MP3:
Jack Paar and Jack Haskell - I-M-4-U (2:19)
This was once the opening theme song of the Tonight show.
- Contributed by: Henry Lowengard
Images: Front Cover, Back Cover
Media: 7" 45 RPM
Label: Columbia
Catalog: 4-40628
Notes: Open Theme 1: "I-M-4-U (I Am For You)" [aka: "The Jack Paar Theme"; aka: "I Am For You"; aka: "I M 4 U (Jack Paar TV Show)"; This was also used as a THEME on "The Jack Paar Show"; Verified on 1997 PBS Special on Jack Paar, where Jose Melis group is heard playing this melody in a double-time latin arrangement at beginning of the show]. Composers: Jose Melis (ASCAP) [professional name of Jose Melis Giui], and Sev F. Marino (ASCAP) [professional name of Severino Frank Marino]. 1978 Publishers: Piano Melodies (ASCAP), and Oniram Music Publications (ASCAP). 1997 Publishers: Piano Melodies (ASCAP), of Bronxville; NY and Oniram Music Publications (ASCAP), of College Point, NY. Copyright Date: Oct. 24, 1955; EU 414 107. Renewal Date: May 16, 1983; RE-169-746. Recordings: LP: "Jose Melis plays Jack Paar Favorites" (1960) Secco CELP-462 Jose Melis Group.
The back of the record cover has the lyrics, which I transcribe herewith:
I-M-4-U S-I-M S-I-M
G-I-1-2-B-4-U-4-F-R
U-R-X-T-C S-U-R S-U-R
I-N-10-2-B-4-U-4-F-R
I-M-I-N-U U-R-I-N-2
S-E-Z-2-C B-B- U-N-I-C-I-2-I O
I-M-4-U S-I-M S-I-M
U-N-I-L-B-S-1-4-F-R-N-F-R-N-F-R
Other alphabetic fans may like to hear They Might Be Giants' I C U form "Here come the ABC's"
Posted by: Webhanster Henry | July 27, 2007 at 03:23 PM
Awesome! Thanks for this! I just bought a copy of Jack's autobiography at a thrift store, titled "I Kid You Not." I'm too young to have caught him on TV but he seemed a very decent and smart, funny man.
Posted by: Chris R. | July 30, 2007 at 12:26 AM
Best part is in the middle of the song, when the guy actually explains that all the lyrics are made up of letters and numbers, as if to say "Look how clever I am". Either that, or he seriously underestimated the intelligence of his audience.
Posted by: Adwanoc | July 30, 2007 at 05:18 PM
I hate to ask the obvious, but didn't Prince write that song?
Posted by: Johnny | August 01, 2007 at 05:32 PM
lol, i remember my grade 2 teacher teaching us this song..
Posted by: | August 27, 2007 at 12:03 PM
This song is amazing!
one might even say 3l33t (oh wait, no that didn't work, did it?) People nowadays think they're so clever with their texting and cuteness (l8r, etc.) but Jack Paar beat us all to it by what, fifty years?
Radical :)
Posted by: The Chairman!!! :) | February 22, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Why do I wake up at 2 A.M. thinking of this song and picturing the record sleeve ?
Posted by: Ric DeSiena | June 11, 2010 at 04:03 AM