Timeline Albums, EPs & singles Songs Films Concerts Sessions People Interviews Articles

Released in 1995

The Sheik Of Araby

Written by Ted SnyderHarry B. SmithFrancis Wheeler

Last updated on December 3, 2016


Album This song officially appears on the Anthology 1 Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1995

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

From Wikipedia:

The Sheik of Araby” is a song that was written in 1921 by Harry B. Smith and Francis Wheeler, with music by Ted Snyder. It was composed in response to the popularity of the Rudolph Valentino feature film The Sheik. In 1926, to go with the film The Son of the Sheik, Ted Snyder worked parts of the melody into “That Night in Araby“, a related song with words by Billy Rose.

The Sheik of Araby” was a Tin Pan Alley hit, and was also adopted by early jazz bands, especially in New Orleans, making it a jazz standard. It was a well recognized part of popular culture. A verse also appears in the novel The Great Gatsby (1925) by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In 1926, Fleischer Studios released a cartoon with this song, recorded in Phonofilm, as part of their Song Car-Tunes series, and a live action short with this title was filmed in Phonofilm in the UK, directed by Miles Mander.

The “Araby” in the title refers to Arabia or the Arabian Peninsula. The appeal to New Orleans bands may have lain in “Araby” sharing the same pronunciation as Arabi, Louisiana, a town downriver from New Orleans’ 9th Ward and a center for gambling just outside city limits until the early 1950s. […]

From The Beatles Bible:

The Beatles recorded a version of The Sheik Of Araby, a vaudeville song from 1922, during their unsuccessful audition for Decca Records on 1 January 1962.

The group based their arrangement on a rock ‘n’ roll version released by Joe Brown and The Bruvvers in 1961. George Harrison was a big fan of Brown, and sang lead vocals on The Beatles’ version.


Lyrics

Well I'm the Sheik of Araby

Your love belongs to me

Well at nights when you're asleep

Into your tent I'll creep


Not 'alf


The stars that shine above

Will light our way to love

And you'll rule this world with me

I'm the Sheik of Araby


Well I'm the Sheik of Araby

Your love belongs to me

Whoa, at nights when you're asleep

Into your tent I'll creep


A-ha


The stars that shine above

Will light our way to love

You'll rule this world with me

I'm the Sheik of Araby

Well I'm the Sheik of Araby

Well I'm the Sheik of Araby

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

Live performances

The Sheik Of Araby” has been played in 2 concerts.

Latest concerts where “The Sheik Of Araby” has been played

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.

Louis • 5 years ago

Danny and Dena Gugulmie recorded on their album of the 50's that same song, check out the record.


The PaulMcCartney Project • 5 years ago

Thanks Louis ! Will need to listen to this version !


Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2024 • Please note this site is strictly non-commercial. All pictures, videos & quoted texts remain the property of the respective copyright owner, and no implication of ownership by us is intended or should be inferred. Any copyright owner who wants something removed should contact us and we will do so immediately. Alternatively, we would be delighted to provide credits.