For All We Know (1934 song)

For the song from the film Lovers and Other Strangers and popularized by the Carpenters, see For All We Know (1970 song).

"For All We Know" is a popular song published in 1934, with music by J. Fred Coots and lyrics by Sam M. Lewis. Popular versions in 1934 were by Hal Kemp (vocal by Skinnay Ennis) and Isham Jones (vocal by Joe Martin).^[1]

"For All We Know"
Song
Published	1934 by Leo Feist, Inc.
Composer(s)	J. Fred Coots
Lyricist(s)	Sam M. Lewis

Background

There are alternative verses but the main lyrics start: "For all we know we may never meet again...".^[2]

Other artists' recordings

• 1958 Billie Holiday 1958 Lady in Satin album by Columbia Records
• The version by Dinah Washington reached No. 88 on the chart in 1962.
• A version by The Spinners in 1965 gave it a more contemporary sound and was included on the 1967 LP The Original Spinners.
• The Donny Hathaway version from the LP Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway (Atlantic, 1972) has become one of the standout versions of the song.^{[citation needed]}
• A version by jazz pianist Bill Evans was recorded in his last studio album We Will Meet Again (Warner Bros. Records, 1979).
• Jane Ira Bloom included the song in her 2013 album Sixteen Sunsets.
• Jennifer Hudson sang a rendition of the song at the All Star Game tribute to Gianna and Kobe Bryant in 2020.^[3]
• The song has also been recorded by a host of artists, including: Nina Simone, Al Martino, The Andrews Sisters, Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, Crystal Gayle, Dinah Washington, Doris Day, Joanie Sommers, Fran Jeffries, Bette Midler, Nat King Cole, Rod Stewart, June Christy, Ruben Studdard, Frankie Valli, Caleb Kelly, Will Downing, Rosemary Clooney, Long John Baldry, Ken Dodd and Clint Eastwood.^[4]

Song in popular culture

• Graham Kennedy sang a few bars live as his curtain call outro song to end each last season episode of The Graham Kennedy Show (1972-75).
• The Rosemary Clooney version is heard over the closing credits of Dan Ireland's 2005 British film Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont. Rupert Friend performs the song in the movie.
• The Bette Midler version was featured in the 1991 film For the Boys.
• A cover by Abbey Lincoln was featured prominently in the Gus Van Sant film Drugstore Cowboy (1989).
• An instrumental version, and a Barbra Streisand vocal version, are featured in the 1991 film The Prince of Tides.
• The Billie Holiday version is featured in the 1995 film Forget Paris.
• Johnny Hartman's version was featured in the Clint Eastwood movie The Bridges of Madison County (1995).
• A cover by Billy Porter and Our Lady J was featured in a 2018 episode of Pose.^[5]

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 499. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
2. "lyricsplayground.com". lyricsplayground.com. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
3. Newcomb, Alyssa (2020-02-17). "Jennifer Hudson performs 'For All We Know' during All-Star Game tribute to Kobe Bryant". Today. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
4. 14 - Clint Eastwood - For All We Know (1962) [Bonus Track], retrieved 2023-06-20
5. "'For All We Know' & 'Home' Covers from FX's Pose Released". Film Music Reporter. July 8, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2019.