Covers for "My Buddy"

The sheet music of "My Buddy" has two covers, so far as I'm aware. One extols its virtues by proclaiming that it was sung by Al Jolson (famous to us people nowadays as the Jazz Singer), and the other that of Mary Katherine Campbell (two-time winner of Miss America).

Image from (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ctod/536375071/)

archive # 43

These covers naturally raise a question of gender. Who is singing to who? Man to woman? Man to man? Woman to woman? Woman to man? The covers are so markedly different, it's hard to say. I will discuss it, however, in the next post, but I ask you to consider the covers, the singers, and the lyrics. What do you think?

(Verse 1)

Life is a book that we study,

some of its leaves bring a sigh.

There it was written, my buddy,

that we should part, you and I.

(Chorus)

Nights are long since you went away.

I think about you all through the day.

My buddy, no buddy, quite so true.

Miss your voice, and touch of your hand.

I long to know that you understand.

My buddy, your buddy misses you.

(Verse 2)

Buddies through all of the gay days,

buddies then something went wrong.

I go alone through the gray days,

missing your smile and your song.