We're in the Money

[Cartman]

I'm sure we've all heard this song in these classic toons, but when was it written?

[Daffyfan2002]

I remember seeing the first time it was played on a TV special in which Bugs and Daffy had rival radio stations. I think it was shown on something, in the 30s, I don't remember exactly. Heck, it might have been written before that. They also play the song "What's Up Doc?" in cartoons before 1950 when Mel Blanc and Arthur Q. Bryan did a duet of that song. So it seems that a song can be written before it is performed.

[rodney]

I heard it was a sort of a "good times ahead" song during the depression.

[Pietro]

Yeah, I believe it first came out 'round 1931.
There was even a Harman-Ising cartoon named after the song!:bosko:

The song was also used in "Daffy Duck's Quackbusters"
and in "The Simpsons Christmas Special" (aka "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire").

-Pietro:D

[Thad Komorowski]

Bosko sings it in "Bosko's Picture Show" too.


-Thad

[Paul Penna]

Originally posted by Cartman
I'm sure we've all heard this song in these classic toons, but when was it written?

Like so many songs featured in Merrie Melodies of the time, it's by the songwriting team of Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics) written especially for Warner Bros. musical films, this one "Gold Diggers of 1933." It's one of those with extravagant Busby Berkeley dance numbers. In the film, this song is sung and danced by an army of otherwise scantily-clad gals decked out in gigantic coins. Ginger Rogers gets the solo, and sings one chorus in pig latin ("Ere-way In-hay the Oney-may"). No, I'm not making this up. Try to catch it on TCM some time.

"Pettin' in the Park" and "I've Got to Sing a Torch Song," also used in Merrie Melodies, are from this film, too.