Song Lyric Sunday – “If I knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked A Cake”

This week Jim Adams has prompted us with choosing songs involving Baking | Bread | Cake | Pie | Picnic for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday.

I chose “If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake performed by Ernie for Cookie Monster on the first episode of Sesame Street in 1950. Let me know if you think Ernie added a little too much baking powder.

Ernie with Cookie Monster

SONG FACTS

  • Written by Al Hoffman, Bob Merrill and Clem Watts
  • Originally recorded by Eileen Barton in January of 1950. Lasted 15 weeks on the Billboard charts, peaking at #1
  • A British version was recorded by Dame Gracie Fields in 1950 and was used on a British television ad campaign for Rightmove in 2007
  • Ethel Merman put it on her “The World is Your Balloon” album in 1950 featuring Ray Bolger who played the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. You can hear his voice clearly in the video below
Ethel Merman featuring Ray Bolger & Sy Oliver

“If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake”

Well, well, well, look who's here.
I haven't seen you in many a year.
If I knew you were comin' I'd 've baked a cake,
baked a cake, baked a cake.
If I knew you were comin' I'd 've baked a cake.
How-ja do. How-ja do, How-ja do.
Had you dropped me a letter I'd 've hired a band,
grandest band in the land.
Had you dropped me a letter I'd 've hired a band
and spread the welcome mat for you.
Now I don't know where you came from
'cause I don't know where you've been.
But it really doesn't matter
grab a chair and fill your platter
and dig dig dig right in.
If I knew you were comin' I'd 've baked a cake,
hired a band, goodness sake.
If I knew you were comin' I'd 've baked a cake.
How-ja do. How-ja do. How-ja do.
If I knew you were comin' I'd 've baked a cake,
baked a cake, baked a cake.
If I knew you were comin' I'd 've baked a cake.
How-ja do. How-ja do, How-ja do.
Had you dropped me a letter I'd 've hired a hall,
great big hall, band and all.
Had you dropped me a letter I'd 've hired a hall
and spread the welcome mat for you.
Now I don't know where you came from
'cause I don't know where you've been.
But it really doesn't matter
grab a chair and fill your platter
and dig dig dig right in.
If I knew you were comin' I'd 've kept the pot,
coffee pot nice and hot.
If I knew you were comin' I'd 've baked a cake.
How-ja do. How-ja do. How-ja do.
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Al Hoffman / Bob Merrill / Clem Watts
If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Music & Media Int'l, Inc, Music Sales Corporation

16 Comments on “Song Lyric Sunday – “If I knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked A Cake”

  1. That Cookie Monster is so impatient, but also very funny. It was nice to hear the Ethel Merman version and having the Scarecrow in it made it real special.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Hell Lisa. Hope all is well in your world? Lol , I first heard the song on an episode of M*A*S*H. Episode name: Henry, Please Come Home. The show is set during the Korean war and 50’s so it makes sense. I’m a young whipper snapper (45) so the original air date of the song was a little ahead of my time.😂 Thanks for another GREAT post!

    Liked by 1 person

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