How Are Things in Glocca Morra?

"How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" is a popular song about a fictional village in Ireland, with themes of nostalgia and homesickness. It was introduced by Ella Logan in the original Broadway production of Finian's Rainbow.

The music was composed by Burton Lane and the lyrics were written by E. Y. Harburg. The song was published in 1946 and introduced in the 1947 musical Finian's Rainbow. There is no actual Glocca Morra in Ireland (though there is a Glockamara). In a television interview late in his life, Harburg revealed that the name "Glocca Morra" was made up by composer Lane, who had devised a dummy lyric beginning with the line, "There's a glen in Glocca Morra". Harburg liked the name but insisted on changing the line to, "How are things in Glocca Morra?", as this is more personal and immediately evocative of nostalgia and homesickness.

James Stephens' work, The Crock of Gold (first published in 1912) refers to "the leprechauns of Gort na Gloca Mora" ("the field of the big rock" in Gaelic). It is unknown whether Lane or Harburg were aware of the novel or if this is just a coincidence.

Many versions of this song were recorded in 1946 and 1947, including a version by Dick Haymes, recorded on December 29, 1946 and released by Decca Records as catalog number 23830. The record reached the Billboard charts on March 29, 1947 peaking at #9, and spent 5 weeks on the chart.

Other early versions included the Buddy Clark version, recorded on October 14, 1946 and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 37223. It spent eight weeks on the chart, peaking at #6; the Ella Logan/Albert Sharpe version, recorded on April 3, 1947 and released by Columbia Records as catalog number MM 686 (the original cast album of the Broadway production); the Stuart Foster/Tommy Dorsey version, recorded on December 30, 1946 and released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-2122; the Martha Tilton version, recorded on November 25, 1946 and released by Capitol Records as catalog number 345; and the Harry Babbitt version recorded on January 20, 1947 and released by Mercury Records as catalog number 3056. In addition, legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins recorded this tune for his Blue Note Records debut, Sonny Rollins, Volume One.

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