It Had to Be You

By Isham Jones & Gus Kahn
1924

This beloved standard was an instant favorite--in fact, it was recorded six times within its first sixth months of publication, the first of which was Sam Lanin's version. Jones himself would record it a month later. It has been featured in numerous films, including Jimmy Cagney's The Roaring Twenties (1939), Casablanca (1942), Annie Hall (1977) and A League of Their Own (1992).

Lyrics:

Why do I do just as you say?
Why must I just give you your way?
Why do I sigh? Why don't I try to forget?
It must have been that something lovers call fate,
Kept me saying: "I have to wait."
I saw them all, just couldn't fall 'til we met.

It had to be you,
It had to be you.
I wandered around, and finally found
The somebody who
Could make me be true,
And could make me be blue,
And even be glad, just to be sad
Thinking of you.

Some others I've seen,
Might never be mean,
Might never be cross,
Or try to be boss,
But they wouldn't do.

For nobody else gave me a thrill,
With all your faults,
I love you still.
It had to be you, wonderful you,
It had to be you.

Recorded By:

Paul Whiteman
Dick Haymes & Helen Forrest
Doris Day
Petula Clark
Ray Charles