The Man I Love

By George & Ira Gershwin
1927

This Gershwin classic originates in the first production of Strike Up the Band, which lasted for all of one day in its first Philadelphia run. The song was cut when the show was revived in New York three years later. It later became a standard thanks to Billie Holiday's famous rendition, which perfectly communicating the tender longing embodied in the material.

Lyrics:

Some day he'll come along,
The man I love.
And he'll be big and strong,
The man I love.
And when he comes my way,
I'll do my best to make him stay!

He'll look at me and smile;
I'll understand.
And in a little while,
He'll take my hand;
And though it seems absurd,
I know we both won't say a word!

Maybe I shall meet him Sunday,
Maybe Monday, maybe not.
Still I'm sure to meet him one day;
Maybe Tuesday will be my good news day!

We'll build a little home
Just meant for two,
From which I'll never roam;
Who would? Would you?
And so, all else above,
I'm waiting for the man I love!

Recorded By:

Ella Fitzgerald
Lena Horne
Kate Bush
Barbra Streisand
Etta James

Strike Up the Band

George & Ira Gershwin
1927

The Gershwins wrote this as the title song for a satirical show poking fun at jingoism and militaristic music, in which it was played by the Red Nichols orchestra, featuring the likes of Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Jack Teagarden, Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey. It was used again in a 1940 Judy Garland-Mickey Rooney movie that bore no resemblance to the original show. The brother composers also gave it to UCLA to use as one of its school songs.

Lyrics:

Let the drums roll out,
Let the trumpet call,
While the people shout,
"Strike up the band!"

Hear the cymbals ring,
Callin' one and all
To the martial swing,
Strike up the band!

There is work to be done, to be done.
There's a war to be won, to be won.
Come, you son of a son of a gun,
Take your stand.

Fall in line, yea a bow!
Come along, let's go!
Hey, leader, strike up the band!

Recorded By:

Ella Fitzgerald
Tony Bennett
Maureen McGovern
Martin Denny
Boston Pops