- published: 16 Oct 2008
- views: 49951
Al Hoffman (September 25, 1902 – July 21, 1960), a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame since 1984, was a hit songwriter active in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, usually co-writing with others and responsible for number one hits through each decade, many of which are still sung and recorded today. The popularity of Hoffman's song, "Mairzy Doats", co-written with Jerry Livingston and Milton Drake, was such that newspapers and magazines wrote about the craze. Time magazine titled one article "Our Mairzy Dotage". The New York Times simply wrote the headline, "That Song".
Hoffman's songs were recorded by Frank Sinatra ("Close To You", "I'm Gonna Live Until I Die"), Billy Eckstine ("I Apologize") Perry Como ("Papa Loves Mambo", "Hot Diggity"), Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong ("Who Walks In When I Walk Out"), Nat "King" Cole, Tony Bennett, the Merry Macs, Sophie Tucker, Eartha Kitt, Patsy Cline, Patti Page ("Allegheny Moon"), Bette Midler, and most everyone who was a star of that era. In October, 2007, Hoffman's "I'm Gonna Live Til I Die" was the lead single from Queen Latifah's album, "Trav'lin' Light".
Who will love me now
Who will love me now (repeat)
Well I tried to give up
Walking the streets when I was with you
Snug as a bug in a rug
Never been so alone thinking about you
Who will love me now
Who will love me now (repeat)
Trying on my own
But living alone is one thing I can never do
I could end it all now
But I'm not that crazy
Who will love me now
Who will love me now (repeat)
Oh I need all the love
that you once used to give me
Words are never enough
Now you can't be with me
I need all the love
But who will take my hand and show me how
Who will love me now
Being home by myself
Believing so much you'd walk through the door
And tell me you think I'm a fool
But you won't do that now
You've done it so often
Who will love me now
Who will love me now (repeat)
Trying on my own
But living alone is one thing I can never do
I could end it all now
But I'm now that crazy
Who will love me now
Who will love me now (repeat)
Oh I need all the love
that you once used to give me
Words are never enough
Now you can't be with me
I need all the love
But who will take my hand and show me how