Small Fry

Johnny Mercer, Bing Crosby, Victor Young's Small Fryers

About Small Fry

"Small Fry" is an American popular song written in 1938 by Hoagy Carmichael and Frank Loesser. It was first sung and introduced by Bing Crosby, in the film Sing You Sinners (1938). In the film, Crosby sings it in a musical sequence with a young Donald O'Connor and Fred MacMurray. Crosby recorded the song on July 1, 1938 with Johnny Mercer dueting and this reached the No. 3 spot in the charts of the day. He also recorded a solo version of the song for V-Disc in 1944. Other versions have been recorded by Mildred Bailey (she reached #9 in the charts in 1938), Al Bowlly (recorded on October 14, 1938 - see Al Bowlly Discography), Crystal Gayle (used in her album Crystal Gayle Sings the Heart and Soul of Hoagy Carmichael), June Christy, and Matt Monro. There was a Fleischer Studios (direction by Dave Fleischer) animated cartoon in 1939 that used the song "Small Fry" to portray a story behind the song as a warning to youngsters to not want to grow up too quickly. 


Year:
1994
3:09
33 

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Small fry, struttin by the pool room
Small fry, should be in the school room
My, my put down that cigarette
You ain't grown up high and mighty yet
Samll fry, dancin for a penny 
Small fry, countin up how many 
My, my just jlisten here to me
You ain't the biggest catfish in the sea
You practice peckin all day long to eome old radio song
Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes
You better listen to your (maw, pay)
and someday practice the law 
and then you'll be a real success
Ys, small fry, (you) kissed the neighbor's daughter
Small fry, (should) stay in shallow water
Seems I should take you cross my knee
You ain't the biggest catfish in the sea
You've got your feet all soakin wet
You'll be the death of me yet
Oh me, oh my, small fry

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Bing Crosby

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation. more »

31 fans

Written by: FRANK LOESSER, HOAGY CARMICHAEL

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Small Fry" Songwriters
The song "Small Fry" was written by "Frank Loesser" and "Hoagy Carmichael". Frank Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and music to Broadway hits like "Guys and Dolls" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying". Hoagy Carmichael, on the other hand, was a famous American composer and actor known for timeless songs like "Georgia on My Mind" and "Stardust".
Sing You Sinners" Film Appearance
The song was originally written for the 1938 film, "Sing You Sinners", where it was performed by Bing Crosby.
Bing Crosby's Acclaim
Bing Crosby, one of the song's most revered interpreters, was a multi-talented American singer and actor. He was one of the best-selling music artists of the 20th century with record sales estimated by RIAA at 200 million copies.
Johnny Mercer and June Christy's Adaptation
The song was covered by Johnny Mercer and June Christy. Known for his sophisticated lyrics, Mercer was also a founder of Capitol Records. June Christy was a recognized jazz singer of the 1940s and 1950s era.
Matt Monro's Version
British singer Matt Monro also did a rendition of "Small Fry". He was known as "The Man with the Golden Voice" and was admired for his ability to breathe fresh life into standards and his powerful ballads.
Song's Influence and Impact
Over the years, "Small Fry" has been covered by numerous artists across varied music genres, highlighting its timeless influence and impact in the music industry.
Recognition of Hoagy Carmichael's Works
Hoagy Carmichael, one of the songwriters, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971, acknowledging his significant contribution to popular music. "Small Fry" is one of his notable works.
Frank Loesser's Legacy
Frank Loesser, the other songwriter, left a significant impact on Broadway musicals. His works like "Small Fry" contributed to the arsenal of popular standards sung in musical productions, films, and by lounge singers till this day.
Grammy Hall of Fame
Bing Crosby's version was honored by the Grammy Hall of Fame, which recognizes "recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance" that are at least 25 years old. This not only solidifies the song’s place in music history but also illustrates Crosby's impact as an artist.
Signature Johnny Mercer Style
Johnny Mercer's version of "Small Fry" features his distinctive singing style and his knack for balancing a song's melancholy with playfulness, making this version one to remember.

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