The music was first published as a waltz called "Sobre las olas" ("Over the Waves") in 1888, written by Juventino P. Rosas.
In 1950, the music was adapted by Irving Aaronson with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster for the movie The Great Caruso, in which it was sung by Ann Blyth.
[citation needed] The song was also associated with Anne Shelton, whose contemporary recording was available alongside Lanza's.
[3] The instrumental version of the song is often associated with magicians performing their "magical tricks", and flying trapeze acts, with whom it is often played in the background, especially in animated cartoons.
In this fashion a snatch of the song featured on the single "Drowning in Berlin", a no.9 UK hit for The Mobiles in 1982.