Enjoy Yourself (It's Later than You Think)

"Enjoy Yourself" is a popular song published in 1949, with music written by Carl Sigman and lyrics by Herb Magidson.

Well known recorded versions

The most popular version of the song, recorded by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, was made on November 27 (some sources give November 28), 1949. The recording was released by Decca Records as catalog number 24825. The record first reached the Billboard charts on January 13, 1950 and lasted 19 weeks on the chart, peaking at #10.

Another recording, by Doris Day, was made on January 13, 1950 and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 38709.

Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra made a recording on February 2, 1949 which was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-3375.

In 1963 Prince Buster recorded a Ska version which was released by Blue Beat records as a B-Side.

Other recorded versions

• Bing Crosby
• Barry Martyn
• Donald Peers (with The Cherokeys)
• Louis Prima & Keely Smith
• Todd Snider on East Nashville Skyline in 2004
• Maxine Sullivan
• Wingless Angels
• Eric Allendale
• The Busters
• The Specials
• Manu Chao
• Rebirth Brass Band on Throwback (2005)
• Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra
• Rising Sun Steel Band
• Jolie Holland
• Dancing Mood

In popular culture

• The 2007 recording by Jools Holland and Prince Buster is used by Simon Mayo as the opening theme to his Drivetime show on BBC Radio 2.

• The song was mentioned in the seventh episode of Mad Men 's second season.

• A group of ghosts dance to this song in a scene in the Woody Allen film Everyone Says I Love You.

• The recording by Rising Sun Steel Band featured in the film Surf's Up.

• The song is the theme tune to both the radio and television versions of the BBC program, I've Never Seen Star Wars. The basic format of the show, which is presented by Marcus Brigstocke, features a different celebrity guest each week, trying out new experiences.

• A Cantonese version of the refrain was used as the opening theme to Enjoy Yourself Tonight, a popular, long-running variety show in Hong Kong.

• Sung briefly by Anne Dudek in Season 5, Episode 23 of the television series House, "Under My Skin".

• In the opening song on Wowee Zowee, "We Dance", by Pavement (band), one of the lyrics is "... check that expiration date man, It's later than you think. You can't enjoy yourself, I can't enjoy myself ...".

• A rendition of the song was used to close the first two series' of The Brian Conley Show, whilst an instrumental version was used for the third.