| "Call Me Irresponsible" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Jackie Gleason | |
| Published | 1962 byParamount Music |
| Composer | Jimmy Van Heusen |
| Lyricist | Sammy Cahn |
"Call Me Irresponsible" is a 1962song composed byJimmy Van Heusen with lyrics written bySammy Cahn which won theAcademy Award for Best Original Song in 1963.
According to theMel Tormé bookThe Other Side of the Rainbow with Judy Garland on the Dawn Patrol, Van Heusen originally wrote the song forGarland to sing at aCBS dinner. At that time, Garland had just signed to doThe Judy Garland Show on CBS, and the intent of the song was to parody her well-known problems. Garland later sang the song on the seventh episode of the show.[1]
However, in 1988, Sammy Cahn said during an interview with freelance writer Harlan Conti, inSan Francisco, that the song was originally written forFred Astaire to sing in the filmPapa's Delicate Condition in which Astaire was to star. Cahn personally auditioned the song for Astaire's approval, which was given. However, Astaire's contractual obligations prevented him from making the film and the role went toJackie Gleason, who introduced the song.[2] It won theAcademy Award for Best Original Song at the36th Academy Awards held in 1964.
Cahn is said to have had a particular satisfaction in the number of five-syllable words in the lyrics of "Call Me Irresponsible".[3]
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