Till the Real Thing Comes Along
First live performance by Ethel Waters (May 4, 1931)
- Lyrics written by
- Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin, Slim Freeman
- Original music written by
- Alberta Nichols
- Original lyrics written by
- Mann Holiner
- Language
- English
- Adapted from
-
Till the Real Thing Comes Along written by Mann Holiner, Alberta Nichols
- Comments
- The 1931 song was substantially rewritten by Cahn and Chaplin, who were hired by Al Kapp of Decca Records to polish the lyrics, e.g. "work my body to a grave for you" became "I'd be a beggar or a knave for you". Without an original 1931 recording, it's hard to establish, if the melody was changed much. 'Slim' Freeman is mentioned as the "fifth" individual to receive songwriting credit. He was the saxophonist in the Three Chocolate Drops who heard the tune, but forgot some of the lyrics, so made some up and performed it a lot. Freeman wisely slapped a copyright on it and called it "The Slave Song."
- Licensing
- Request a synchronization license
