Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0006149, Fri, 7 Sep 2001 09:43:19 -0700

Subject
Re: Lolita's Heart belongs to Daddy (fwd)
Date
Body
EDITOR's NOTE. Yesterday, I inadvertently deleted the name of the sender
of the charming item below. My apologies to Oleg Dorman.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 09:21:44 +0400
From: Oleg Dorman <masterdor@mtu-net.ru>
Reply-To: Oleg Dorman <dorman@cityline.ru>



Perhaps this is the yesterday's news for full-grown Nabokovians, but
still....

I was listening to a Gershwin-Porter memorial CD, where Monroe sings this
popular MY HEART BELONGS TO DADDY. It starts with: MY NAME IS LOLITA, AND I
AM NOT SUPPOSED TO...
I cannot check when the recording was done. Anyway no earlier then 1958 when
LOLITA was published in US and no later than 1962 when Monroe left. I didn't
find such an opening in the original text of the song (composed something in
the 30s) but feel that VN heard this many times:

I used to fall in love with all
Those boys who call on young cuties
But now I find I'm all inclined to keep my mind on my duties
Since I've begun to share in such a sweet love affair

Though I'm in love, I'm not above
A date with a duke or a caddie
It's just a pose, 'cause my baby knows
That my heart belongs to daddy
When some good scout, invites me out
To dine om some fine fin and haddie
My baby's sure, his love is secure


CHORUS
Cause my heart belongs to daddy
Yes my heart belongs to daddy
So I simply couldn't be bad
Yes I'm gonna marry daddy
Da-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ad
If you feel romantic laddy
Let me warn you right from the start
That my heart belongs to daddy
And my daddy belongs to my heart