Love Is Here to Stay

By George & Ira Gershwin
1938

It occurred to me that the first anniversary of Standard of the Day actually passed on July 21, with zero fanfare. So, to make up for that, tonight I give you this absolute classic of classics, and the final song the Gershwins wrote together. It was written for the film The Goldwyn Follies, which came out just after George's death. In fact, Ira wrote the words specifically with his brother in mind. This majestic jewel of popular music would reach its greatest height some 13 years later in the legendary musical An American in Paris.

Lyrics:

It's very clear,
Our love is here to stay;
Not for a year,
But ever and a day.

The radio and the telephone
And the movies that we know
May just be passing fancies,
And in time may go!

But, oh my dear,
Our love is here to stay.
Together we're
Going a long, long way.

In time the Rockies may tumble,
Gibraltar may crumble.
They're only made of clay,
But our love is here to stay.

Recorded By:

Ella Fitzgerald
Frank Sinatra
Dinah Washington
Carmen McRae
Billie Holiday