While We're Young (song)
"While We're Young" is a 1943 song with music composed by Alec Wilder and Morty Palitz, to lyrics by Bill Engvick, which was popularized by Don Cherry, Tony Bennett and other artists.[1] Wilder quoted his Algonquin neighbour, James Thurber, as saying that Engvick's lyrics to “While We're Young” was “the finest piece of English writing he knew”.[2] The lyric Thurber refers to begins:
"We must fulfill This golden time When hearts awake So shyly, Softly.
Songs were made to sing While we're young. Ev'ry day is spring While we're young..."
The song was included by Art Garfunkel as a bonus track in the Barnes & Noble-exclusive edition of his 2007 tribute album to the Great American Songbook, Some Enchanted Evening.
Versions
- single by Don Cherry 1951[3]
- Tony Bennett 1951 as B-side to Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart", and also from debut album Because of You (Tony Bennett album) 1956
- Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra 1952 List of songs recorded by Perry Como, rerecorded for album For the Young at Heart 1960
- Peggy Lee
- Red Norvo and His Orchestra from Presenting Red Norvo EP 1954
- André Kostelanetz and His Orchestra from Mood For Love EP 1955
- Percy Faith and His Orchestra with Mitch Miller from It's So Peaceful In The Country 3x 7" EP set 1956
- Rosemary Clooney from Sings Songs For The Young At Heart EP 1956
- Johnny Mathis on his 1957 Warm LP and 1958 While We're Young EP
- Don Rondo on his Rondo, No. 2 EP 1959
- André Previn and David Rose from Secret Songs For Lovers No.3 EP 1960
- Mike Douglas, B-side to "Here's To My Jenny" 1966
- Some Enchanted Evening (Art Garfunkel album) 2007
- The Best of Della Reese (1972 album)
- While We're Young. Tribute to Alec Wilder 2013 album by Gianna Montecalvo
- John Gary on his album, A Heart Filled With Song, 1966
References
- ↑ Alec Wilder Letters I Never Mailed: Clues to a Life p13 1580462081 - 2005 "A year later, in 1943, another songwriting success came from Wilder's collaboration with WILLIAM ENGVICK and with songwriter and producer Morty Palitz, resulting in "While We're Young." Wilder was to develop a long partnership with the ..."
- ↑ Philip Lambert Alec Wilder 2013 34 0252094840 "Engvick also wrote lyrics for three songs composed by Wilder in collaboration with Morty Palitz, the record ... little trifle,” says Wilder (Life Story, 57).26 The trio's most distinguished effort was “While We're Young,” which began with a melodic phrase that Engvick had in his ear as he wrote a different lyric, “Everywhere I Look” (I 94.5). ... Engvick created the new lyric.27 Wilder was fond of quoting an Algonquin acquaintance, the writer James Thurber, saying that the lyric to “While We're Young” was “the finest piece of English writing he knew” (Songs Were Made to Sing, 6)."
- ↑ Billboard 1951 August 25
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