"Amapola" is a popular song, written by Spanish composer Joseph LaCalle with Spanish lyrics although the English language lyrics were written by Albert Gamse.

Though the song was published in 1924, the most popular recorded version was made nearly two decades later by the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra with vocalists Helen O'Connell and Bob Eberly. The recording was released by Decca Records as catalog number 3629. The record first reached the Billboardcharts on March 14, 1941 and lasted 14 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1.

Another version, with vocals in English, was recorded by Spike Jonesand his City Slickers in the unforgettable comic style of his band. The flip-side was Jones Polka, a drinking-song, sung in a strong European accent.

Japanese singer Noriko Awaya also released her version of the song in 1937. Amapola was also played during the Three Tenors concert in Rome in 1990.

The song is also sung by Andrea Bocelli in his 2006 album Amore and by Paul Potts in his 2007 debut album One Chance.

An instrumental version of the piece formed an important leitmotif in the gangster film Once Upon a Time in America(1984).

AMAPOLA Spanish version (original)

Amapola (English lyrics by Albert Gamse)