Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 12, 2020, is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

“Last Night When We Were Young” was written in 1935 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg.

Harold Arlen considered “Last Night When We Were Young” to be one of his favorite songs. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder calls it a “most remarkable and beautiful song … (that) goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music.”

Yip Harburg has said that he doesn’t know exactly where the title came from but that “the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy.” All in all, it’s a very beautiful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers. Frank Sinatra included on his wonderful album In The Wee Small Hours. It has also been recorded by Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, and Carmen McRae.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Last Night When We Were Young” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank, where he sings songs associated with his friend Frank Sinatra. Ralph Sharon did the arrangement.

“Last Night When We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.