“You are the promised kiss of springtime that makes the lonely winter seems long.”
Now there’s a phrase that could melt anyone’s heart.
That line is the opening string of pearls that kicks off the song “All the Things You Are.” The music was written by Jerome Kern, and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Kern wrote it originally because he had a creative itch to write a song in five keys. It was an exercise that he thought the public wouldn’t even enjoy because it was far too complex. But when Hammerstein got hold of the song and wrote the lyrics, the song’s fortunes changed.
“All the Things You Are” was just one song from a failed Broadway musical that Kern and Hammerstein wrote, called Very Warm for May. Even though the show was written by two superstars of song, it only ran for 59 performances before it closed. The critics hated the show, but somehow “All the Things You Are” was able to climb out of the carnage thanks to Tommy Dorsey. He grabbed the song, recorded it and turned it into a number one hit, even while the musical was sinking like the Titanic.
Jazzers love a five-key song
Musicologists see “All the Things You Are” as the finest composition Kern ever wrote. That appreciation expanded even further to jazz musicians who saw the genius of the song (a song with five keys has jazz written all over it) and soon jazzers started to play their own versions of the tune.
Charlie Parker recorded this version in 1948. The opening is still used by jazz musicians around the world when taking their own stabs at playing the song.
Sinatra, Sellers and Streisand among musicians who’ve recorded versions
Dorsey and Parker weren’t the only ones who found success with “All the Things You Are.” There are many fantastic versions to choose from; everyone from Frank Sinatra to Peter Sellers (yes, that Peter Sellers, from The Pink Panther) recorded versions of the song. Barbra Streisand, Dave Brubeck and guitarist Wes Montgomery have recorded fantastic versions as well.
My favorite version is sung by Ella Fitzgerald:
As much as the melody is clever, it’s the lyrics that leave the listener bewitched. How could any love-struck fool resist lyrics like, “You are the angel glow that lights a star?”
“All the Things You Are” is a masterpiece that will swoon and sweep lovers off their feet for many years to come. If there was ever a song that painted a picture of perfect love and endless devotion, this has to be it.
I’m surprised they didn’t use it in Twilight.
Related links
Stories and Standards: 'Take the 'A' Train'
Stories and Standards - 'Round Midnight'
Tonic host Tim Tamashiro’s jazz advice