Lyrics to 'Thanks for the Memory' - Big Broadcast 1938

Here they are, transcribed from the movie, by me.

Thanks for the memories.


Thanks for the memory
Of rainy afternoons, swinging Harlem tunes
Motor trips and burning lips
And burning toast and prunes
How lovely it was

Thanks for the memory
Of candlelight and wine, castles on the Rhine,
the Parthenon, and moments on
the Hudson River line
How lovely it was

Many’s the time that we feasted
And many’s the time that we fasted
Oh well it was swell while it lasted
We did have fun
And no harm done

So Thanks for the memory
Of crap games on the floor, nights in Singapore
You might have been a headache, but you never were a bore
I thank you so much

Thanks for the memory
Of China’s funny walls, transatlantic calls
That weekend at Niagara when we hardly saw the falls
How lovely that was
Thank you.

Thanks for the memory
Of lunch from 12 to 4, sunburn at the shore
That pair of gay pajamas that you bought and never wore
Say, by the way, what did happen to those pajamas? Huh?

Letters with sweet little secrets, that couldn’t be put in a day wire
Too bad it all had to go haywire
That’s life I guess, I love
Your dress.
Do you?
It’s pretty

Thanks for the memory
Of faults that you forgave, rainbows on a wave
And stockings in the basin when a fellow needs a shave
I thank you, so much


Thanks for the memory
Of Gardens at Versailles, and beef and kidney pie
The night you worked and then came home with lipstick on your tie
How lovely that was
Huh?

…For the memories
Of lingerie with lace, yes and pilsner by the case
And how I jumped the day you trumped, my one and only ace
How louse (beat) lovely that was

We said goodbye with a highball,
Then I got as high as a steeple,
Didja?
But we were intelligent people,
No tears, no fuss,
Hooray for us.

Strictly, entre nous
Darling, how are you?
And how are all
Those little dreams
That never did come true?

Awfully glad I met you,
Cheerio and toodle-oo
Thank you,
Thank you

(Sobbing) Oh Buzz,
(Holding Cleo) Darling, I know
I know dear.

Sheet music from Hal & Leonard is available for the song. I bought it about 2 or 3 years ago. Yes, it is a moving and poignant ballad of love lost. The song, film recording of Hope and Ross, is also available on a two disc CD of 40 Hollywood songs: The Platinum Edition: Hooray for Hollywood, copyright 1997 Star Entertainment, Limited, London.

In a way, it's a bit of a pity that "Thanks for the Memory" became cheapened by being turned into Bob Hope's entrance fanfare. People forgot the song had such sophisticated, affecting and bittersweet lyrics.