I’ll be Seeing You was written by Irving Kahal and Sammy Fain and published in 1938. Billie Holiday’s 1944 recording was the final transmission sent by NASA to the Opportunity Rover on Mars when its mission ended in 2019.
Cathedral bells were tolling
And our hearts sang on;
Was it the thrill of Paris, or the April dawn?
Who knows if we shall meet again?
But when the morning chimes ring
Sweet again
I’ll be seeing you
In all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day through
In that small cafe
The park across the way
The children’s carousel
The chestnut trees
The wishing well
I’ll be seeing you
In every lovely summer’s day
In everything that’s light and gay
I’ll always think of you that way
I’ll find you in the morning sun
And when the night is new
I’ll be looking at the moon
But I’ll be seeing you
That this heart of mine embraces
I ended up in the ‘I’ music notebook this month because my friend David Sherwood asked me to sing “I’ll be Seeing You” at his husband, Steven Nash’s celebration of life. My dear friend Steven Nash. I appeared with him at Sylvia’s Dinner Theater back in 1990, when I first moved to Portland. He was a memorable presence in the theater scene, and in Portland, for years before that. He knew and had worked with everyone. I can’t make sense of his being gone. He lived in Palm Springs most recently, and we talked by phone here and there. Before he moved to Palm Springs, he and his husband had devoted their time, talent, and energies to joyful non-profit fundraising. Their cabarets were not to be missed. The last time we spoke was after I’d sent him a Tarot Card set, I found in Spain last spring. His joy for life and loving kindness was palpable, and he would always greet me with a resounding “gorgeous!” I believed him every time. I feel him here as I write this.
I’ll be singing “I” songs
There are many songs in the “I” folder. I can’t decide if I should delete the songs I don’t think I’ll sing and put them online into forScore, or leave them out. When I opened the notebook to find “I’ll Be Seeing You” it was right at the top. I felt as though I’d won the lottery. I was set. The song tucked right behind “I’ll Be Seeing You” was “I’m Not Waiting.” Julia Murney recorded this song. Seeing it made me wonder what she was up to? I popped onto her Insta, and her post stated “Waiting.” Can you believe it? Her most recent Instagram post says she’s waiting. Julia, are you waiting, or not waiting? Very funny universe. Suddenly it occurs to me, “Well-played Nash.”
Who knows if we shall meet again
There are an awful lot of terrific songs that start with “I.” “I’m His,” music by William Bolcom and lyrics by Arnold Weinstein from their spectacular show “Casino Paradise” is one. Back in 2003, the brilliant Bolcom and his wife, Joan Morris, were in town working on A View From The Bridge. Well, I was a fan from waaaay back and I coerced Allen Nause (who appeared in Portland Opera’s A View From The Bridge) to agree to an evening of Mr. Bolcom’s music at Artists Rep — I don’t think it took too much coercion, after all, it was William Bolcom and Arnold Weinstein’s music and lyrics. Off we went, my one and only music director Bill Wells, Debbie Hunter, myself, Steven Dahlke and Wade Willis. What a thrill to sing for Bill and Joan. Joan shared one of my favorite songs she’s recorded. It’s now a favorite song for auditions. I won’t name the song so I can still use it. Funnily, Bill and I recorded Toothpaste Time in 2001, and boy did we goof! I sent a copy of the CD to Bill and Joan, and Bill responded that none of the titles were his. I was taken aback … I responded, “Toothpaste Time.” “I don’t have a song titled “Toothpaste Time,” I wrote a song titled “ToothBRUSH Time.” Bill and I had misnamed it on our beloved CD, Take Me to the World. That was humbling. Poop.
I’ll find you in the morning sun
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