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THE
STANDARDS
PROJECT
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Standards from the Great American Songbook

This booklet contains a list of standards and character songs considered to be standards from “The
Great American Songbook”. The Great American Songbook refers to classic songs written for Broadway
Musicals, Hollywood Films and the Hit Parade between 1920 and 1950 that have stood the test of time
and have been described as "America's classical music”. There is no one list of what constitutes the
Great American Songbook, but numerous sheet music anthologies and recordings have collected songs
under this title. What makes these songs classics is their lasting value-they have stood the test of time.

"In structure, musical content, phrasing and details of composition, they remain close to classical music,
but with a greater emphasis on rhythm and closeness to speech (especially in the verse) rather than pure
singing”.- Jonathan Schwartz

Alec Wilder’s 1972 book, American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900–1950, lists and ranks
the artists he believes belong to the Great American Songbook canon. Wilder devotes complete chapters
to six composers: Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Cole Porter and
Harold Arlen. Vincent Youmans and Arthur Schwartz share another chapter. (You may notice that all
these composers wrote Broadway musicals!). These 8 composers form the core of this booklet, but many
other composers and lyricists are included as well.

This booklet contains standards by these composers and adds character and novelty songs of the period
chosen by your AMDA instructors as well as some additional standards.

PLEASE NOTE:

Read the lyrics of the songs carefully. Some older songs contained lyrical content that
could be offensive to you and/or your classmates. If the song has been
included in this project, there is a version AMDA feels works- but certain copies of
the sheet music or online lyrics you encounter may contain other versions. Ask your
History or MT Technique teacher if in doubt. Use your best judgement and exercise
critical thinking BEFORE you put a song on your list.

* Marks songs that may have this material or mature subject matter
# Songs written specifically for black singers
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DUE DATE:
You will choose your top 3 songs from this booklet to
present to your
1st Semester MT Teacher in Week 14 of 1st Semester.
(exact date TBA).

You will then give these approved choices to your

2nd Semester teacher at the beginning of next semester for
them to choose your first song from.

No other work is necessary.

Just choose 3 songs.

Reminder: your song may be sung in any key.

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THE GOAL: is to create a period specific performance that incorporates physical and vocal
stylistic choices from the past with all the work you did first semester on An Approach To A
Song . In addition, you will make both acting and musical choices using everything you will learn
in your Music Analysis class in 2nd Semester.

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR SONG : Always check that the appropriate sheet music for the
song is available before beginning work. For the purposes of this assignment you must include
the verse unless otherwise instructed. (Your teacher may assign or suggest a specific version.)
Please make sure to request your music from an AMDA library supervisor (not a student
worker)

If your song is from a Broadway or Film musical, your 2nd Semester teacher will instruct you
whether to use the libretto for your research. For most of these songs your dossier will be
created from your imagination combined with your period research. As you’ve learned in Mu-
sic Theatre History, these early librettos are paper thin, so even if a script is available, it will
likely be only a small part of your research, unless your teacher tells you otherwise. You must
bring your personality, imagination and essence to the story created by the composer and
lyricist and create your own character.

You will submit a SONG DOSSIER, SONG CHART, AND RESEARCH SHEET on your first
performance or work day.
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HAROLD ARLEN Harold Arlen was called "the most
original of all of us" by none other than George
Gershwin.Arlen collaborated with many lyricists
including “Yip” Harburg, Johnny Mercer, Ted Koehler,
Ira Gershwin and Truman Capote. Get Happy, Stormy
Weather, It's Only a Paper Moon and I've Got the
World on a String are just some of his
standards that live on today. Arlen may be best known
for his Academy Award-winning songs for the 1939 film
The Wizard of Oz.

Blues in the Night, BLUES IN THE NIGHT (Film) Arlen and Mercer
(’41)
Down With Love – HORRAY FOR WHAT, Arlen & Harburg (’37)
Fun to be Fooled -- LIFE BEGINS AT 8:40, Arlen, Gershwin & Harburg (’34)
Get Happy – THE NINE-FIFTEEN REVUE, Arlen & Koehler (’30)
*I Couldn’t Hold My Man – LIFE BEGINS AT 8:40, Arlen, Gershwin & Harburg (’34)
I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues, EARL CARROLL’S VANITIES, Arlen and Koehler, (’32)
I’m Not Myself, LIFE BEGINS AT 8:40, Arlen, Gershwin & Harburg (’34)
It’s Only a Paper Moon – TOO YOUNG TO KNOW, Arlen, Harburg & Rose (’33)
I’ve Got the World on a String, COTTON CLUB PARADE, Arlen and Koehler (’32)
Let’s Fall In Love, LET’S FALL IN LOVE, Arlen and Koehler, (’33)
The Man That Got Away- A STAR IS BORN, Arlen and Gershwin (’54)
My Shining Hour, THE SKY’S THE LIMIT (Film) Arlen and Mercer, (’43)
Out of This World, Arlen and Mercer, (’44)
Spring Fever – LIFE BEGINS AT 8:40, Arlen, Gershwin & Harburg (’34)
Stormy Weather, COTTON CLUB PARADE, Arlen and Koehler (’33)
That Old Black Magic, STAR SPANGLED RHYTHM (Film) Arlen and Mercer (’42)
This Time The Dream's on Me, BLUES IN THE NIGHT (Film) Arlen and Mercer (’41)
When the Sun Comes Out, Standard, Arlen and Mercer (’41)
You’re a Builder Upper, LIFE BEGINS AT 8:40 Arlen, Gershwin & Harburg (’34)
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IRVING BERLIN Writer of over 1000 songs including Alexan-
der’s Ragtime Band, White Christmas, God Bless America and the
score for Annie Get Your Gun. When asked “What is Irving Berlin’s
place in American music?” Jerome Kern's famously replied, ”Irving
Berlin has no place in American music -- he IS American music.”

All by Myself, Standard, (’21)

Always, Standard, (’25)
Be Careful, It's My Heart, HOLIDAY INN (Film), (’42)
Better Luck Next Time, EASTER PARADE (Film), (’48)
Blue Skies, Standard, (’27)
Cheek to Cheek, TOP HAT (Film), (’35)
#Harlem on My Mind – AS THOUSANDS CHEER, (’33)
Heat Wave -- AS THOUSANDS CHEER, (’33)
How Deep Is the Ocean (How High Is the Sky), Standard, (’32)
How’s Chances, AS THOUSANDS CHEER, (’33)
I Say It’s Spinach (duet) – FACE THE MUSIC, (’32)
I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket, FOLLOW THE FLEET (Film), (’36)
Isn’t This a Lovely Day, TOP HAT (Film) (’35)
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, ON THE AVENUE (Film), (’37)
Let Yourself Go, FOLLOW THE FLEET(Film) (’36)
Let’s Have another Cup of Coffee – FACE THE MUSIC, (’32)
Manhattan Madness – FACE THE MUSIC, (’32)
Maybe it’s Because I Love You Too Much, (’33)
*Puttin’ On The Ritz, PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ (Film) (’30)
Say It Isn’t So, Standard, (’32)
Soft Lights and Sweet Music – FACE THE MUSIC, (’32)
The Song Is Ended -Standard, (’27)
Steppin' Out with My Baby, EASTER PARADE (Film) (’47)
#*Suppertime, AS THOUSANDS CHEER (’33)
Top Hat, White Tie & Tails – TOP HAT (Film), (’35)
What'll I Do?, Standard, (’24)
You’re Laughing at Me, ON THE AVENUE, (’37)
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JEROME KERN
Composer of The Princess Theatre Shows and Show Boat, Kern wrote more than 700 songs including
such classics as "A Fine Romance", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "All the Things You Are” and "The
Way You Look Tonight”. Kern collaborated with many of the leading
librettists and lyricists of his era, including, P. G. Wodehouse, Otto Harbach, Dorothy Fields,
Oscar Hammerstein II, Johnny Mercer, Ira Gershwin and E. Y. Harburg.

All the Things You Are, VERY WARM FOR MAY, Kern and Hammerstein, (’39)
A Fine Romance – SWING TIME (Film), Kern & Fields (’36)
Day Dreaming, Kern, Kahn, (’41)
The Folks Who Live on the Hill, HIGH, WIDE AND HANDSOME (Film) Kern and
Hammerstein , (’37)
I Dream Too Much, I DREAM TOO MUCH, Kern and Fields, (’35)
I Won’t Dance, ROBERTA, Kern, Fields & McHugh (’34)
I’ll be Hard to Handle – ROBERTA (Film), Kern & Harbach (’35)
I'm Old Fashioned, YOU WERE NEVER LOVELIER (Film) Kern and Mercer, (’42)
In Other Words, Seventeen – VERY WARM FOR MAY, Kern & Hammerstein (’39)
In the Heart of the Dark – VERY WARM FOR MAY, Kern & Hammerstein (’39)
I’ve Told Every Little Star – MUSIC IN THE AIR, Kern & Hammerstein (’32)
The Last Time I Saw Paris, LADY BE GOOD (Film), Kern and Hammerstein (’40)
Let’s Begin – ROBERTA, Kern & Harbach (’33)
Long Ago (and Far Away) COVER GIRL (Film) Kern and I. Gershwin (’44)
Lovely To Look At, ROBERTA (Film) Kern, Field and McHugh (’35)
Pick Yourself Up, SWING TIME, Kern and Fields, (’36)
Remind Me, ONE NIGHT IN THE TROPICS (Film), Kern and Fields (’40)
She Didn’t Say Yes – THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE, Kern & Harbach (’31)
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, ROBERTA, Kern & Harbach (’33)
The Song is You – MUSIC IN THE AIR, Kern & Hammerstein (’32)
The Way You Look Tonight – SWING TIME, Kern & Fields (’36)
Why Was I Born?- SWEET ADELINE, Kern and Hammerstein (’30)
Yesterdays – ROBERTA, Kern & Harbach (’33)
You Couldn’t be Cuter – JOY OF LIVING, Kern & Fields, (’38)
You Were Never Lovelier, YOU WERE NEVER LOVELIER (Film) Kern and Mercer, (’42)
You’re Devastating, ROBERTA, Kern & Harbach (’33)
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GEORGE GERSHWIN
In 1924, when George teamed up with his older brother
Ira, their extraordinary collaboration led to a succession
of musical comedies, among them Lady, Be Good!
(1924), Oh, Kay! (1926), Funny Face (1927), Strike
Up the Band (1927 & 1930), Girl Crazy (1930), and
Of Thee I Sing (1931), the first musical comedy to win
a Pulitzer Prize. . Porgy and Bess, the 1935 folk opera
using blues and jazz idioms (co-written with DuBose and
Dorothy Heyward ) was the Gershwin brothers most am-
bitious undertaking, tightly integrating unforgettable
songs with dramatic incident. In 1937, George Gershwin
was at the height of his career. His symphonic works and
three Preludes for Piano were becoming part of the
standard repertoire for concerts and recitals, and his
show songs had brought him ever-increasing fame and
fortune. It was in Hollywood, while he was working on
the score of The Goldwyn Follies, that George Gershwin
collapsed and died of a brain tumor; he was not quite 39
years old.

A Kiss for Cinderella – OF THEE I SING, Gershwin (’31)

Barbary Coast – GIRL CRAZY, The Gershwins (’30)
Boy!, What Love Has Done to Me -- GIRL CRAZY, Gershwin (’30)
But Not for Me – GIRL CRAZY, Gershwin (’30)
By Strauss – THE SHOW IS ON, The Gershwins (’36)
Changing My Tune – THE SHOCKING MISS PILGRIM, Gershwin (’47)
Could You Use Me?- GIRL CRAZY, Gershwin (’30)
Do, Do, Do – OH, KAY – Gershwin (’26)
Do It Again- THE FRENCH DOLL- G. Gershwin, DeSylva (’22)
*Embraceable You – GIRL CRAZY, Gershwin (’30)
Fascinating Rhythm- LADY, BE GOOD, The Gershwins (’24)
A Foggy Day – DAMSEL IN DISTRESS (Film), Gershwin (’37)
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Fun To Be Fooled- LIFE BEGINS AT 8:40, The Gershwins and E.Y. Harburg (’34)
Funny Face- FUNNY FACE, The Gershwins, (’27)
He Loves and She Loves- FUNNY FACE, The Gershwins, (’27)
Hi-Ho, SHALL WE DANCE (Cut), Gershwin (’37)
How Long Has This Been Going On, FUNNY FACE, Gershwin (’27)
I Got Rhythm – GIRL CRAZY, Gershwin (’30)
I’m a Poached Egg, PARDON MY ENGLISH, Gershwin (’37)
Isn’t it a Pity? – PARDON MY ENGLISH, Gershwin (’33)
I’ve Got a Crush on You – STRIKE UP THE BAND, The Gershwins (’27)
I’ve Got Beginner’s Luck – SHALL WE DANCE (Film), The Gershwins(’37)
I’ve Got to Be There – PARDON MY ENGLISH, The Gershwins, (’33)
Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off, SHALL WE DANCE (Film) The Gershwins (’37)
The Lonesome Cowboy (Won’t be Lonesome Now) – GIRL CRAZY, Gershwin (’30)
Looking for a Boy – TIP TOES, Gershwin (’25)
The Lorelei – PARDON MY ENGLISH, Gershwin (’33)
Love Walked In, THE GOLDWYN FOLLIES (Film), the Gershwins (’38)
The Man I Love, cut from LADY, BE GOOD, The Gershwins (’24)
My Cousin in Milwaukee – Pardon My English, Gershwin (’32)
My One and Only – FUNNY FACE, Gershwin (’27)
Nice Work if You Can Get It, A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS (Film), the Gershwins (’37)
Our Love is Here to Stay – GOLDWYN FOLLIES, Gershwin, (’38)
'S Wonderful- FUNNY FACE, The Gershwins, (’27)
Sam and Delilah – GIRL CRAZY, The Gershwins (’30)
Slap That Bass- SHALL WE DANCE (Film), The Gershwins(’37)
Shall We Dance?- SHALL WE DANCE (Film), The Gershwins(’37)
Someone to Watch Over Me, OH, KAY, Gershwin (’26)
Soon- STRIKE UP THE BAND, The Gershwins (’27)
They Can't Take That Away from Me- SHALL WE DANCE (Film), The Gershwins(’37)
Things Are Looking Up, A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS (Film), The Gershwins (’37)
Who Cares?, OF THEE I SING, Gershwin (’30)
You're a Builder-Upper- LIFE BEGINS AT 8:40, The Gershwins and E.Y. Harburg (’34)
You’ve Got What Gets Me – GIRL CRAZY, Gershwin (’32)
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COLE PORTER
His works include the musical comedy Kiss Me, Kate and the
quintessential 30’s musical Anything Goes, as well as songs like
"Night and Day," "I Get a Kick Out of You," and "I've Got
You Under My Skin." Porter was noted for his sophisticated
(sometimes ribald) lyrics, clever rhymes, and complex forms. His
songs show an elegance of expression and a cool detachment
that seem to epitomize a kind of sophistication specific to the
1930s.

After You Who? – GAY DIVORCE, Cole Porter (’32)

At Long Last Love – YOU NEVER KNOW, Cole Porter (’38)
Begin The Beguine- JUBILEE, Cole Porter (’35)
Down in the Depths – RED, HOT, AND BLUE, Cole Porter (’36)
Dream Dancing- YOU’LL NEVER GET RICH (Film) Cole Porter (’41)
Easy To Love- BORN TO DANCE (Film), Porter, (‘’36)
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye- SEVEN LIVELY ARTS, Cole Porter (’44)
From This Moment On- OUT OF THIS WORLD, Porter, (’50)
Georgia Sand – NYMPH ERRANT, Cole Porter (’33)
Get Out of Town, LEAVE IT TO ME, Cole Porter (’38)
Give Him the Ooh-La-La, DUBARRY WAS A LADY, Cole Porter (’39)
How Could We Be Wrong – NYMPH ERRANT, Cole Porter (’33)
How’s Your Romance, GAY DIVORCE, Porter (’32)
I Concentrate on You – BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940, Cole Porter (’40)
I Happen to Like New York – THE NEW YORKERS, Cole Porter (’30)
I Want to Go Home – LEAVE IT TO ME, Porter (’38)
*I’m a Gigolo, WAKE UP AND DREAM, Cole Porter (’29)
I’m Back in Circulation – YOU NEVER KNOW, Porter (’38)
*I’m Getting Myself Ready for You – THE NEW YORKERS, Cole Porter (’30)
I’m Going in For Love – YOU NEVER KNOW, Porter (’38)
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I’m In Love Again- GREENWICH VILLAGE FOLLIES OF 1923, Porter (’23)
In the Still of the Night- ROSALIE (Film), Cole Porter (’37)
It Ain’t Etiquette – DUBARRY WAS A LADY, Porter (’39)
It Was Written in the Stars – DUBARRY WAS A LADY, Porter (’39)
It’s Bad for Me – NYMPH ERRANT, Cole Porter (’33)
I’ve Got You on my Mind – GAY DIVORCE, Cole Porter (’32)
I’ve Got You Under My Skin – BORN TO DANCE, Cole Porter (’36)
Just One of Those Things, JUBILEE, Cole Porter (’35)
The Laziest Gal in Town – STAGE FRIGHT, Cole Porter (’50)
*Let’s Do It, Let's Fall in Love, PARIS, Cole Porter, (’28)
*Love for Sale – THE NEW YORKERS, Cole Porter (’30)
Miss Otis Regrets – HIGH DIDDLE DIDDLE, Cole Porter (’34)
Most Gentlemen Don’t Like Love – LEAVE IT TO ME, Porter (’38)
Mr. and Mrs. Fitch – GAY DIVORCE, Cole Porter (’32)
*My Heart Belongs to Daddy, LEAVE IT TO ME, Cole Porter (’38)
Night and Day – GAY DIVORCE, Cole Porter (’32)
The Ozarks are Calling Me Home – RED, HOT AND BLUE, Porter (’36)
*Pets, (cut from) LET’S FACE IT, Cole Porter, (’41)
*The Physician – NYMPH ERRANT, Cole Porter (’33)
The Queen of Terre Haute – FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMEN, Porter (’29)
Riding High – RED, HOT & BLUE, Porter (’36)
Take Me Back to Manhattan – THE NEW YORKERS, Cole Porter (’30)
The Tale of the Oyster- FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMEN, Porter (’29)
Tomorrow – LEAVE IT TO ME, Cole Porter (’38)
What is This Thing Called Love – WAKE UP AND DREAM, Cole Porter (’29)
When Love Comes Your Way – JUBILEE, Cole Porter (’35)
Why Shouldn’t I, JUBILEE, Cole Porter (’35)
You Do Something To Me - FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMEN, Porter (’29)
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To- SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT, Porter, (’42)
You’re a Bad Influence on Me – RED, HOT AND BLUE, Porter (’36)
You’re Too Far Away, NYMPH ERRANT, Cole Porter (’33)
You’ve Got That Thing – FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMEN (’29)
When Love Beckoned – DUBARRY WAS A LADY, Porter (39)
Where Have You Been – THE NEW YORKERS, Cole Porter (’30)
Why Shouldn’t I – JUBILEE, Cole Porter (’35)
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RICHARD RODGERS
with Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers wrote 28 stage musicals and
more than 500 songs from 1919 until Hart's death in 1943. From
1936 to 1943 Rodgers & Hart wrote an extraordinary series of
Broadway musical comedies: ON YOUR TOES (1936), BABES
IN ARMS (1937), I'D RATHER BE RIGHT (1937), I MAR-
RIED AN ANGEL (1938), THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE
(1938), TOO MANY GIRLS (1939), HIGHER AND HIGHER
(1940), PAL JOEY (1940), and BY JUPITER (1942). Rodgers
will go on to collaborate with Oscar Hammerstein on a series of
groundbreaking musicals in the Golden Age.

A Baby Bond for Baby – I’D RATHER BE RIGHT, Rodgers & Hart (’37)
A Twinkle in Your Eye – I MARRIED AN ANGEL, Rodgers & Hart (’38)
Atlantic Blues – LIDO LADY, Rodgers & Hart (’27)
Blue Moon-Standard, Rodgers and Hart (’34)
Dancing on the Ceiling – EVERGREEN, Rodgers & Hart (’30)
Dear Old Syracuse – THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, Rodgers & Hart (’39)
Did You Ever Get Stung – I MARRIED AN ANGEL, Rodgers & Hart (’38)
Ev’rybody Loves You When You’re Asleep – I’D RATHER BE RIGHT, Rodgers & Hart (’37)
Falling in Love with Love, BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, Rodgers & Hart (’38)
Glad to be Unhappy – ON YOUR TOES, Rodgers & Hart (’36)
Have You Met Miss Jones, I’D RATHER BE RIGHT, Rodgers & Hart (’37)
He Was Too Good to Me – SIMPLE SIMON, Rodgers & Hart (’30)
How About It, AMERICA’S SWEETHEART, Rodgers & Hart (’31)
I Didn’t Know What Time it Was – TOO MANY GIRLS, Rodgers & Hart (’39)
I Married an Angel, I MARRIED AN ANGEL, Rodgers & Hart (’38)
I Wish I Were in Love Again, BABES IN ARMS, Rodgers & Hart (’37)
I’d Rather Be Right – I’D RATHER BE RIGHT, Rodgers & Hart (’37)
I’ll Tell the Man on the Street – I MARRIED AN ANGEL, Rodgers & Hart (’38)

Isn’t it Romantic, LOVE ME TONIGHT, Rodgers & Hart (’32)

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It Never Entered My Mind – HIGHER AND HIGHER, Rodgers
& Hart (’40)
It’s Easy to Remember, MISSIS- SIPPI, Rodgers and Hart (’35)
I’ve Got Five Dollars – AMERI- CA’S SWEETHEART, Rodgers &
Hart (’31)
Johnny One Note – BABES IN ARMS, Rodgers & Hart (’37)
The Lady is a Tramp – BABES IN ARMS, Rodgers & Hart (’37)
Little Girl Blue – JUMBO, Rodgers & Hart (’35)
Love Me Tonight, LOVE ME TONIGHT, Rodgers & Hart (’32)
Lover – LOVE ME TONIGHT, Rodgers & Hart (’32)
Manhattan-GARRICK GAIETIES, Rodgers and Hart (’25)
Mimi – LOVE ME TONIGHT, Rodgers & Hart (’32)
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World -- JUMBO, Rodgers & Hart (’35)
My Funny Valentine – BABES IN ARMS, Rodgers & Hart (’37)
My Heart Stood Still- A CONNECTICUT YANKEE, Rodgers and Hart (’27)
My Prince – TOO MANY GIRLS, Rodgers & Hart (’39)
My Romance – JUMBO, Rodgers & Hart (’35)
Over and Over Again – JUMBO, Rodgers & Hart (’35)
Rhythm – PLEASE (British Revue), Rodgers & Hart (’33)
The Shortest Day of the Year, THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, Rodgers & Hart (’39)
Spring is Here (duet) -- I MARRIED AN ANGEL, Rodgers & Hart (’38)
*Ten Cents a Dance – SIMPLE SIMON, Rodgers & Hart (’30)
There's a Small Hotel-ON YOUR TOES, Rodgers and Hart (’36)
This Can't Be Love- THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, Rodgers and Hart (’38)
Thou Swell-A CONNECTICUT YANKEE, Rodgers and Hart (’27)
Too Many Girls – TOO MANY GIRLS, Rodgers & Hart (’39)
Wait Till You See Her- BY JUPITER, Rodgers and Hart (’42)
With a Song in My Heart – SPRING IS HERE, Rodgers & Hart (’29)
You Are Too Beautiful, HALLELUJAH, I’M A BUM, Rodgers & Hart (’32)
You Took Advantage of Me – PRESENT ARMS, Rodgers & Hart (’28)
You’re Nearer- TOO MANY GIRLS (Film), Rodgers and Hart (’40)
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ARTHUR SCHWARTZ
Schwartz collaborated with some of the best lyricists of his day, including Dorothy Fields, Ira Gershwin,
Oscar Hammerstein II, Frank Loesser and Johnny Mercer, but is best known for his Broadway and Film
collaborations with lyricist Howard Dietz.

Alone Together, FLYING COLORS, Dietz & Schwartz (’32)

An Old Flame Never Dies, VIRGINIA, Schwartz, Stillman & Stalling (’37)
By Myself, BETWEEN THE DEVIL, Dietz & Schwartz (’37)
Dancing in the Dark – THE BANDWAGON, Dietz & Schwartz (’31)
Haunted Heart- INSIDE U.S.A, Dietz and Schwartz (’48)
I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan, THE LITTLE SHOW, Dietz & Schwartz (’29)
I See Your Face before Me – BETWEEN THE DEVIL, Dietz & Schwartz (’37)
I’ve Made a Habit of You – THE LITTLE SHOW, Dietz & Schwartz (’29)
Just a Little Bit More – STARS IN YOUR EYES, Schwartz & Fields (39)
A Lady Needs a Change – STARS IN YOUR EYES, Schwartz & Fields (39)
New Sun in the Sky – THE BANDWAGON, Dietz & Schwartz (’31)
Rhode Island Is Famous for You- INSIDE U.S.A, Dietz and Schwartz (’48)
A Shine on Your Shoes – FLYING COLORS, Dietz & Schwartz (’32)
Something to Remember You By, THREE’S A CROWD, Dietz & Schwartz (’30)
That's Entertainment- THE BAND WAGON (Film) Dietz and Schwartz (’53)
This is It – STARS IN YOUR EYES, Schwartz & Fields (’39)
Where Can He Be?- THE BANDWAGON, Dietz & Schwartz (’31)
You and the Night and the Music, REVENGE WITH MUSIC, Dietz & Schwartz (’34)
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VINCENT YOUMANS
Collaborated with many of the great lyricists and also produced his own Broadway shows including his
biggest hit, No, No, Nannette. Ira Gershwin, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, Irving Caesar,
Anne Caldwell, Leo Robin, Howard Dietz, Buddy De Sylva and Gus Kahn

Great Day!- GREAT DAY, Youmans, Rose and Eliscu (’29)

I Want a Man – RAINBOW, Youmans & Hammerstein (’28)
More Than You Know- GREAT DAY, Youmans, Rose and Eliscu (’29)
Rise and Shine – TAKE A CHANCE, Youmans & DeSylva (’32)
Sometimes I'm Happy- HIT THE DECK, Youmans, Caesar, (’26)
Time on My Hands (You in my Arms) – SMILES, Youmans, Adamson & Clifford Grey (’30)
You’re an Old Smoothy – TAKE A CHANCE, Youmans & DeSylva (’32)

NACIO HERB BROWN

All I Do is Dream of You, SADIE McKEE, Brown & Freed (’34)
Good Morning-BABES IN ARMS (Film), Brown & Freed (’39)
Singin' in the Rain-THE HOLLYWOOD MUSIC BOX REVUE, Brown & Freed (’39)
You Are My Lucky Star-BROADWAY MELODY OF 1936, Brown and Freed (’35)
You Stepped Out of a Dream- ZIEGFELD GIRL (Film) Brown and Kahn (’40)

NOEL COWARD
Don’t Put Your Daughter on the Stage, Mrs. Worthington, Noel Coward (’34)
I Went to a Marvelous Party – SET TO MUSIC, Noel Coward (’39)
If Love Were All – BITTER SWEET, Coward (’29)
I’ll Follow My Secret Heart – CONVERSATION PIECE, Coward (’34)
I’m So Weary of it All – SET TO MUSIC, Coward (’38)
Mad About the Boy – WORDS AND MUSIC, Coward (’32)
Nina – SIGH NO MORE, Coward (’45)
The Party’s Over Now – SET TO MUSIC, Coward (’39)
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VERNON DUKE
April in Paris – WALK A LITTLE FASTER, Duke & Harburg
Autumn in New York – THUMBS UP, Duke (’34)
The Economic Situation – ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1936, Duke & Gershwin
The Gazooka – ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF ’36, Duke & Gershwin (’36)
He Hasn’t a Thing Except Me -- ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1936, Duke & Gershwin (’36)
I Can’t Get Started With You – ZIEGFELD FOLLIES, Duke & Gershwin (’35)
I Like the Likes of You, ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF ’34, Duke & Harburg (’34)
Modernistic Moe – ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1936, Duke & Gershwin (’36)
My Red Letter Day – ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1936, Duke & Gershwin (’36)
Words Without Music – ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1936, Duke & Gershwin (’36)

DUKE ELLINGTON
I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good)- Standard, Ellington and Webster,
(’41)
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore- Standard, Ellington and Russell (’42)
I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart- Standard, Ellington, Mills, Redmond
(’38)
I’m Just A Lucky So and So-Standard, Ellington and David (’45)
In A Sentimental Mood, Ellington, Kurtz, (’35)
Love You Madly- Ellington, Henderson (’50)
Mood Indigo-Standard, Ellington, Mills, Bigard (’31)
Prelude To A Kiss-Standard, Ellington, Gordon, Mills (’38)
Satin Doll- Standard, Ellington, Mills, Mercer (’53)
Solitude-Standard, Ellington, DeLange, Mills (’34)
Something To Live For- Standard-Ellington and Strayhdorn (’39)
Sophisticated Lady-Standard, Ellington, Mills, Parish (’33)

SAMMY FAIN
Are You Having Any Fun? – GEORGE WHITE’S SCANDALS, Fain & Yellen (’39)
I Can Dream, Can’t I -- RIGHT THIS WAY, Sammy Fain & Irving Kahal (’38)
I’ll Be Seeing You – RIGHT THIS WAY, Sammy Fain & Irving Kahal (’38)
That Old Feeling-VOGUES OF ’38, Fain and Brown, (’37)
When I Take My Sugar to Tea-Standard, Fain, Kahal, Norman (’31)
You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me, THE BIG POND, Fain, Kahal, Norman (’30)
 Page 17
JOHN GREEN
Body and Soul – THREE’S A CROWD, Johnny Green (’30)
Hello My Lover Goodbye – HERE GOES THE BRIDE, Johnny Green & Edward Heyman (’31)
I Wanna Be Loved-BILLY ROSE’S CRAZY QUILT, Johnny Green, Heyman, Rose (’33)

HOAGY CARMICHAEL
Georgia on My Mind- Standard, Carmichael and Gorrell (’30)
How Little We Know TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT (Film) Carmichael and Mercer (’44)
I Get Along without You Very Well- LAS VEGAS STORY Carmichael, based on a poem by J. B.
Thompson (’38)
The Nearness of You- ROMANCE IN THE DARK (Film), Carmichael and Washington (’37)
*Skylark- Standard, Carmichael and Mercer (’41)
Star Dust, Standard, Carmichael and Parish (’29)

HENDERSON, DESYLVA AND BROWN

The Best Things in Life Are Free- GOOD NEWS, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson (’27)
The Birth Of The Blues-Standard, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson (’26)
Button Up Your Overcoat- Standard, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson (’28)
Good For You, Bad For Me – FLYING HIGH, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson (’30)
I Can’t Afford to Dream, YOKEL BOY, Lew Brown, Charles Tobias & Sam H. Stept (’39)
I Want To Be Bad- FOLLOW THRU, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson (’29)
It All Depends On You -BIG BOY, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson (’26)
Just Imagine – GOOD NEWS, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson (’27)
Let’s Call it a Day – STRIKE ME PINK, Brown & Henderson (’32)
My Song – GEORGE WHITE’S SCANDALS OF 1931, DySylva & Henderson (’31)
Red Hot Chicago – FLYING HIGH, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson (’30)
Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries- GEORGE WHITE SCANDALS OF 1931, Henderson and Brown
(’31)
The Thrill is Gone – GEORGE WHITE’S SCANDALS OF 1931, Henderson & Brown
Thank Your Father – FLYING HIGH, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson (’30)
Without Love – FLYING HIGH, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson (’30)
You’re The Cream In My Coffee-HOLD EVERYTHING, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson (’28)

FRANK LOESSER
 Page 18
I Don't Want To Walk without You, Baby, Styne and Loesser, (’41)
I Wish I Didn't Love You So- THE PERILS OF PAULINE (Film) Frank Loesser, (’47)
*Junk Man, Meyer and Loesser (’34)
On a Slow Boat to China, NEPTUNES’S DAUGHTER (Film) Frank Loesser, (’49)
Rumble, Rumble, Rumble, THE PERILS OF PAULINE (Film) Frank Loesser, (’47)
Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year, Frank Loesser (’44)
*They’re Either Too Young Or Too Old, Schwartz and Loesser, (’43)
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?- Frank Loesser (’47)

FATS WALLER
Ain't Misbehavin’ (1929) Brooks, Razaf, Waller
Honeysuckle Rose (1929) Razaf and Waller
The Joint Is Jumpin’ Waller, Razaf, (’37)
I've Got a Feelin' I'm Fallin’ (1929) Link, Rose, Waller
Keepin' Out of Mischief Now (1932) Razaf and Waller
Squeeze Me (1919) Waller and Williams
#(What Did I Do To Be So) Black and Blue, Waller, Razaf, Brooks (’29)

HARRY WARREN
At Last-SUN VALLEY SERENADE (Film) Warren and Gordon (’41)
The Boulevard of Broken Dreams- MOULIN ROUGE (Film), Warren and Dubin (’33)
I Found a Million Dollar Baby – BILLY ROSE’S CRAZY QUILT, Warren, Rose & Dixon (’31)
I Had the Craziest Dream-SPRINGTIME IN THE ROCKIES (Film) Warrne and Gordon (’42)
I Only Have Eyes for You- DAMES (Film), Warren and Dubin (’34)
Lulu's Back in Town- BROADWAY GONDOLIER (Film) Warren and Dubin (’35)
The More I See You-BILLY ROSE’S DIAMOND HORSESHOE (Film) Warren and Gordon (’45)
This Heart of Mine- ZIEGFELD FOLLIES (Film) Warren and Freed (’46)
With Plenty of Money & You – GOLDIGGERS OF 1937, Warren & Dubin (’36)
Would You Like to Take a Walk – SWEET AND LOW, Warren, Rose & Dixon (’30)
You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby, HARD TO GET, Warren & Mercer (’38)
You'll Never Know- HELLO FRISCO, HELLO (Film) Warren and Gordon (’43)
You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me- 42ND STREET (Film) Warren and Dubin (’32)

JIMMY MCHUGH
 Page 19
A Lady Needs A Change-STARS IN YOUR EYES, McHugh and Fields (’39)
Don't Blame Me- CLOWNS IN CLOVER, McHugh and Fields, (’33)
Exactly Like You – LEW LESLIE’S INTERNATIONAL REVUE, McHugh & Fields (’30)
I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby- BLACKBIRDS OF 1928, McHugh and Fields (’28)
I Feel a Song Coming On- EVERY NIGHT AT EIGHT (Film) McHugh and Fields (’35)
I'm in the Mood for Love-EVERY NIGHT AT EIGHT, (Film) McHugh and Fields (’35)
Is it Possible – STREETS OF PARIS, McHugh & Dubin (’39)
It's a Most Unusual Day-A DATE WITH JUDY, McHugh and Adamson (’48)
On the Sunny Side of the Street – LEW LESLIE’S INTERNATIONAL REVUE, McHugh & Fields (’30)

Outstanding Individual Songs: 1920 to 1950

A New Love is Old – THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE, Romberg & Hammerstein (’31)
Ain’t Nobody’s Business, Standard, Grainger and Robbins (’22)
After You’ve Gone- Standard, Layton and Creamer (1918)
All of Me- Standard, Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons (’31)
All The Way- Standard, Van Heusen and Cahn (’57)
As Time Goes By, Standard (’31) Herman Hupfeld
Blame It On My Youth- Standard, Oscar Levant and Edward Heyman, (’34)
The Breeze Kissed Your Hair – THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE, Romberg & Hammerstein (’31)
Brother Can You Spare a Dime, AMERICANA, Jay Gorney & Harburg (’32)
By Special Permission of the Copyright Owners, I Love You,
THE GANG’S ALL HERE, Lewis Gensler, Owen Murphy & Robert A. Simon (’31)
Can This Be Love – FINE AND DANDY, Paul James & Kay Swift (’30)
Can’t We Be Friends – THE LITTLE SHOW, Paul James & Kay Swift (’29)
Cheerful Little Earful – SWEET AND LOW, Warren, Gershwin & Rose (’30)
Chicago, Standard (’22) Fred Fisher
[Cigarettes, Cigars] – ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1931, Mack Gordon & Harry Revel (’31)
Comes Love – YOKEL BOY, Lew Brown (’39)
Countess Dubinsky – ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1934, Ballard MacDonald, Joseph Meyer,
Billy Rose
Darn That Dream – SWINGIN’ THE DREAM, Eddie De Lange & Jimmy Van Heusen (’39)-
Do the New York – ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1931, Oakland, Trivers & Murray (’31)
Dusty Shoes – MOONLIGHT AND PRETZELS, E.Y Harburg & Jay Gorney (’33)
Ferdinand the Bull – FERDINAND, Albert Hay Malotte & Larry Morey (’36)

Fly Me To The Moon, Standard (’54) Bart Howard

 Page 20
For All We Know- Standard, Coots, Lewis (’34)
For Sentimental Reasons, Standard (’45) Watson and Best
God Bless The Child- Standard, Holiday, Herzog, Jr. (’39)
A Good Man Is Hard To Find- Standard, Eddie Green, (’17)
Good Morning, Heartache- Standard, Higginbotham, Drake, Fisher (’46)
HH, Cha, Cha! – THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE, Romberg & Hammerstein (’31)
Hard Hearted Hannah- Standard, Yellen, Bigelow, Bates and Ager (’24)
How About You?-BABES ON BROADWAY, Lane and Freed (’41)
How High The Moon- TWO FOR THE SHOW, Hamilton and Lewis (’40)
I Cried For You- Standard, Freed, Lyman, Arnheim, (’23)
I Thought About You-Standard, Van Heusen and Mercer (’39)
I Want A Big Butter and Egg Man- Standard, Venable and Armstrong (’26)
If I Love Again, HOLD YOUR HORSES, Jack Murray and Ben Oakland (’33)
It Had To Be You, Standard (’24) Jones and Kahn
I’ll Be Around-Standard-Alec Wilder (’42)
I’ll Get By-Standard, Ahlert, Turk (’28)
I’ll See You In My Dreams Standard, (’24) Jones and Kahn
I’ll Take an Option on You, TATTLE-TALES, Robin & Rainger (’33)
I’m A Fool To Want You-Standard, Sinatra, Wolf, and Joel Herron, (’51)
It’s You I’m Talkin’ About, FLORIDA SPECIAL, Mack Gordon & Harry Revel (’36)
The Jig Hop – FINE AND DANDY, Swift & James (’30)
Let’s Go Eat Worms in the Garden – FINE AND DANDY, Paul James & Kay Swift (’30)
[Let’s K-nock K-nees] ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1931, Gordon & Revel (’31)
Let’s Put out the Lights (and Go to Bed), Standard, Herman Hupfeld (’32)
Little Old Lady – THE SHOW IS ON, Carmichael & Adams (’36)
Love Me or Leave Me, WHOOPEE!, Donaldson and Kahn, (’28)
Love Will Find A Way, SHUFFLE ALONG, Blake, Sissle (’21)
Lover Man- Standard, David, Ramirez, Sherman, (’41)
Mean To Me- Standard, Ahlert, Turk (’29)
Memories of You – BLACKBIRDS OF 1930, Blake & Razaf (’30)
The Mexiconga – GEORGE WHITE’S SCANDALS OF 1939, Jack Yellen & Herb Magidson
(’39)
Minnie the Moocher – Standard, Cab Calloway (’31)
Moanin’ Low – THE LITTLE SHOW, Rainger & Dietz (’29)
Moon About Town – ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1934, Dana Suesse & E.Y. Harburg (’34)
My Foolish Heart-Standard (’49) Young and Washington

*My Handyman Ain’t Handy No More – BLACKBIRDS OF 1930, Blake & Razaf (’30)
 Page 21
The Night Was Made for Love – THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE, Romberg & Hammerstein
(’31)
Nobody Breaks My Heart – FINE AND DANDY, Paul James & Kay Swift (’30)
Nobody Wants You When You’re Down and Out- Standard, Jimmie Cox (’23)
Or What Have You – THE LITTLE SHOW, Grace Henry & Morris Hamilton (’29)
Papa’s Got a Job – SING FOR YOUR SUPPER, Ned LeHac, Robert Sour & Hector Troy (’39)
Perfidia, Alberto Domínguez, (’39)
Remember My Forgotten Man – GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933, Gorney & Harburg (’33)
St. Louis Blues- Standard, W.C. Handy (1914)
Sarah, the Sunshine Girl – ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1934, Ballard MacDonald, Joseph
Meyer, Billly Rose
Shake Well Before Using – HERE GOES THE BRIDE, Green & Heyman (‘
Somebody Ought to be Told (That I’ve Arrived) – MAY WINE, Romberg & Hammerstein
(’35)
Soul Saving Sadie (of Avenue A) – ZIEGFELD FOLLIES OF 1934, , Ballard MacDonald,
Joseph Meyer, Billy Rose
Starting at the Bottom – FINE AND DANDY, Swift & James (’30)
These Foolish Things-Standard (’36) Maschwitz and Strachey
The Things We Did Last Summer, Standard, Styne and Cahn (’46)
Time After Time- Standard, Styne and Cahn (’47)
Too Marvelous For Words-Standard, Whiting and Mercer (’37)
Try to Forget – THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE, Romberg & Hammerstein (’31)
The Very Thought Of You, Standard, Ray Noble, (’34)
What A Little Moonlight Can Do, Standard, Harry M. Woods, (’34)
What’s New?, Standard, Haggart and Burke (’39)
When I Fall In Love, Standard , Young and Hayman (’52)
With Every Breath I Take, HERE IS MY HEART, Leo Robin & Ralph Ranger (’34)
You Go To My Head- Standard, Coots and Gillespie (’38)
You Made Me Love You, Standard, Monaco and McCarthy, (’13)
You Turned the Tables on Me – SING BABY SING, Music by Louis Alter, Lyrics by Sidney
D. Mitchell (’36)
You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini), Standard, Sam Coslow (’36)
You’re Lucky to Me, BLACKBIRDS OF 1930, Blake & Razaf (’30)
You’ve Changed, Standard, Bill Carey and Carl Fischer, (’41)
Zing Went the Strings of my Heart – THUMBS UP, James F. Hanley (’34)

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED FOR RESEARCH ON THIS SONG

 Page 22

Name ___________________________________________________________

Song ___________________________________________________________

Show (if applicable) ______________________________________________________

Reminder: “I learned there are lots of ways to sing the song” or “I learned things were different in 1930”, etc. are not really
answers to the following questions. You’re looking for specific details you discovered that helped shape and inform your
performance.

THE TEXT: Unknown Phrases and Words.

You are looking for the meaning of the words and phrases, not just a definition. You want to discover the specific
meaning both for the time period/location and for the character in that time period and the world of the play.
Some things to look for in the lyric/libretto:
Word definitions
Sayings
Double entendres
Names
Foreign Words
When a teacher asks you, “what does that mean?”, and you find yourself answering “I looked it up!”, chances are
you haven't really delved into the specifics of that word or phrase enough to make it specific to the character.

LOCATION/ENVIRONMENT
 Page 23
The Specific Scene
The Show
The Period of the Show

DRESS/HAIR/STYLE
Character
Period

SPEECH/DIALECTS

MOVEMENT/PHYSICAL MANNERISMS
Gestures, physicality of the period
Gestures, physicality of the character

SOCIAL STATUS/ MORES

Expected For The Period
 Page 24
Where does your character fit in society? What is their status?
Social relationship to other characters in the play?

HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL RESEARCH:

Area, Country, World Events of the Era
Events for the specific world of the play

THE CREATORS:

WHO ORIGINATED THE ROLE:

IS THERE SOURCE MATERIAL?

DON’T JUST “FILL IN” THIS SHEET.

ANSWER THE ABOVE QUESTIONS IN THE FORMAT AND SPACE YOU NEED!
Selected Bibliography
 Page 25
Bloom, Ken. The American Songbook: The Singers, the Songwriters, and the Songs. New
York: Black Dog & Leventhal, 2005.
Great for visual learners, this book is primarily a photo history of American Popular
Song with captions, sidebars and timelines.
Brahms, Caryl and Sherrin, Ned. Song by Song: 14 Great Lyric Writers. London: Anderson, 1984
Engel, Lehman. Their Words Are Music: the Great Theatre Lyricists and Their Lyrics. New York:
Crown Publishers, 1975
Forte, Allen. Listening To Classic American Popular Song. Yale University Press, 2001
In depth analysis of 23 songs from this booklet. Check to see if your song is here!
Available as an e-book from nypl.org Overdrive
Friedwald, Will. Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America’s Most Popular Songs. Chicago:
Chicago Review Press, 2004
In depth examination of Stardust, St. Louis Blues, Mack The Knife, Ol’ Man River,
Body and Soul, I Got Rhythm, As Time Goes By, Night and Day, Stormy Weather,
Summertime, My Funny Valentine and Lush Life. Available as an e-book from nypl.org
Overdrive
Fordin, Hugh. Getting To Know Him: Oscar Hammerstein II. New York: Ungar Publishing Company
1977
Furia, Philip and Lasser, Michael. America’s Songs: The Stories Behind The Songs of Broadway,
Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley. New York: Rutledge, 2006
Detailed background information on over 300 popular songs. Also includes songs
from musicals in The Golden Age. A fun read and a must if your song is in the index,
so check!.
Furia, Philip. Ira Gershwin: The Art of the Lyricist. New York: Oxford University
Press, 1996.
"Mr. Furia presents a clear, focused, highly readable study of Gershwin's lyrics in all
their deceptive simplicity.... A sharp and concise look at the reasons Gershwin's songs
have endured."--The New York Times Book Review
Furia, Phillip. The Poets of Tin Pan Alley. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992
A look at the major lyricists and what made them great. Furia gives specific examples
of how lyrics are constructed as well as how they fuse with the music. He also puts
the songs he discusses into historical context.
Furia, Philip. Skylark: The Life and Times of Johnny Mercer. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2003
This biography of the lyricist “establishes a rich connection between
Mercer’s life and his lyrics”- Margaret Whiting. If Mercer wrote your lyric, this is
a great place to start your research.
Gershwin, Ira. Lyrics on Several Occasions: A Selection of Stage & Screen Lyrics.
New York: Viking Press, 1973.
 Page 26
Collection of Ira Gershwin lyrics with annotations by Gershwin himself. Highly
entertaining with specifics on over 100 of his lyrics. .
Greenspan, Charlotte. Pick Yourself Up: Dorothy Fields and The American Musical.
New York: Oxford University Press, 2010
Hasse, John Edward. Beyond Category: The Life and Genius of Duke Ellington. New York,
1st Da Capo Press, 1995
Excellent overview of Ellington’s life includes in-depth examinations of his music.
Jablonski, Edward. Harold Arlen: Rhythm, Rainbows, and Blues. Boston:
Northeastern University Press, 1996.
Jablonski, Edward. Irving Berlin: American Troubadour. New York: Henry Holt,
1999.
Kimball, Robert Gottlieb and Robert, ed. Reading Lyrics. New York: Pantheon Books, 2000.
Lyrics to over 1000 popular songs with short biographies and commentary. Arranged
chronologically by lyricist, but also contains an excellent index to check for individual
songs.
Morath, Max. The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Popular Standards. New York:
Berkley Pub. Group, 2002.
Pollack, Howard. George Gershwin: His Life and Work. Berkeley: University of
California Press, 2006.
Sheed, Wilfrid. The House That George Built: With a Little Help from Irving, Cole, and a
Crew of About Fifty. New York: Random House, 2007.
Has a chapter on all the major composers covered in this booklet. More biographical
than analytical, but also examines what makes great songs great. Check the index for
your song!
Sudhalter, Richard M. Stardust Melody: The Life and Music of Hoagy Carmichael.
New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Wilder, Alec, American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950.
New York, Oxford University Press, 1972
“seriously, never solemnly, examines (popular songs) as if they were Shubert Lieder”
-N.Y. Times Book Review. Examines individual songs much as we did in our Music
Analysis class. Invaluable if your song is in the index- so check it out.

Wilk, Max. They're Playing Our Song: From Jerome Kern to Stephen Sondheim -
the Stories Behind the Words and Music of Two Generations. New York:
Athenaeum, 1973.
 Page 27
Delightful book that covers all the major writers of the songbook. Written to feel as
if the subjects themselves are talking and full of delightful stories as well as insight
into the craft of songwriting.This book really brings the past to life.
Woollcott, Alexander. The Story of Irving Berlin. New York; London: G.P. Putnam's sons,
1925.
Yagoda, Ben. The B Side: The Death Of Tin Pan Alley and The Rebirth Of American Popular Song.
New York;Riverhead/Penguin, 2015.
Entertaining history of American Popular Song. Explains how technological advances in
recording changed songwriting ( the tight construction of a verse and 32 bars being
mandated by the maximum playing time of a 78 record) and much more.
Available as an E-book on AMDA Overdrive.
Zinsser, William. Easy To Remember: The Great American Songwriters and Their
Songs; Jaffrey: New Hampshire, 2001
Fun book with great photos and many sheet music covers. The text has short
biographies of the major players, but concentrates on the melodic structure of songs,
the "rules" of structure and how the rules were effectively broken.

Also, collections of lyrics for the following lyricists are available in the AMDA library.
Many contain unpublished and additional lyrics and reprises for many songs as well as
background information on the origin of the lyrics.

IRVING BERLIN NOEL COWARD

IRA GERSHWIN LORENZ HART

OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II COLE PORTER

FRANK LOESSER JOHNNY MERCER