Gordon MacRae (March 12, 1921 – January 24, 1986) was an American actor and singer, best known for his appearances in the film versions of two Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, Oklahoma! (1955) and Carousel (1956), and playing Bill Sherman in On Moonlight Bay (1951) and By The Light of the Silvery Moon (1953).
Born Albert Gordon MacRae in East Orange in Essex County in northeastern New Jersey, MacRae graduated in 1940 from Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts, and he thereafter served as a navigator in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Prior to this, he attended Nottingham High School in Syracuse, New York.
He made his Broadway debut in 1942, acquiring his first recording contract soon afterwards. Many of his hit recordings were made with Jo Stafford. It was in 1948 that he appeared in his first film, The Big Punch, a drama about boxing. He soon began an on-screen partnership with Doris Day and appeared with her in several films.
In 1950, he starred with Doris Day in "Tea for Two" (a reworking of "No, No, Nanette"), then in 1951, he starred again with Doris Day in On Moonlight Bay, followed by the 1953 sequel By the Light of the Silvery Moon. That same year, he also starred opposite Kathryn Grayson in the third film version of The Desert Song. This was followed by leading roles in two major films of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, Oklahoma! (1955) and Carousel (1956), both films opposite Shirley Jones.
Now The Day is Over is a collection of lullabies, standards, traditional and classical songs recorded in a number of weeks in The Innocence Mission's home studio during the summer of 2004.
The album features one original song, "My Love Goes With You", as well as two songs which are reprised from earlier Innocence Mission releases - "Moon River" from the 1999 EP The Lakes Of Canada; while "It Is Well With My Soul", as well as the 2 bonus tracks, were originally released in 2000 on the Christ Is My Hope EP. All four previously released songs appear in their original form, although they have been re-mastered for this release.
Among the covers featured from classic movies are the familiar Wizard Of Oz tune "Over The Rainbow", "Stay Awake" from Mary Poppins, "Edelweiss" from The Sound Of Music, as well as "Moon River" - which was sung by Audrey Hepburn in the movie Breakfast At Tiffany's and later made popular by Andy Williams.
Part of the proceeds raised from sales of this album were donated to Catholic Relief Services, helping children in South Africa infected with or orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
When they begin the beguine
It brings back the sound of music so tender,
It brings back a night of tropical splendor,
It brings back a memory ever green.
I'm with you once more under the stars,
And down by the shore an orchestra's playing
And even the palms seem to be swaying
When they begin the beguine.
To live it again is past all endeavor,
Except when that tune clutches my heart,
And there we are, swearing to love forever,
And promising never, never to part.
What moments divine, what rapture serene,
Till clouds came along to disperse the joys we had
tasted,
And now when I hear people curse the chance that was
wasted,
I know but too well what they mean;
So don't let them begin the beguine
Let the love that was once a fire remain an ember;
Let it sleep like the dead desire I only remember
When they begin the beguine.
Oh yes, let them begin the beguine, make them play
Till the stars that were there before return above you,
Till you whisper to me once more,
Darling, I love you!
And we suddenly know What heaven we're in,
When they begin the beguine