The Fountain in the Park

Song lyrics to The Fountain in the Park, aka. I was strolling through the park one day

“The Fountain in the Park“, also known as “While Strolling Through the Park One Day“, is a song by Ed Haley, a member of the vaudeville act the Haley Brothers. Some believe the song was written by Robert A. Keiser, to whom Haley dedicated the song.

While strolling through the park one day
In the merry, merry month of May
I was taken by surprise
By a pair of roguish eyes
In a moment, my poor heart was stolen away

A smile was all she gave to me
Of course, it made me happy as could be

I immediately raised my hat
And finally, she remarked
But I never shall forget
That lovely afternoon
I met her at the fountain in the park

It was my lucky afternoon
The weather was so fair
And there was I, a walking Dappеr Dan
With tilted derby cane in hand
I fеlt so debonair
To make it short, here’s how it all began
Yes, here’s how it all began…

The organ played a pretty tune
In the merry, merry month of June
On her finger went a ring
As the choir began to sing
In a moment we were on a honeymoon

And then we raised a family
We never knew how happy we could be

Though the future may be cold and dark
It will always be a lark
And when we’re old and gray
I will still recall the day
I met her at the fountain in the park!

She wore a daring gingham gown
And new high-button shoes
And on her shoulder twirled a parasol
Her eyes invited me to join her
How could I refuse?
Here’s the situation as I recall
Just listen as I tell you all…

[repeat]

Film performances

• The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929)
• Caught Plastered (1931)
• The House on 56th Street (1933)
• This Is My Affair (1937)
• Idiot’s Delight (1939)
• The Ice Follies of 1939 (1939)
• Strike Up the Band (1940)
• The Strawberry Blonde (1941)
• Unexpected Uncle (1941)
• Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
• Gentleman Jim (1942)
• Heaven Can Wait (1943)
• Show Business (1944)
• Lake Placid Serenade (1944)
• I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now (1947)
• April Showers (1948)
• Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell (1951)
• Million Dollar Mermaid (1952)
• The FBI Story (1959)
• Arabesque (1966)
• Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)

TV and Animation performances

• Mickey Mouse short The Nifty Nineties
• Tom and Jerry short Baby Puss
• Bugs Bunny shorts Elmer’s Pet Rabbit, and Bushy Hare
• Pepé Le Pew shorts Scentimental Romeo and Heaven Scent
• I Love Lucy episodes Pioneer Women and Lucy’s Show Biz Swan Song.
• The Simpsons episodes “Treehouse of Horror III” and “Brother’s Little Helper”
• Shining Time Station episode “Schemer’s Robot”
• The Magic School Bus episodes “Inside Ralphie” and “Goes to Seed”
• The Real Ghostbusters episode “Very Beast Friends”
• Alvin and the Chipmunks covered the song for their 1962 album The Chipmunk Songbook
• Top Cat episode “The Missing Heir”
• The Flintstones episode “The Hot Piano”
• The Honeymooners episode “Life Upon the Wicked Stage”
• Used as background music in the Animaniacs episode “Potty Emergency”
• Sabrina: The Animated Series episode “Xabrina: Warrior Princess”
• Used instrumentally as a leitmotif whenever the eccentric old gentleman would unexpectedly appear in the Merrie Melodies short The Dover Boys (1942)