I Should Care

By Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston & Sammy Cahn
1944

Written for the glossy, sentimental World War II movie Thrill of a Romance, this song, written primarily by longtime Sinatra arranger Stordahl (pictured) plays lyrically off a popular slang expression--most likely courtesy of Cahn. It was introduced in the movie by Bob Allen and the Tommy Dorsey orchestra, and charted four times in the top 20 by four different artists in its first year alone.

Lyrics:

I should care,
I should go around weeping.
I should care,
I should go without sleeping.

Strangely enough, I sleep well,
'Cept for a dream or two.
But then I count my sheep well,
Funny how sheep can lull you to sleep.

So I should care,
I should let it upset me.
I should care,
But it just doesn't get me.

Maybe I won't find someone as lovely as you.
But I should care,
And I do.

Recorded By:

Nat King Cole
Frank Sinatra
Bing Crosby
Jane Monheit
Amy Winehouse (below)

Day by Day

By Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston & Sammy Cahn

1945

Long-time collaborators going back to their days together as arrangers in the Tommy Dorsey orchestra, Stordahl and Weston wrote this song for Weston's wife, the late, great Jo Stafford. At the time, Stordahl was working at Columbia Records as Frank Sinatra's arranger, and the young Chairman would soon record the tune, as well. Lyricist Cahn would later write the words for many of Sinatra's later hits in the 1950s.

Lyrics:

Day by day,

I'm falling more in love with you.

And day by day,

My love seems to grow.

There isn't any end to my devotion;

It's deeper, dear, by far than any ocean.

I find that day by day,

You're making all my dreams come true.

So come what may,

I want you to know

I'm yours alone,

And I'm in love to stay,

As we go through the years,

Day by day.

Recorded By:

Ray Anthony

Bing Crosby & Mel Torme

Vic Damone

John Entwistle

Astrud Gilberto