Paul Shaffer Sings the Blues / Paul's Cape Thing
Feb. 3, 2021: I am sad to report that Danny Ray, the cape man for James Brown, the source of the "Paul's Cape Thing" segment, passed away on Feb. 2, 2021, at the age of 85. Danny's association with this bit spanned 45 years! Here's his profile in the Los Angeles Times. |
How might you go about viewing this legendary segment? In 2020, TV's Don Giller posted a 2.5-hour compilation, The Cape Thing Collection on Late Show, 2002-2004. |
1. | June 7, 2002 | David Letterman |
2. | June 14, 2002 | David Letterman |
3. | July 12, 2002 | Nathan Lane |
4. | July 19, 2002 | Ted Koppel |
5. | July 26, 2002 | Donald Trump |
6. | August 2, 2002 | Gov. George Pataki |
7. | August 30, 2002 | John Goodman |
8. | September 6, 2002 | David Letterman |
9. | September 13, 2002 | Stephanie Birkitt |
10. | September 27, 2002 | Justin Timberlake |
11. | October 4, 2002 | Jimmy Fallon |
12. | October 11, 2002 | Nancy Agostini |
13. | October 18, 2002 | Jude Brennan |
14. | November 1, 2002 | Tom Cavanagh |
15. | November 8, 2002 | Hal Gurnee |
16. | November 15, 2002 | Chris Elliott |
17. | November 22, 2002 | Jack Black |
18. | November 29, 2002 | Andrea Sande and Nadine Hennelly |
19. | December 13, 2002 | Dan Patrick of ESPN |
20. | December 19, 2002 | Susan Hum (creator of the cape) |
21. | December 27, 2002 | Kiva Kahl |
22. | January 10, 2003 | John McEnroe |
23. | January 17, 2003 | Bill Murray |
24. | January 24, 2003 | Michele O'Callaghan |
25. | February 7, 2003 | James Brown |
26. | February 14, 2003 | Stephanie Birkitt |
27. | February 21, 2003 | Solomon Burke |
28. | April 4, 2003 | Kevin Spacey |
29. | April 17, 2003 | Rudy Giuliani |
30. | May 2, 2003 | the lovely Don Rickles |
31. | May 16, 2003 | Johnny Knoxville |
32. | May 23, 2003 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
33. | June 5, 2003 | Kiva Kahl (Grinder Girl) and Anna Jack (Hula Hoop Girl) |
34. | June 12, 2003 | Whoopi Goldberg |
35. | June 19, 2003 | James Earl Jones |
36. | June 26, 2003 | Heidi Klum |
37. | July 18, 2003 | Jerry Foley |
38. | July 25, 2003 | Marv Albert |
39. | August 1, 2003 | Joan Rivers |
40. | August 8, 2003 | Amy Sedaris |
41. | August 29, 2003 | Jane Pauley |
42. | September 12, 2003 | Tiki Barber of the New York Giants |
43. | September 26, 2003 | Isabella Rossellini |
44. | October 3, 2003 | Rob Lowe |
45. | October 17, 2003 | Wolf Blitzer |
46. | October 31, 2003 | Rosie Perez |
47. | November 7, 2003 | Tim Robbins |
48. | November 14, 2003 | Al Franken |
49. | November 21, 2003 | John Malkovich |
50. | November 28, 2003 | George Stephanopolous |
51. | December 12, 2003 | Greg Kinnear |
52. | December 19, 2003 | Jerry Springer |
53. | January 9, 2004 | Cyndi Lauper |
54. | January 16, 2004 | Meredith Vieira |
55. | January 23, 2004 | Mayor Michael Bloomberg |
56. | February 6, 2004 | Richard Belzer |
57. | February 13, 2004 | Rob Schneider |
58. | February 20, 2004 | Maura Tierney |
59. | February 27, 2004 | Lou Reed |
60. | March 5, 2004 | Moby |
61. | April 2, 2004 | Harry Smith |
62. | April 16, 2004 | James Lipton |
63. | April 30, 2004 | Tina Fey |
64. | May 7, 2004 | Gerard Mulligan (in a dress) |
65. | May 14, 2004 | Flash Dancers doorman / done on the street |
66. | May 21, 2004 | Colin Quinn |
67. | May 28, 2004 | Vinny Favale (CBS V.P. of Late Night Programming, East Coast) |
68. | June 11, 2004 | Paul Anka |
On this June 11, Dave announces that this is the second anniversary of the Cape Thing, and it's been done 65 times,* with television stars, sports heroes, musicians, politicians, and -- when they couldn't get anybody famous -- members of the staff. In honor of the anniversary, Paul Anka (who wrote "My Way" for Frank Sinatra) does a reworked version of the song, calling for an end to the bit.
* Actually, it was 68 times.
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Paul Anka's tribute song goes something like this:
My friend,
let's not pretend,
let's call an end
to something shoddy.
You'd shout, "Roll tape,"
and stars would drape,
that crappy cape
on Shaffer's body.
But to attract
and it's a fact
that that's James Brown's act,
you brought those big stars
and shame them.
You fed them bunk
You got 'em drunk
Now, I'm gonna name them.
The Donald came
he lent his name
to this dumb game
yes, he'd apprenticed.
And Heidi Klum
lit up the room,
her smile would bloom
and thrill her dentist.
And Nathan Lane
would act insane,
Bill Murray smirked
and Tina Fey showed.
James Lipton sneered
and Whoopi cheered
who knows why they showed.
Jack Black
had joined the pack
and George Pataki
said "Abuse me."
Abdul Jabbar,
NBA star,
said "It's bizarre,"
but you can use me.
Ted Koppel came
and ruined his name,
those stars all showed
that they were givers.
In every case,
they showed their true face
except... Joan Rivers.
This has to stop,
haven't you learned?
Dave, have that schmata
cleaned and burned.
Paul is a proud Canadian.
Don't make him do that schtick again.
If I were Paul
I'd say "That's all"
and do it
my, my way!
The cape is hoisted to the rafters. Andrea Sande and ? bring flowers to Paul Anka.
Paul's Cape Thing number is "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" by Al Kooper, and performed by Blood, Sweat and Tears ("Child Is Father to the Man," 1971). It was recorded in December 1967 and released in early 1968.
If I ever leave you
You can say I told you so
And if I ever hurt you babe
You know I hurt myself as well
Chorus: Is that any way for a man to carry on
d'you think he wants his little loved one gone?
I love you Baby, more than you'll ever know
More than you'll ever know
When I wasn't makin' too much money
You know where my paycheck went
You know I brought it home to baby
And I never spent one red cent
(Chorus)
I'm not tryin' to be
Any kind of man
I'm tryin' to be somebody
You can love, trust, and understand
I know that I can be, yeah yeah
A part of you that no one else could see
I just gotta hear, tohear you say
It's all right
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
I'm only flesh and blood
But I can be anything that you demand
I could president of General Motors baby, heh
Or just a tiny little grain of sand
(Chorus)
(Guitar Solo)
(Sax Solo)
If I ever leave you
You can say I told you so
And if I ever hurt you baby
You know I hurt myself as well
(Chorus)
I love you, I love you, I love you baby!
Well all right!
I told ya, so many times before
I love you
I love you!
If you don't know, then I'll tell ya one more time
I love you!
I love you!
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