San Francisco's Most Famous Stowaway: The Story Behind "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"
Ah, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." The song that makes cable cars tinkle and sourdough bread practically sing. But have you ever stopped to wonder how this melancholic masterpiece came to be? Buckle up, because the story behind this tune is more unexpected than a fog bank rolling over the Golden Gate Bridge at noon.
From Brooklyn to the Bay: A Song of Homesick Scribblers
QuickTip: Revisit this post tomorrow — it’ll feel new.
Believe it or not, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" wasn't born in the City by the Bay. Nope, it was written in Brooklyn, New York, by two guys named George Cory and Douglass Cross. Now, you might think that's a bit of a geographical mismatch, but there's a twist! Cory and Cross were actually from San Francisco, and they were feeling a powerful case of the "I-miss-home blues" after moving to the Big Apple to chase their dreams of becoming writers. Talk about irony!
QuickTip: Short pauses improve understanding.
Almost Didn't Make the Cut: A Song's Near Miss
QuickTip: Pause after each section to reflect.
Fun fact: The song almost never made it out of Cory and Cross's Brooklyn apartment. They originally called it "When I Return to San Francisco," which is a whole different vibe than the pining acceptance of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." Luckily, they changed it before pitching it to singers.
Tip: Revisit challenging parts.
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Enter Tony Bennett: The Man Who Stole a Heart (Legally)
The song landed in the hands of Tony Bennett's accompanist, Ralph Sharon, and the rest, as they say, is history. Bennett first performed the song in San Francisco in 1962, and let's just say the locals went wild. It became his signature song, forever linking him to the city he (technically) never left his heart in.
Foggy Trivia: Did You Know?
- The song mentions the fog that San Francisco is famous for. Let's be honest, it practically deserves its own verse.
- There's a rumor that the song was originally written for opera singer Claramae Turner, but she never recorded it. Guess Tony just stole the show (and the song's heart).
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| What is The Story Behind I Left My Heart In San Francisco |
Frequently Asked Foggy Questions:
How to get to San Francisco? Planes, trains, and automobiles (but maybe not cable cars) are all good options. How to ride a cable car? Hold on tight, and for the love of sourdough, don't jump off! How to find Tony Bennett's heart? That's a tough one. Maybe it's in a figurative box at the Fairmont Hotel, where he first performed the song. How to make it as a songwriter? Write a song about missing San Francisco, even if you've never been there. It worked for Cory and Cross! How to avoid getting misty-eyed while listening to "I Left My Heart in San Francisco?" We got nothin' for you there. That song is pure tearjerker magic.
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