it's been a long, long time

In 1945, as the troops were coming home after the Second World War, this song was being requested and played so often that multiple versions worked their way up the charts. Composers Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn must have cleaned up as competing versions of their song were receiving massive airplay. Harry James and His Orchestra took it to number one in early December; but it was knocked out of the top spot by Bing Crosby accompanied by Les Paul and his Trio performing the same song! The Harry James version took the top spot again later that same month. Charlie Spivak and Stan Kenton also released versions of the song that year that charted in the top five.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfuvf0qoccw

Kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
Haven't felt like this, my dear
Since I can't remember when
It's been a long, long time

You'll never know how many dreams
I've dreamed about you
Or just how empty they all seemed without you
So kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time

Ah, kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long time
Haven't felt like this my dear
Since I can't remember when
It's been a long, long time

You'll never know how many dreams
I dreamed about you
Or just how empty they all seemed without you
So kiss me once then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
Long, long time

The version sung by Kitty Kallen with Harry James on trumpet starts with this extra verse:

Never thought that you would be

Standing here so close to me

There's so much I feel that I should say

But words can wait until some holiday