going to share two versions. The first version [3.0 MB MP3] is the one that popularized the song, the treatment by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians. Here are the lyrics:

Verse 1

You work and work for years and years, you’re always on the go

You never take a minute off, too busy makin’ dough

Someday, you say, you’ll have your fun, when you’re a millionaire

Imagine all the fun you’ll have in your old rockin’ chair

Chorus

Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think

Enjoy yourself, while you’re still in the pink

The years go by, as quickly as a wink

Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think

Verse 2

You’re gonna take that ocean trip, no matter, come what may

You’ve got your reservations made, but you just can’t get away

Next year for sure, you’ll see the world, you’ll really get around

But how far can you travel when you’re six feet underground?

Verse 3

Your heart of hearts, your dream of dreams, your ravishing brunette

She’s left you and she’s now become somebody else’s pet

Lay down that gun, don’t try, my friend, to reach the great beyond

You’ll have more fun by reaching for a redhead or a blonde

The Specials’ Version (1980)

The second version was the one that ended on on my mix tapes in high school — the ska version [4.2 MB MP3] by The Specials, from their album More Specials. Here are their lyrics:

Verse 1

Hello, I’m Terry, and I’m going to enjoy myself first!

It’s good to be wise when you’re young

‘Cos you can only be young but the once

Enjoy yourself and have lots of fun

So glad and live life longer than you’ve ever done

Chorus

Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think

Enjoy yourself, while you’re still in the pink

The years go by, as quickly as you wink

Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think

Verse 2

Get wisdom, knowledge and understanding

These three, were given free by the maker

Go to school, learn the rules, don’t be no faker

It’s not wise for you to be a foot stool

Here’s a YouTube video of a Specials concert in which they perform Enjoy Yourself:

Todd Snider’s Version (2004)

I don’t have a copy of country artist Todd Snider’s version (from the album East Nashville Skyline), but I do know that he used two out of three of Carl Sigman’s original verses and wrote his own third verse:

Verse 3

You worry when the weather’s cold

You worry when it’s hot

You worry when you’re doing well

You worry when you’re doing not

It’s worry, worry all of the time

You don’t know how to laugh

They’ll think of something funny

When they write your epitaph

Enjoy the tunes, and enjoy yourself! Remember, they’ll be available for a week, after which they’ll vanish.