The Song Is Ended

By Irving Berlin & Beda Loehner
1927

Unlike most of Berlin's compositions, he worked with a lyricist on this characteristically sweet and gentle ballad, introduced by Ruth Etting (pictured), one of the era's most popular singers. The song would be later referenced in the verse to another standard by the Gershwin's, "They Can't Take That Away from Me".

Lyrics:

My thoughts go back to a heavenly dance,
A moment of bliss we spent.
Our hearts were filled with a song of romance,
As into the night we went,
And sang to our hearts' content.

The song is ended,
But the melody lingers on.
You and the song are gone,
But the melody lingers on.

The night was splendid,
And the melody seemed to say,
"Summer will pass away,
Take your happiness while you may."

There 'neath the light of the moon,
We sang a love song that ended too soon.

The moon descended,
And I found with the break of dawn,
You and the song had gone,
But the melody lingers on.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Tony Bennett
Ella Fitzgerald
Nat King Cole
Dinah Shore