Nobody's Child (Hank Snow song)
| "Nobody's Child" | |
|---|---|
RCA Victor | |
| Songwriter(s) | Cy Coben, Mel Foree |
"Nobody's Child" is a song written by Cy Coben and Mel Foree and first recorded by Hank Snow in 1949. Many other versions of this song exist.
History
It was first recorded by
UK Singles Chart[2] and used it as the title track on her album. In 1969, a recording by Hank Williams Jr. peaked at No. 46 on the US Country chart. The Traveling Wilburys' 1990 version made it to No. 44 on the UK chart.[3]
The song lyrics are about an orphan whom no one wants to adopt because he is blind:
I'm nobody's child, I'm nobody's child
Just like a flower I'm growing wild
No mommy's kisses and no daddy's smile
Nobody wants me, I'm nobody's child.
The Beatles with Tony Sheridan version
| "Nobody's Child" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Polydor 52 906 (GER) | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Cy Coben, Mel Foree | |||
| Producer(s) | Bert Kaempfert | |||
| the Beatles US singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
It was also covered by
Polydor in 1964 when the British group's popularity was at its height. Sheridan sings "Mammy's" (not "Mommy's"). He returned to studio later that year to re-record the vocal to "Sweet Georgia Brown", another Beatles track from these early sessions, and to tape a solo acoustic version of "Nobody's Child".[6]
The latter recording was only issued in Germany.
Release details
Singles
- "Ain't She Sweet" / "Nobody's Child" – released in 1964 by Atco in the US
- "Sweet Georgia Brown" / "Nobody's Child" (acoustic version) – released in 1964 in Germany by Polydor[7]
Albums
- The Beatles' First! – original German release, April 1964
- The Beatles' First – released on August 4, 1967, in the UK
- Very Together – released in October 1969 in Canada
- In the Beginning (Circa 1960) – released on May 4, 1970, in the US
- The Early Tapes of the Beatles – worldwide CD release in 1984, with two new Sheridan songs not featuring the Beatles
Personnel
- Tony Sheridan – lead vocals
- Paul McCartney – bass guitar
- Pete Best – drums
- Bert Kaempfert – producer
- Peter Klemt – engineer
Traveling Wilburys version
| "Nobody's Child" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Wilbury | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Cy Coben, Mel Foree | |||
| Producer(s) | Traveling Wilburys | |||
| Traveling Wilburys singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Former Beatle
Joe Brown, who gave him the first verse. He wrote a new second verse to address the plight of the children and babies in Romania, which ends with the lines "They've long since stopped their crying, as no one ever hears / And no one's there to notice them or take away their fears".[10]
Lead vocals on the recording were shared between Dylan, Harrison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne. According to Harrison, the group completed the track within 48 hours of Olivia's phone call.[9]
The Wilburys' "Nobody's Child" was released as a
charity single on June 18, 1990, backed by Dave Stewart's "Lumiere". The 12-inch and CD formats also included a live version of "With a Little Help from My Friends" by Ringo Starr. Proceeds from the single went to the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation, launched by Olivia with support from the other former Beatles' wives.[11] Derek Hayes directed a music video for "Nobody's Child", using animation and news footage of the Romanian children.[12] On July 23, the song was issued as the opening track of the charity album Nobody's Child: Romanian Angel Appeal, which Harrison compiled from further recordings donated by artists such as Eric Clapton, Elton John, Van Morrison, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder.[9][13]
Weekly charts
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[14] | 66 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] | 9 |
| 44 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1990) | Position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] | 43 |
Other cover versions
- Karen Young hit UK #6 with the song in 1969.
- Agnes Chan on her 1971 album Will The Circle Game Be UnBroken with the local Life Records.
- Billy Fury covered the song in 1972.
- Irene Ryder on her 1971 album Irene Ryder with EMI Regal Records
- Max Romeo and Techniques All Stars, both versions on a 1974 split 7-inch single released by Techniques Records.
- Majda Sepe (Slovenija). Her version was titled "Sirota", translated by G. Strniša (1969).
- The Alexander Brothers' biggest selling single was "Nobody's Child" in 1964.[18][19]
References
- ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ ISBN 0-7137-2065-4.
- ^ "Nobody's Child". The Beatles Bible. March 12, 2021.
- ISBN 978-0307452382
- ^ "Sweet Georgia Brown / Nobody's Child, Polydor NH 52906". The Beatles Collection. February 4, 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-55071-197-4.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7535-0822-0.
- ISBN 978-0-7535-0822-0.
- ISBN 978-0-7535-0822-0.
- ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
- ISBN 978-1-55071-197-4.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 284.
- ^ "Traveling Wilburys – Nobody's Child". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ "End of Year Charts 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- ^ "Scots entertainers awarded MBEs". BBC News. December 31, 2004.
- ^ "Search for "Nobody's Child"". AllMusic. January 10, 2020.
External links
| Studio albums | |
|---|---|
| Compilations | |
| Songs and singles | |
| Related | |
