Long Ago And Far Away

Music, Jerome Kern (1885-1945); words, Ira Gershwin (1986-1983)

You know some details about Jerome Kern by now. Ira Gershwin was George’s big brother. He started writing lyrics in 1921 under the name of Arthur Francis, using the names of his two youngest siblings to create his alias. The first play he wrote with George was Lady Be Good, in 1924. It was an instant hit, and the brothers ended up writing over 12 shows and 4 films, including Fascinating Rhythm, Someone To Watch Over Me, I Got Rhythm, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, and the entire score of Porgy And Bess.  After his brother’s death in 1937, Ira wrote no songs for three years. Subsequently he wrote lyrics with Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, and Kurt Weill. Critics say his last major work was for the 1954 Judy Garland film, A Star Is Born. Ira always liked loud music; his wife did not. When someone brought him the newly invented Sony Walkman from Japan in 1979, he was delighted to play music as loudly as he liked, and he promptly bought stock in Sony. 

If I had to choose what I considered to be the most beautiful song ever written, it would have to be this one.