About the Song

“V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N” is a song written by Gary Weston and Hank Hunter and recorded by American pop singer Connie Francis. It was released in 1962 as the second single from her album of the same name. The song reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

The song is a cheerful, upbeat ode to the joys of vacation. Francis sings about the excitement of packing her bags, the anticipation of the journey ahead, and the fun of spending time away from home. The song’s lyrics are simple but effective, and Francis’s sunny delivery captures the carefree spirit of the song.

“V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N” was a popular hit upon its release, and it has remained a beloved classic in the years since. The song has been covered by many artists, including The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and The Carpenters. It has also been featured in numerous films and television shows, including “Grease” and “The Wonder Years”.

“V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N” is a timeless song that captures the universal appeal of travel and relaxation. Its catchy melody and upbeat lyrics make it a perfect choice for any summer playlist.

Some additional information about the song:

  • The song was inspired by Francis’s own love of travel. She had always dreamed of visiting exotic places, and she was able to realize that dream when she began her music career.
  • The song’s title is spelled out in the lyrics, which is a common technique used in pop songs. This helps to make the song more memorable and singable.
  • The song was originally released as a 45-rpm single. The B-side of the single was “Second Hand Love”.
  • The song has been featured in several films and television shows, including “Grease, “The Wonder Years”, and “The Simpsons“**.
  • “V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N” is a popular choice for karaoke singers. It is a fun and easy song to sing, and it is sure to get everyone in the party mood.

Video 

Lyrics: Vacation

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N in the summer sun

Put away the books, we’re out of school
The weather’s warm but we’ll play it cool
We’re on vacation, havin’ lots of fun
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N in the summer sun

We’re gonna grab a bite at the pizza stand
Write love letters in the sand
We’re on vacation and the world is ours
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N under summer stars

Yeah, we’ll hop in a jalopy to a drive-in movie and never look at the show
We’re gonna hug and kiss just like this and I can’t wait to go, go, go

We’re gonna mashed potato to a jukebox tune
Park your car ‘neath an August moon
We’re on vacation till the start of the fall

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, we’re gonna have a ball, go!!

[sax interlude]

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, gonna have a ball

Uh-huh, we’ll hop in a jalopy to a drive-in movie and never look at the show
We’re gonna hug and kiss just like this and I can’t wait to go, go, go

We’re gonna mashed potato to a jukebox tune
Park your car ‘neath an August moon
We’re on vacation till the start of the fall

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, we’re gonna have a ball, yeah

[FADE]
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N, (yeah) gonna have a ball

You Missed

MINNIE PEARL WALKED ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 50 YEARS WITH A $1.98 PRICE TAG ON HER HAT — AND THEN ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST COULDN’T ANYMORE. Here’s something most people don’t think about with Minnie Pearl. That price tag hanging off her straw hat? It wasn’t random. Sarah Cannon — that was her real name — created it as a joke about a country girl too proud of her new hat to take the tag off. And audiences loved it so much that it became the most recognizable prop in country music history. For over fifty years, that tag meant Minnie was here, and everything was going to be fun. So imagine what it felt like when she couldn’t put the hat on anymore. In June 1991, Sarah had a massive stroke. She was 79. And just like that, the woman who hadn’t missed an Opry show in decades was gone from the stage. But here’s what gets me. She didn’t die in 1991. She lived another five years after that stroke, mostly out of the public eye, unable to perform, unable to be “Minnie” the way she’d always been. Her husband Henry Cannon took care of her at their Nashville home. Friends visited, but they said it was hard. The woman who made millions of people laugh couldn’t get through a full conversation some days. Roy Acuff, her old friend from the Opry, kept her dressing room exactly the way she left it. Nobody used it. The hat sat there. She passed on March 4, 1996. And what most people remember is the comedy. The “HOW-DEEE” catchphrase. The big goofy grin. What they don’t remember is that Sarah Cannon was also a serious fundraiser for cancer research. Centennial Medical Center in Nashville named their cancer center after her — not after Minnie, after Sarah. She raised millions and rarely talked about it publicly. There’s a story about the very last time Sarah tried to put on the hat at home, months after the stroke, and what her husband said to her in that moment — it’s the kind of detail that makes you see fifty years of comedy completely differently. Roy Acuff kept Minnie Pearl’s dressing room untouched for years after she left — was that loyalty to a friend, or was he holding a door open for someone he knew was never coming back?