Pick Yourself Up

Fred Astaire

About Pick Yourself Up

"Pick Yourself Up" is a popular song composed in 1936 by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Dorothy Fields. It has a verse and chorus, as well as a third section, though the third section is often omitted in recordings. Like most popular songs of the era it features a 32 bar chorus though with an extended coda and its rhyming scheme is AABA style, with some variations among the A sections. The song was written for the film Swing Time (1936), where it was introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Rogers plays a dance instructor whom Astaire follows into her studio; he pretends to have "two left feet" in order to get her to dance with him. Astaire sings the verse to her and she responds with the chorus. After an interlude, they dance to the tune. (Author John Mueller has written their dance "is one of the very greatest of Astaire's playful duets: boundlessly joyous, endlessly re-seeable.")Astaire would also record the song on his own that year for the Brunswick label. The tune served as the theme song for the short-lived 1955–56 prime time television variety series The Johnny Carson Show. It was also the theme song for the 1989–1991 British TV comedy "French Fields" starring Julia McKenzie. It was occasionally used during filmed remotes on Late Night with David Letterman. 


Year:
1995
4:41
41 
#1

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

Please teacher, teach me something,
Nice teacher, teach me something.
I'm as awkward as a camel, that's not the worst,
My two feet haven't met yet,
But I'll be teacher's pet yet,
'Cause I'm gonna learn to dance or burst.

Nothing's impossible I have found,
For when my chin is on the ground,
I pick myself up,
Dust myself off,
Start all over again.

Don't lose your confidence if you slip,
Be grateful for a pleasant trip,
And pick yourself up,
Dust yourself off,
Start all over again.

Work like a soul inspired,
Till the battle of the day is won.
You may be sick and tired,
But you'll be a man, my son!

Will you remember the famous men,
Who had to fall to rise again?
So take a deep breath,
Pick yourself up,
Dust yourself off,
Start all over again.

I'll get some self assurance
If your endurance is great.
I'll learn by easy stages
If you're courageous and wait.

To feel the strength I want to,
I must hang on to your hand,
Maybe by the time I'm fifty
I'll get up and do a nifty.

Nothing's impossible I have found,
For when my chin is on the ground,
I pick myself up,
Dust myself off,
Start all over again.

Don't lose your confidence if you slip,
Be grateful for a pleasant trip,
And pick yourself up,
Dust yourself off,
Start all over again.

Work like a soul inspired,
Till the battle of the day is won.
You may be sick and tired,
But you'll be a man, my son!

Will you remember the famous men,
Who had to fall to rise again?
So take a deep breath,
Pick yourself up,
Dust yourself off,
Start all over again.

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer, musician and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute. He is particularly associated with Ginger Rogers, with whom he made ten films. more »

3 fans

Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Composition
"Pick Yourself Up" is a popular song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Dorothy Fields.
First Performance
The song was first sung and danced by Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in the 1936 film Swing Time.
Film Recognition
'Swing Time' film, where "Pick Yourself Up" debuted, is widely considered one of the best dance musical films ever made.
Lyrical Inspiration
The lyrics of "Pick Yourself Up" provide a motivational message, encouraging listeners to 'get up and get back in the race' whenever they stumble.
Notable Cover
"Pick Yourself Up" was famously covered by Nat King Cole, and became one of his most revered performances.
Instrumentals
In Nat King Cole's rendition of "Pick Yourself Up", he showcases a distinctive piano solo.
Popularity
The song has been recorded by numerous musicians beyond Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Nat King Cole, testifying to its lasting popularity and influential impact.
Famous Dance Sequence
The song is remembered and associated with a famous dance sequence in the movie 'Swing Time', where Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance in perfect synchronization.
Broadway Influence
The creators, Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, are considered some of the most influential figures in Broadway history, having composed music and lyrics for numerous successful musicals in addition to "Pick Yourself Up."
Legacy
Nearly a century after its creation, "Pick Yourself Up" is still a frequently played and highly regarded song in the jazz and pop standards repertoire.

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