A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square is the title of a well-known British popular song with lyrics by Eric Maschwitz and music by Manning Sherwin. It was most famously performed by Vera Lynn in 1940 in World War II, and subsequently in a shortened version by Nat King Cole.
The Berkeley Square referred to is in London, UK, as are Mayfair and the Ritz.
The song's lyrics are deliberately implausible in several respects: angels do not eat in restaurants; streets are not paved with stars; and - not least - Berkeley Square is far too urban a location for a Nightingale.
Lyrics
The first stanza above, and the additional lyrics below, were in the original song as written, but are rarely sung in recordings:
- How strange it was, how sweet and strange;
- There was never a dream to compare
- With those hazy crazy nights we met
- When a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
- This heart of mine beat loud and fast,
- Like a merry go round in a fair.
- We were dancing cheek to cheek
- And a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
- When dawn came stealing up all gold and blue
- To interrupt our rendezvous,
- I still remember how you smiled and said,
- "Was that a dream or was it true?"
- Our homeward step was just as light
- As the tap-dancing feet of Astaire
- And, like an echo far away,
- A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
- I know 'cos I was there,
- That night in Berkeley Square.