The Song Is You

By Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II
1932

This sweeping, melodic beauty of a song was written for Tullio Carminati in the show Music in the Air. But it would become even more strongly associated with Frank Sinatra, who made it one of his early solo hits a decade later. It would even be used as the title of an excellent book by Will Friedwald on the Chairman's entire body of work.

Lyrics:

I hear music when I look at you;
A beautiful theme of every dream I ever knew.
Down deep in my heart, I hear it play.
I feel it start, then melt away.

I hear music when I touch your hand;
A beautiful melody from some enchanted land.
Down deep in my heart, I hear it say,
Is this the day?

I alone have heard this lovely strain,
I alone have heard this glad refrain:
Must it be forever inside of me,
Why cant I let it go,
Why cant I let you know?

Why cant I let you know the song
My heart would sing?
That beautiful rhapsody of love and youth and spring,
The music is sweet,
The words are true,
The song is you.

Recorded By:

June Christy
Anita O'Day
Nancy Wilson
Art Blakey
Barbara Cook

Thanks to Tenebrous Kate, for inspiring today's post.