When the swallows Come Back to Capistrano - Wikipedia When the swallows Come Back to Capistrano `` When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano '' is a song written by Leon René and first recorded by The Ink Spots featuring Bill Kenny in May 1940. The Ink Spots ' recording of the song reached # 4 on the US charts, and a recording by Glenn Miller reached # 2 the same year. Other recordings were made at about the same time by Xavier Cugat and Gene Krupa. The song was later recorded by Fred Waring, Guy Lombardo, Billy May, Pat Boone -- whose version reached # 80 on the Billboard Top 100 Chart in 1957 ( The Billboard Hot 100 Chart was established on August 4, 1958 issue ), as the B - side of `` April Love '' -- The Five Satins, Chris Blount and Elvis Presley, among many others. René wrote the song as a tribute to the annual springtime return of the cliff swallows to Mission San Juan Capistrano in Southern California. A glassed - off room in the mission was later designated in René 's honor, and displays the upright piano on which he composed the tune, the reception desk from his office, several copies of the song 's sheet music and other pieces of furniture, all donated by René 's family. References Jump up ^ Ink Spots Discography Jump up ^ Tsort : songs from 1940 Jump up ^ `` When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano '' at SecondHandSongs The Ink Spots Bill Kenny Charlie Fuqua Deek Watson Hoppy Jones Jerry Daniels Bernie Mackey Cliff Givens Billy Bowen Huey Long Herb Kenny Singles `` If I Did n't Care '' `` My Prayer '' `` Memories of You '' `` I 'm Gettin ' Sentimental Over You '' `` When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano '' `` Whispering Grass ( Do n't Tell the Trees ) '' `` Maybe '' `` We Three ( My Echo, My Shadow and Me ) '' `` Java Jive '' `` Until the Real Thing Comes Along '' `` Do n't Get Around Much Anymore '' `` I Ca n't Stand Losing You '' `` Cow Cow Boogie ( Cuma - Ti - Yi - Yi - Ay ) '' `` A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening '' `` I 'll Get By ( As Long as I Have You ) '' `` I 'm Making Believe '' `` Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall '' `` I 'm Beginning to See the Light '' `` The Gypsy '' `` Prisoner of Love '' `` To Each His Own '' `` The Best Things in Life Are Free '' `` You 're Breaking My Heart '' `` Echoes '' `` If '' `` It Is No Secret '' ( Bill Kenny solo ) `` Trying '' Related topics The Great American Broadcast Pardon My Sarong The Brown Dots The Four Tunes The Bill Kenny Show Book : The Ink Spots Elvis Presley Albums Singles Songs Films and television Personal relationships Cultural depictions Cultural impact Studio albums Elvis Presley Elvis Elvis ' Christmas Album Elvis Is Back ! 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You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=When_the_Swallows_Come_Back_to_Capistrano&oldid=831295192 '' Categories : 1940 songs The Ink Spots songs Glenn Miller songs Songs written by Leon René 1940s song stubs Talk About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 19 March 2018, at 21 : 18 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: when do the swallows go back to capistrano
Answer: springtime