Skylark (song)

"Skylark" is an American popular song with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music by Hoagy Carmichael, published in 1941.^[1]

"Skylark"
Single
Released	1942
Genre	Jazz
Songwriter(s)	Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael

Background

Carmichael wrote the melody, based on a Bix Beiderbecke cornet improvisation, as "Bix Licks", for a project to turn the novel Young Man With a Horn into a Broadway musical. After that project failed, Carmichael brought in Johnny Mercer to write lyrics for the song.^[2] Mercer said that he struggled for a year after he got the music from Carmichael before he could get the lyrics right.^[3] Mercer recalled that Carmichael initially called him several times about the lyrics but had forgotten about the song by the time Mercer finally wrote them.^[4] The yearning expressed in the lyrics was based on Mercer's longing for Judy Garland, with whom he had an affair.^[5]

Several artists recorded charting versions of the song in 1942, including the Glenn Miller Orchestra (vocal by Ray Eberle), Harry James and His Orchestra (vocal by Helen Forrest), Dinah Shore, and Bing Crosby.^[6] The Glenn Miller recording on RCA Bluebird peaked at no. 7 on the Billboard pop singles chart.

This song is considered a jazz standard.^[7] Additionally, it is believed to have inspired a long-running Buick car of the same name that was produced from 1953 to 1998.^[8]

Cover versions

Year	Performer(s)
2002	Beegie Adair – Centennial Composers Collection
1961	Tony Bennett – Tony Sings for Two
1962	Art Blakey with Freddie Hubbard – Caravan[9]
1956	Hoagy Carmichael with Art Pepper – Hoagy Sings Carmichael[9]
2019	Kate Ceberano and Paul Grabowsky – Tryst
2001	Bill Charlap – Stardust
2016	Kristin Chenoweth – The Art of Elegance
1987	Rosemary Clooney – Rosemary Clooney Sings the Lyrics of Johnny Mercer
1966	Sonny Criss "Skylark" This is Criss Prestige Records (21Oct1966)
1942	Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra.[10] This also charted in 1942 reaching a peak position of No.14.[11]
1961	Bobby Darin – Love Swings
1974	Paul Desmond – Skylark
2016	Bob Dylan – Fallen Angels
1964	Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book
1960	The Fleetwoods
1963	Aretha Franklin – Laughing on the Outside
1949	Erroll Garner
1977	Dexter Gordon – Biting the Apple
2021	Taylor Eigsti with Casey Abrams - Tree Falls
2003	Steve Hass – Traveler
1942	Earl Hines with Billy Eckstine[9]
2015	Stevie Holland – Life Goes On
2009	Mark Isham and Kate Ceberano – Bittersweet
1941	Harry James with Helen Forrest.[4][9] This reached No. 11 on the Billboard charts in 1942.[12]
1958	Carmen McRae – Birds of a Feather
1973	Bette Midler – Bette Midler
1942	Glenn Miller and His Orchestra with vocals by Ray Eberle in 1942,[9][1] rising to No. 7 on the charts.[13]
1962	Matt Monro – Sings Hoagy Carmichael
2004	Marion Montgomery – Skylark
1961	David "Fathead" Newman – Straight Ahead
1941	Anita O'Day with the Gene Krupa Orchestra recorded the song on November 25, 1941.[14]
2010	Gregory Porter – Water
1984	Linda Ronstadt – Lush Life - Reached #12 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in January 1985.
1942	Dinah Shore recorded February 10, 1942 for Bluebird[15] This reached the No. 5 spot in the Billboard charts.[16]