Long Ago (and Far Away)
Long Ago (and Far Away) is a song written by Ira Gershwin (lyrics) and Jerome Kern (music) and released in 1944. The song became Ira Gershwin's greatest commercial hit.
Creation of the song and first recording
Kern and Gershwin wrote the song in the form ABAB 'in F major for the film musical Es tanzt die Göttin (1944, English title Cover Girl , directed by Charles Vidor ), in which it is sung by Rita Hayworth to Gene Kelly ( the vocal double was Martha Mears). The singing scene takes place in a Brooklyn nightclub. After its release, the song hit the US charts in versions by Dick Haymes (for Brunswick ), Helen Forrest ( Decca ), Bing Crosby (Decca), Jo Stafford , Guy Lombardo (Decca) and Perry Como (Victor). The ballad is provided with the inspired lyrics of Ira Gershwin:
- " Chills run up and down my spine
- Aladdin's lamp is mine. "
Jerome Kern, who first composed the melody, initially had problems getting the finished lyrics from Ira Gershwin, who was known for his slow work. Kern had initially insisted that the two work on the piano in his house, whereas Gershwin preferred to write at home surrounded by his books. Working together turned out to be difficult, as Kern preferred romantic melodies, but Gershwin found it difficult to write a love song. Annoyed by the delay, Kern suggested the sarcastically understood title Watching Little Alice Pee . Only shortly before filming began, Ira Gershwin gave the text over the phone. It was the only collaboration between Kern and Gershwin.
Kern's soaring lines led Ira Gershwin to use uncharacteristic platitudes, which gave the song a nostalgic appeal to the American soldiers fighting in WWII. Long Ago and Far Away became a hugely successful song in the United States. The song, which stayed in Your Hit Parade for twenty weeks , was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Song category, which Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke finally received in 1945 for Swinging on a Star .
Cover versions
As early as 1944, the song was covered by swing orchestras and soloists such as Jan Garber , Glenn Miller , Herman Chittison , Mal Hallett , Artie Shaw , Jimmy Dorsey , Les Brown ; in Europe took u. a. also Eddie Brunner , Philippe Brun , Reginald Foresythe and Leo Souris of the song. This was followed in the 1950s by sung and instrumental cover versions by Erroll Garner , Lars Gullin , Benny Carter , Oscar Peterson , Chet Baker , The Hi-Lo’s , Mel Tormé , Red Mitchell , Art Pepper , Lorez Alexandria and David Allyn , who wrote the song into a popular jazz standard . Tom Lord lists 300 cover versions of the title. It was included in the list of the 100 best movie songs by the American Film Institute .
Web links
- Inclusion in the catalog of the German National Library: DNB 381233774
Individual evidence
- ↑ New York Magazine: The complete lyrics of Ira Gershwin (Book review) - Volume 26, No. 49
- ^ A b Marvin E. Paymer, Don E. Post: Sentimental Journey: Intimate Portraits of America's Great Songs , 1999 - page 467
- ↑ a b The Melody Lingers on: The Great Songwriters and Their Movie s. 1999
- ↑ Philip Furia, Michael L. Lasser: America's Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley , p. 196
- ↑ Philip Furia: Ira Gershwin - page 182
- ^ Oscars 1945 in the Internet Movie Data Base
- ↑ Tom Lord The Jazz Discography (online, accessed January 4, 2014)