Bing and his oldest son, Gary, recorded something old -- "Play a Simple Melody" -- and something new -- Sam's Song -- on June 23, 1950. They were released on a single disk as "Gary Crosby and Friend." The disk sold more than a million copies and spent 19 weeks in the pop charts. "Play a Simple Melody" peaked at No. 2 for two weeks, "Sam's Song" peaked at No. 3. "Play a Simple Melody" was originally written for a 1914 musical Watch Your Step where it was titled "Won't You Play a Simple Melody."
Verse 1}
Won't you play some simple melody
Like my mother sang to me
One with a good old-fashioned harmony
Play some simple melody
{Verse 2}
Musical demon, set your honey a-dreamin', won't you play me some rag
Just change that classical nag to some sweet beautiful drag
If you will play from a copy of a tune that is choppy you'll get all my applause
And that is simply because I wanna listen to rag
{Verse 3A}
Play for me
That good old-fashioned harmony
Oh, won't you play for me
A simple melody
{Verse 3B}
Play from a copy of a tune that is choppy
You'll get all of my applause because
I wanna rag it
Ragtime melody
Arrangement:
Verse 1
Verse 2
Verses 1 and 2 together
--- instrumental break ---
Verses 1 and 2 together
Verses 3A and 3B together