Body and Soul

By Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour and Frank Eyton
1930

The jazz standard of all jazz standards, "Body and Soul" actually began its life as a London concert hall number, written for British actress and singer Gertrude Lawrence. It was soon brought to Broadway for Libby Holman to sing in the revue Three's a Crowd. With its rich, complex melody from Green, it was immediately taken up by jazz bands, beginning with Louis Armstrong's, and has remained a top favorite ever since, known for its easy adaptability by improvisational musicians. Perhaps the most highly regarded of all jazz takes on this immortal tune is the recording by tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins.

Lyrics:

My heart is sad and lonely 
For you I sigh, for you dear only 
Why haven't you seen it 
I'm all for you body and soul 
I spend my days in longin' 
And wondering why it's me you're (ogling)

I tell you I mean it 
I'm all for you body and soul 
I can't believe it 
It's hard to conceive it 
That you turn away romance 
Are you pretending 
It looks like the ending 
And less I could have one more chance to prove, dear

My life a wreck you're making 
You know I'm yours for just the taking 
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul 
My life a wreck you're making 
You know I'm yours for just the taking 
I would gladly surrender myself to you body and soul

Recorded By:

Billie Holiday
Billy Eckstine
Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse
Stan Kenton
Benny Goodman