Always

By Irving Berlin

1925

The great Irving Berlin composed this timeless love song as a wedding gift to his bride Ellin McKay (he even presented her with all the royalties). It was intended to be included in the 1927 Marx Brothers stage musical The Cocoanuts, but Berlin himself cut it during try-outs. It would reappear 15 years later as the theme music for the Lou Gehrig biopic The Pride of the Yankees.

Lyrics:

Everything went wrong,

And the whole day long,

I'd feel so blue.

For the longest while,

I'd forget to smile,

Then I met you.

Now that my blue days have passed,

Now that I've found you at last...

I'll be loving you,

Always.

With a love that's true,

Always.

When the things you've planned,

Need a helping hand,

I will understand,

Always, always.

Days may not be fair,

Always.

That's when I'll be there,

Always.

Not for just an hour,

Not for just a day,

Not for just a year,

But always.

Recorded By:

Sarah Vaughan & Billy Eckstine

Frank Sinatra

Maude Maggart

Billy Corgan

Leonard Cohen