It's a confusion of seasons. Is there any better way to describe Christmas week temperatures in the upper 70s, maybe 80's by Christmas day? How do we explain it? Global warming? Let's not get into that! Why not place the blame on the shoulders of those who write the songs? Here are three songs from the Great American Songbook, each with a confusion of seasons.
Sweat was on the brows of Sammy Cahn and JuleStyne when they wrote their classic “Christmas Waltz.” Diane Berlanga explains.
Although it had nothing to do with Christmas, the songwriting team of Rodgers and Hammerstein nevertheless needed to manipulate the facts a bit when they wrote "It Might As Well Be Spring" for the movie State Fair.
Finally, there's the Alec Wilder song "Blackberry Winter" with nothing really to do with winter, for a blackberry winter occurs in the spring. The song, a collaboration with lyricist LoonisMcGlohon, was written in a day, as Wilder was visiting McGlohon and fussing at the piano. Wilder recalled:
“Something I played pleased him so I worked out the idea into a full length melody. He expressed interest in putting a lyric to it. I was convinced that my rhythmically unconventional devices would seriously hinder any attempt to find adequate words. Not at all. Mr. McGlohon, in his usual impeccable taste, found all the right words even if the phrase 'blackberry winter' is unfamiliar to Northerners.”
