Cole Porter part 3

After his debilitating accident in 1937, in which both his legs were fractured, Cole Porter spent months in the hospital and underwent as many as 34 operations, all ultimately unsuccessful. For some time his life was very painful, both physically as well as psychologically. Once he graduated from a wheelchair to a cane, however, he resumed his sex life as usual: Frank Walsh, a soldier stationed at Governors Island, recalled attending a party at Porter's Lido Beach residence, describing it as "a drinking and sex party, nearly orgiastic, with fifty or more soldiers kissing, drinking and engaging in lots of very graphic sex."

I wish I had a photo to share from that party, but we'll all have to use our imagination. I'll share a "socially acceptable" one of Porter instead.

The loss of his wife in 1954 cost him dearly. Although they were in a sexless marriage, there was love and respect in their relationship. Then in 1958 he had to have his leg amputated. After that, the once darling of the social circles became a recluse, drinking heavily. He died in 1964 of kidney failure, at 73.

You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To was written for the 1943 film "Something To Shout About". It was written for dancer and choreographer Nelson Barclift, with whom Cole had a romantic relationship. That was "our song," Barclift recalled.

Here's the hit version by Dinah Shore:

And here's John Barrowman:

Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye is possibly my favorite Porter song ever. The lyrics are sensitive and innovative and the music gives me goosebumps. It was written in 1944 for the musical revue Seven Lively Arts and has since become a jazz standard.

Here's the Simply Red version:

And here's the fabulous Annie Lennox:

Live And Let Live is found in the 1953 Broadway musical Can-Can. The lyrics are an ode to tolerance. "Love and let love, ... Live and let live and remember this line: "You're bus'ness is your bus'ness and my bus'ness is mine."

Here's a version by Wilfried Van den Brande & Dirk Baert (2014):

And here's Maurice Chevalier and Louis Jourdan in the film "Can-Can":