Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (song)

"Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania" also known as "There's a Pawn Shop on the Corner" or "There's a Pawn Shop on the Corner in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania" is a popular song written by Bob Merrill in 1952.

"Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"
Single by Guy Mitchell
Released1952
GenrePop
Length2:50
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Bob Merrill
Producer(s)Mitch Miller
Guy Mitchell singles chronology
"I Can't Help It"
(1951)		 "Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"
(1952)		 "Day of Jubilo"
(1952)

The best-known version[1] was recorded by Guy Mitchell on January 15, 1952. This recording was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39663, with the flip side "Doll with a Sawdust Heart."[2] It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on March 7, 1952 and lasted 17 weeks on the chart, peaking at #6.[3]

Bing Crosby sang the song on a number of occasions on his radio show in 1952 and one of these versions has since been released on CD.[4] Mickey Katz released a comedic parody[5] titled "Schvitzburgh, Pennsylvania."

The song is a story about how a relatively poor man falls in love with a beautiful woman and convinces her how rich he is by taking her out to fancy places, paying for it all by pawning all he has. As the song opens, he's out of things to pawn.

Appearances in other media

The song was referenced in Robert A. Heinlein's Time Enough for Love. The Senior sings a verse while he is in rejuvenation.

References
  1. Video: Guy Mitchell "Pittsburgh Pennsylvania"
  2. Columbia Records in the 39500 to 39999 series
  3. Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Record Research.
  4. Pairpoint, Lionel. "And Here's Bing". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  5. Video: Mickey Katz "Schvitzburgh, Pennsylvania"
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