1947 Popular Music, Songs and Artists

Woody Guthrie

This Land Is Your Land
Woody Guthrie wrote This Land Is Your Land in 1940 as a response to Irving Berlin’s God Bless America. Initially titled God Bless America for Me, the song carried Guthrie’s socialist ideals and criticism of inequality. It wasn’t officially published until 1945 in a small mimeographed booklet. By the 1960s, it was a staple in American school music programs. In 2002, the song was added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry, cementing its status as an enduring American folk classic.

Dinah Shore

The Anniversary Song
Originally composed as Waves of the Danube by Iosif Ivanovici in 1880, the melody gained new life when Al Jolson and Saul Chaplin added English lyrics in 1946. Popularized by Dinah Shore, the song became a romantic hit, often played at weddings. Despite frequent confusion, it is not related to The Anniversary Waltz.

Frank Sinatra

Always
Written by Irving Berlin in 1925 as a gift to his wife, Always is a timeless romantic ballad about undying love. Berlin gave all the royalties to his wife as part of the gift. Frank Sinatra’s 1947 recording returned the song to the public eye, making it a hit for a new generation.

Dick Haymes

How Are Things in Glocca Morra
This wistful ballad comes from the Broadway musical Finian’s Rainbow (1947). The song expresses Sharon’s longing for her Irish homeland and became a standout piece from the show. Finian’s Rainbow tells the whimsical story of an Irishman and his daughter trying to bury stolen leprechaun gold near Fort Knox, only to be pursued by the leprechaun himself.

Bing Crosby

The Whiffenpoof Song
This Yale University anthem, written in 1909 by Tod Galloway and Meade Minnigerode, was popularized by Rudy Vallée in the 1920s. Bing Crosby’s 1947 rendition brought the acapella classic to wider audiences. It has since become a cultural touchstone, appearing in films and television shows.

Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters

There’s No Business Like Show Business
This Irving Berlin composition became the anthem for entertainers everywhere, first performed by Ethel Merman in Annie Get Your Gun (1946). Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters recorded a popular version in 1947, extending its reach beyond the stage. The song later served as the title for a 1954 movie musical starring Ethel Merman, Marilyn Monroe, and Donald O’Connor.

Billie Holiday

Easy Living
Written in 1937 by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin, Easy Living became a jazz standard through Billie Holiday’s emotional 1947 recording. The song captures themes of love and devotion, showcasing Holiday’s unparalleled ability to infuse her performances with deep feelings.

Peggy Lee

Golden Earrings
Written by Jay Livingston, Ray Evans, and Victor Young for the 1947 film Golden Earrings, this haunting tune was performed by Peggy Lee and became a top-charting hit. The mysterious and romantic melody captured audiences, solidifying Lee’s star power.

Vaughn Monroe

Ballerina
Written by Carl Sigman and Sidney Keith Russell, Ballerina became a major hit for Vaughn Monroe in 1947. Its poignant lyrics tell the story of a ballerina who dances her way to stardom but loses herself along the way. Monroe’s baritone delivery made the song a classic.

Dinah Shore

You Do
Written by Mack Gordon and Josef Myrow for the 1947 film Mother Wore Tights, You Do was performed by Dinah Shore and became a chart-topping hit. The song’s sentimental lyrics and Shore’s warm delivery made it a favorite in post-war America.