# Answer Me > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Answer_Me > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Answer_Me.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Answer_Me > Source revision: 1354824862 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1953 popular music song For the magazine, see [*Answer Me!*](/source/Answer_Me!) "Mütterlein" Song Language German English title "Answer Me" Published 19 April 1952 Songwriters Gerhard Winkler, Fred Rauch "**Answer Me**" is a [popular](/source/Popular_music) song, originally titled "**Mütterlein**", with German lyrics by [Gerhard Winkler](/source/Gerhard_Winkler_(composer)) and [Fred Rauch](/source/Fred_Rauch). "Mütterlein" was published on 19 April 1952. English lyrics were written by [Carl Sigman](/source/Carl_Sigman), and the song was published as "Answer Me" in [New York](/source/New_York_City) on 13 October 1953.[1] Contemporary recordings of the English lyric by [Frankie Laine](/source/Frankie_Laine) and [David Whitfield](/source/David_Whitfield) both topped the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart) in 1953.[2] ## "Mütterlein" Mütterlein, an old-fashioned term of endearment for a mother in German, was the title used by [Gerhard Winkler](/source/Gerhard_Winkler_(composer)) for a song marking his mother's 75th birthday in 1952. The first artist to record it was [Leila Negra](/source/Leila_Negra), and there were also versions in Danish, Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian. Fred Rauch later wrote new German lyrics, and titled it "Glaube Mir (Believe Me)". This version sold half a million copies for Wolfgang Sauer, a singer and pianist.[3] It was recorded in Dutch by Bob Scholte: "Moeder mijn, moeder mijn" ("mother mine"). ## "Answer Me" "Answer Me, Lord Above (Mutterlein)" Single by Frankie Laine with Paul Weston and his Orchestra and The Norman Luboff Choir Carl Fischer, Piano Published 13 October 1953 Released 14 September 1953 (1953-09-14) Recorded 22 June 1953 Studio Radio Recorders Genre Religious, traditional pop, ballad Length 2:38 Label Columbia Songwriters Carl Sigman, Gerhard Winkler Producer Mitch Miller Sigman originally wrote his English lyrics as a religious-themed song, "Answer Me", in which the first line reads 'Answer me, Lord above', as a question posed to God about why the singer has lost his lover. This lyric was [recorded](/source/Sound_recording_and_reproduction) by [Frankie Laine](/source/Frankie_Laine) in [Hollywood](/source/Hollywood%2C_Los_Angeles) on 22 June 1953.[4][5] Laine's version did not chart when released in his native America, where it was titled "Answer Me, Lord Above".[6][7] British light operatic tenor [David Whitfield](/source/David_Whitfield) recorded the song on 23 September the same year.[8] Despite competition from other recordings of "Answer Me", only the two versions by Whitfield and Laine appeared on the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart).[9] Both were released in the UK in October 1953.[10] Whitfield's recording of "Answer Me" first entered the UK chart on 10 October, whilst Laine's (released in the UK simply as "Answer Me")[11] appeared two weeks later. The song was banned by the [BBC](/source/BBC) after complaints, owing to the religious nature of the lyrics.[12] [Bunny Lewis](/source/Bunny_Lewis), Whitfield's manager and producer, asked songwriter [Carl Sigman](/source/Carl_Sigman) to amend his lyric. Rather than asking the question to God about why the singer had lost his love, the lyric was instead addressed directly to the lost lover. In the new lyric, "Answer me, Lord above..." was changed to "Answer me, oh my love...", with other appropriate changes. This revised version was recorded by Whitfield on 27 October. On 6 November, his version of "Answer Me" reached No. 1 in the UK in its fourth week on chart.[13] On 13 November 1953, for the first time in UK Singles Chart history, one version of a song was knocked off the top spot by another version of the same song, when Frankie Laine's "Answer Me" made No. 1 in its third week on chart, deposing Whitfield's version after a week. Four weeks later, on 11 December, whilst Laine was still at No. 1, Whitfield returned to No. 1 with "Answer Me" for a second and final week, with both records sharing the No. 1 position; this was the only time in British chart history that two versions of the same song were jointly listed at No. 1. In total, Laine's "Answer Me" spent eight weeks at the top of the UK charts.[14] "Answer Me" Single by David Whitfield with Stanley Black and his Orchestra B-side "Dance, Gypsy, Dance" Published 13 October 1953 Released October 1953 (1953-10) Recorded 23 September 1953 Genre Religious music, traditional pop, ballad Length 2:33 Label Decca Songwriters Carl Sigman, Gerhard Winkler Producer Bunny Lewis ## Other contemporary recordings In October 1953, alongside the hit versions by David Whitfield and Frankie Laine, two versions of "Answer Me" by female singers were released in the UK, by [Anne Shelton](/source/Anne_Shelton_(singer)) with the [George Mitchell](/source/George_Mitchell_(Scottish_musician)) Choir and Jean Campbell. Other recordings available in the UK during the song's period of chart success were by [Monty Norman](/source/Monty_Norman), Harry Farmer (organ), Reggie Goff, [Victor Silvester](/source/Victor_Silvester) and his Ballroom Orchestra, and [Nat 'King' Cole](/source/Nat_King_Cole). On the UK's sheet music charts, "Answer Me" first charted on 17 October 1953. On 7 November, its fourth week on chart, it reached No. 1, where it would spend ten weeks (including one week jointly with "[I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus](/source/I_Saw_Mommy_Kissing_Santa_Claus)").[10] Frankie Laine re-recorded "Answer Me" with the revised secular lyric in Hollywood on 29 December 1953.[5] This version, titled "Answer Me, My Love", was not released until it appeared on the 1955 LP *Lovers' Laine*.[15] He would record the song again twice more at future sessions. On 9 December 1964, with orchestra arranged and conducted by [Ralph Carmichael](/source/Ralph_Carmichael), Laine recorded "Answer Me, O Lord" in Hollywood. This version was issued on his album *I Believe*, which consisted of religious material.[16][17] In January 1982, "Answer Me, O Lord" was recorded by Laine with the Don Jackson Orchestra and released by [Ronco](/source/Ronco) the same year on an album of his re-recorded hits entitled *The World Of Frankie Laine*.[18][19] In 1995, Church of Satan founder [Anton Szandor LaVey](/source/Anton_Szandor_LaVey) recorded a version of the song that appeared on the album *Satan Takes A Holiday.*[20] The original Nat King Cole recording, titled "Answer Me, My Love", was released by [Capitol Records](/source/Capitol_Records) in December 1953 (catalog number 2687). This recording first reached the *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* Best Seller chart on 24 February 1954, and lasted for 19 weeks on the chart, peaking at No. 6. It was the only version of the song to chart in America.[21][22] ## Recorded versions Source:[23] - [Anton LaVey](/source/Anton_LaVey) - [The Bachelors](/source/The_Bachelors) (1969) – featured on the LP *The World of The Bachelors Vol 3* - [Gene Ammons](/source/Gene_Ammons) - [Betty Buckley](/source/Betty_Buckley) - [Petula Clark](/source/Petula_Clark) (1965) – from the album *[The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener](/source/The_Other_Man's_Grass_Is_Always_Greener_(album))* (1968) - [Nat King Cole](/source/Nat_King_Cole) (1953) - [Harry Connick, Jr.](/source/Harry_Connick%2C_Jr.) (2009) - [Bing Crosby](/source/Bing_Crosby) - [Barbara Dickson](/source/Barbara_Dickson) (1976) – became her first UK top 10 hit, peaking at No. 9 - [Bryan Ferry](/source/Bryan_Ferry) - [Renée Fleming](/source/Ren%C3%A9e_Fleming) - [The Happenings](/source/The_Happenings) - [The Harptones](/source/The_Harptones) (1960) - [Bobby Hatfield](/source/Bobby_Hatfield) - [Engelbert Humperdinck](/source/Engelbert_Humperdinck_(singer)) - [Frankie Laine](/source/Frankie_Laine) (1953) - [Jackie Lynton](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jackie_Lynton&action=edit&redlink=1) (1967) - Columbia DB 8224 - [Gisele MacKenzie](/source/Gisele_MacKenzie) - [Joni Mitchell](/source/Joni_Mitchell) (2000) – from the album *[Both Sides Now](/source/Both_Sides_Now_(Joni_Mitchell_album))* - [Roy Orbison](/source/Roy_Orbison) - [Ray Peterson](/source/Ray_Peterson) (1960) - [Gene Pitney](/source/Gene_Pitney) - [Franck Pourcel](/source/Franck_Pourcel) (1983) – featured on the LP *In a Nostalgia Mood* - [P. J. Proby](/source/P._J._Proby) (1965) - [Johnny Rivers](/source/Johnny_Rivers) - [Don Shirley](/source/Don_Shirley) - [Ray Stevens](/source/Ray_Stevens) (1968) - [Tierney Sutton](/source/Tierney_Sutton) (2012) - [Jerry Vale](/source/Jerry_Vale) (1972) - [David Whitfield](/source/David_Whitfield) (1953) – two versions, with different lyrics - [Mark Wynter](/source/Mark_Wynter) (1964) - [Will Young](/source/Will_Young) (2016) **German versions** - [Leila Negra](/source/Leila_Negra) - [Rudi Schuricke](/source/Rudi_Schuricke) - [Wolfgang Sauer](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Sauer_(Musiker)) (1954) as "Glaube mir" ## Other performances - The song was performed in concert by [Bob Dylan](/source/Bob_Dylan) in 1991 with [Richard Thompson](/source/Richard_Thompson_(musician)) at the Guitar Legends concert in [Seville](/source/Seville).[24][*[better source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Questionable_sources)*] - The song is in the [Keith Jarrett](/source/Keith_Jarrett) live repertoire; he has performed it at least 15 times with his trio and solo from 2010 onwards.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## See also - [1950s portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:1950s) - [List of number-one singles from the 1950s (UK)](/source/List_of_number-one_singles_from_the_1950s_(UK)#1953) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** *Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series.* (1953). United States: (n.p.). [\[1\]](https://books.google.com/books?id=KjAhAQAAIAAJ) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Number 1 Singles of the 1950s"](http://www.everyhit.com/number1.html). *everyHit.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20020413003103/http://www.everyhit.com:80/number1.html) from the original on 13 April 2002. Retrieved 18 September 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Kutner, Jon; Leigh, Spencer (2010). *1,000 UK Number One Hits*. London: Music Sales. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-85712-360-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-85712-360-2). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [978493833](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/978493833). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Rogers, John. ["a"](http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnhrogers/a.htm). *Popular recordings from 1 August 1942*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081230151723/http://members.optusnet.com.au:80/johnhrogers/a.htm) from the original on 30 December 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2021. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_5-1) Praguefrank (18 December 2016). ["Praguefrank's Country Discography 2: Frankie Laine, part 1"](http://countrydiscoghraphy2.blogspot.com/2016/12/frankie-laine-part-1.html). *Praguefrank's Country Discography 2*. Retrieved 13 September 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Answer Me (song by Frankie Laine) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts"](https://www.musicvf.com/song.php?title=Answer+Me+by+Frankie+Laine&id=16375). *MusicVF.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140328212544/http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Answer+Me+by+Frankie+Laine&id=16375) from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [*Billboard*](https://books.google.com/books?id=YQoEAAAAMBAJ). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 26 September 1953. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Smith, Michael (2003). *Decca Record Company Ltd. Royal Blue and Gold 'F' Series 10 Inch 78 rpm Records. Vol II*. [The City Of London Phonograph and Gramophone Society](/source/The_City_Of_London_Phonograph_and_Gramophone_Society). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["UK Top 10: Song Index"](http://www.chartwatch.co.uk/TopTen/songs/songndxA.htm). *Chartwatch*. 25 August 2006. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20030224100322/http://www.chartwatch.co.uk:80/TopTen/songs/songndxA.htm) from the original on 24 February 2003. Retrieved 18 September 2021. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_10-1) Henson, Brian (1989). *First hits, 1946-1959*. Colin Morgan. London: Boxtree. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-85283-268-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85283-268-1). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [19389211](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/19389211). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [*78 Record: Frankie Laine - Answer Me (Mutterlein) (1953)*](http://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/record/pb196), retrieved 18 September 2021 1. **[^](#cite_ref-The_music_the_BBC_banned_12-0)** [*The Times Online*](https://web.archive.org/web/20110616140644/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article4465603.ece) 6 August 2008 "The music the BBC banned" 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** *British hit singles : Guinness world records* (16th ed.). London: Gullane. 2003. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85112-190-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85112-190-X). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [51779766](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/51779766). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-500_Number_One_Hits_14-0)** Rice, Jo (1982). *The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits* (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 12. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85112-250-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85112-250-7). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Larkin, Colin. *The Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Kollington – Morphine*. (2006). United Kingdom: MUZE. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Popoff, Martin (2009). *Goldmine record album price guide* (6th ed.). Iola, Wis.: Krause. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4402-2916-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4402-2916-9). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [778371373](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/778371373). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:4_17-0)** ["Frankie Laine"](https://www.rocky-52.net/chanteursl/laine_f.htm). *Rocky-52.net*. Retrieved 17 July 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:3_18-0)** Praguefrank (18 December 2016). ["Praguefrank's Country Discography 2: Frankie Laine, part 1"](http://countrydiscoghraphy2.blogspot.com/2016/12/frankie-laine-part-1.html). *Praguefrank's Country Discography 2*. Retrieved 17 July 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Frankie Laine, part 2"](http://countrydiscoghraphy2.blogspot.com/2016_12_18_archive.html). *Praguefrank's Country Music Discographies*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190508180703/http://countrydiscoghraphy2.blogspot.com/2016_12_18_archive.html) from the original on 8 May 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Anton LaVey – Satan Takes A Holiday"](https://www.discogs.com/master/557525-Anton-LaVey-Satan-Takes-A-Holiday). *Discogs*. Retrieved 16 April 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** [Whitburn, Joel](/source/Joel_Whitburn) (1973). *Top Pop Records 1940–1955*. Record Research. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Answer Me, My Love (song by Nat King Cole)"](https://www.musicvf.com/song.php?title=Answer+Me,+My+Love+by+Nat+King+Cole&id=30056). *MusicVF.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140330154204/http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Answer+Me%2C+My+Love+by+Nat+King+Cole&id=30056) from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Nagar, Richa (December 2000). ["Mujhe Jawab Do! (Answer me!): Women's grass-roots activism and social spaces in Chitrakoot (India)"](https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/713668879). *Gender, Place & Culture*. **7** (4): 341–362. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/713668879](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F713668879). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0966-369X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0966-369X). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [144916291](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:144916291). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Bob Dylan full Guitar Legends acoustic set with Richard Thompson \[Upgrade 4K\]"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udTNui_M0rM). Retrieved 12 April 2023 – via www.youtube.com. v t e Frankie Laine Studio albums Frankie Laine (three albums, 1950) One for My Baby A Musical Portrait of New Orleans (with Jo Stafford) Mr. Rhythm Jazz Spectacular Frankie Laine and the Four Lads Rockin' Foreign Affair Torchin' Reunion in Rhythm (with Michel Legrand) You Are My Love Frankie Laine, Balladeer Hell Bent for Leather! Deuces Wild Call of the Wild Wanderlust I'll Take Care of Your Cares I Wanted Someone to Love To Each His Own You Gave Me a Mountain Compilations With All My Heart Singing the Blues Frankie Laine's Greatest Hits Frankie Laine's Golden Hits Singles "The 3:10 to Yuma" "Answer Me" "The Ballad of High Noon" "Cool Water" "The Cry of the Wild Goose" "Dream a Little Dream of Me" "Granada" "Hey Joe" "Hey, Good Lookin'" "Hummingbird" "I Believe" "Tell Me a Story" "Dammit Isn't God's Last Name" "Don't Make My Baby Blue" "I'll Take Care of Your Cares" "I'm Gonna Be Strong" "In the Beginning" "Jezebel" "The Kid's Last Fight" "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)" "Mam'selle" "Moonlight Gambler" "Mule Train" "Rawhide" "Rose, Rose, I Love You" "Shine" "Sixteen Tons" "Some Day" "Sugar Bush" "That Lucky Old Sun" "That's Good, That's Bad" "That's My Desire" "To Each His Own" "Up Above My Head" "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans" "A Woman in Love" "Making Memories" "You Gave Me a Mountain" "You Wanted Someone to Play With (I Wanted Someone to Love)" "You, No One but You" "Your Cheatin' Heart" Related Discography v t e UK Christmas number-one singles in the 1950s "Here in My Heart" (Al Martino, 1952) "Answer Me" (Frankie Laine, 1953) "Let's Have Another Party" (Winifred Atwell, 1954) "Christmas Alphabet" (Dickie Valentine, 1955) "Just Walkin' in the Rain" (Johnnie Ray, 1956) "Mary's Boy Child" (Harry Belafonte, 1957) "It's Only Make Believe" (Conway Twitty, 1958) "What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?" (Emile Ford & The Checkmates, 1959) Complete list v t e Ray Peterson Singles "The Wonder of You" "Goodnight My Love (Pleasant Dreams)" "Tell Laura I Love Her" "Answer Me" "Corrine, Corrina" v t e Barbara Dickson Studio albums Do Right Woman From the Beggar's Mantle...Fringed with Gold The Barbara Dickson Album You Know It's Me All for a Song Gold Full Circle Singles "Here Comes the Sun" "Blue Skies" "Answer Me" "People Get Ready" "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" "January February" "Stop in the Name of Love" "I Know Him So Well" (with Elaine Paige) "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" "All I Ask of You" (with José Carreras) "You're the Voice" "Tears of Rage" "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" "Blowin' in the Wind" "Love Hurts" "I Will" Musicals John, Paul, George, Ringo ... and Bert Evita Blood Brothers Chess Spend Spend Spend Fame Related articles Discography Evita (soundtrack) Scouse the Mouse Authority control databases MusicBrainz work --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Answer Me](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Answer_Me) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Answer_Me?action=history)). 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