Ricci Martin performing in Las Vegas in 2014. Credit Mindy Small/FilmMagic.
In honor of the passing of Ricci Martin, the son of Dean Martin, this week’s Featured Lyrics are to “Memories Are Made of This,” written by Terry Gilkyson, Richard Dehr, and Frank Miller in 1955, and were made most famous by Dean Martin. We’re posting lyrics of hit songs so that our songwriters can study them to see how winning songs are constructed. Of course a lot depends on the melody, the rhythm and the artist as to whether or not the song will sell… and whether or not it is in the right place at the right time!
The song was first issued by Mindy Carson and Ray Coniff Orchestra. The most popular version of the song was recorded by Dean Martin. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart for six weeks in 1956, and became a Gold record and his biggest hit. It was also his only UK number one hit, topping the UK Singles Chart on 17 February 1956, and remaining at the top for four weeks. He was backed by The Easy Riders (who consisted of Gilkyson, Dehr, and Miller), who wrote it. On the B-side of the 45 and 78 recordings was “Change of Heart” written by John Rox. The record had been hard to find until it appeared on the 8-CD box set Memories are Made of This from Bear Family Music.
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After the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, the song was adapted into the “Honvágy-dal” (‘The Song of Homesickness’) and used as an unofficial anthem for refugees scattered around the world. Recorded by Ida Boros, it became a cultural phenomenon and a sign of protest against the communist government.
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In Germany, titled “Heimweh” (“Homesickness”) and performed by Freddy Quinn and with lyrics by Ernst Bader and Dieter Rasch, the song was 14 weeks at number one, the most successful song of 1956. Worldwide it sold more than eight million, thus exceeding sales of the Dean Martin version.
It has also been featured in many advertisements down through the years.
Deana Martin, Dean Martin’s daughter, recorded “Memories Are Made Of This” in 2006, releasing it on her debut album Memories Are Made of This (Big Fish Records).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memories_Are_Made_of_This
Memories Are Made Of This
The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can’t beat the memories you gave-a me
Take one fresh and tender kiss (The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can’t beat the memories you gave-a me)
Add one stolen night of bliss (The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can’t beat the memories you gave-a me)
One girl, one boy; some grief, some joy (I was rover, but now it’s over
It was a happy day when you came my way to tell me)
Memories are made of this (of the sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can’t beat the memories you gave-a me)
Don’t forget a small moon beam (The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can’t beat the memories you gave-a me)
Fold in lightly with a dream
Your lips and mine, two sips of wine (The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can’t beat the memories you gave-a me)
Memories are made of this (I was rover, but now it’s over
It was a happy day when you came my way to tell me)
CHORUS:
Then add the wedding bells, one house where lovers dwell
Three little kids for the flavor, stir carefully through the days
See how the flavor stays These are the dreams you will savor
With His blessings from above (The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can’t beat the memories you gave-a me)
Serve it generously with love (The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can’t beat the memories you gave-a me)
One man, one wife, one love through life (I was rover, but now it’s over
It was a happy day when you came my way to tell me)
Memories are made of this (of the sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can’t beat the memories you gave-a me)
Memories are made of this (The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me)
Take one fresh and tender kiss
Add one stolen night of bliss
One girl, one boy, some grief, some joy
Memories are made of this
Don’t forget a small moon beam
Fold in lightly with a dream
Your lips and mine, two sips of wine
Memories are made of this
CHORUS:
Data from: LyricFind
Written by Terry Gilkyson, Richard Dehr, and Frank Miller
Published by Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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