Tuesday April 28, 2020 “A Little Bit of Soap” The Jarmels

Here’s a reminder that all of us have heard perhaps a thousand times too often these days, a little bit of soap, but this time done in a happy, poppy tune Of course when the Jarmels recorded this back in the 60’s they had no idea that they should include yet another verse that could suggest in addition to washing away, lipstick, perfume and powder a little bit of could also wash away the corona virus.

I encourage you to create your own verse about how a little bit of soap can wash away the corona virus which you can then sing while you are washing your hands, instead of Happy Birthday. Here's my take:

* A little bit of soap*

* Will wash away the virus from my hands*

* How it got there*

* I will never, never understand*

* But I scrub and I rinse*

* And somehow remain convinced*

* That a little bit of soap will make *

* My world a safer place*

But the story here is not so much about The Jarmels, this was their only hit, but rather about the writer, Bert Berns. who labored in the Brill Building with so many other great rock songwriters like Carole King, Jerry Goffin, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and in his very short time on this planet would write and produce some of the more memorable 60’s tunes including “Twist & Shout” (Beatles/Isley Brothers), “Cry Baby” (Janis Joplin), “Here Comes the Night” (Van Morrison) and “Hang on Sloopy” (The McCoys)…OK they can’t all be great.

Bert Berns also founded Bang Records with Ahmet Ertegun and Gerry Wexler which was the early home to several seminal 60’s artists including Van Morrison and Neil Diamond.

Be safe and well…and yes, don’t forget, a little bit of soap.

A little bit of soap
Will wash away your lipstick on my face
But a little bit of soap
Will never never never ever erase
The pain in my heart, and my eyes
As I go through the lonely years
A little bit of soap
Will never wash away my tears

Mmm, a little bit of soap
Will wash away your powder from my chin
A little bit of soap
Will never never never ever begin
To take away the hurt that I feel
As I go through the lonely years
A little bit of soap
Will never wash away my tears

Now have you heard when love begins to die
It leaves someone to cry night and day?
Just like a bird, you left your robin's nest
And just like all the rest, you flew away

Mmm, a little bit of soap
Will take away your perfume eventually
But a little bit of soap
Will never wash away the memory
Of your name in the night
That I call through the lonely years
A little bit of soap
Will never wash away my tears

I'll never lose the memory
Of your name in the night
That I call through the lonely years
A little bit of soap
Will never wash away my tears
Mmm, a little bit of soap
Will never wash away my tears

Mmm, it's gonna never, never, never
Uh-huh, wash away my tears