- For other uses of "Skylark" see: Skylark (disambiguation).
"Skylark" is an American popular song with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music by Hoagy Carmichael, published in 1942.[1] Mercer said that he struggled for a year, after he got the music from Carmichael, before he could get the lyrics right.[2] The yearning expressed in the lyrics is Mercer's longing for Judy Garland, with whom Mercer had an affair.[3] This song is considered a jazz standard.[4]
The song was recorded by Glenn Miller & His Orchestra, with vocals by Ray Eberle,[1] rising to #7 on the charts in 1942.[citation needed]
In 1964, Ella Fitzgerald recorded this on her Verve release "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook", with arrangements by Nelson Riddle.
The song was recorded by Bobby Darin for his album "Love Swings". The song has also been recorded by the English/Australian classic rock band Sky in 1982.[citation needed] In 2009, Renee Olstead sang it on her second album by the same name.
The song was recently re-recorded by Janis Siegel on Steve Hass's debut album, Traveler. Steve is the current Manhattan Transfer drummer and percussionist.[citation needed]
In 1973, Bette Midler recorded the song for her album Bette Midler (1973).
In 1998, Clint Eastwood's movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", that takes place in Mercer's birth town Savannah, used this song as ending title, sung by k.d. Lang.
Additionally, the song is believed to have inspired a long-running Buick car of the same name that ran from 1953 to 1998.
References
- ^ a b "Johnny Mercer's Songs on CD", Ralph Mitchell, JohnnyMercer.com, June 2009, webpage: JM-ralph.
- ^ Wilk, Max (1997). They're Playing Our Song. New York: Da Capo.
- ^ Furia, Philip (2003). Skylark: The Life and Times of Johnny Mercer (1st ed.). St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0312287207.
- ^ Wilder, Alec (1990). American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950.. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.
External links
- "Johnny Mercer's Songs on CD", Ralph Mitchell, JohnnyMercer.com, June 2009, webpage: JM-ralph: List of singers who have recorded "Skylark".
- http://www.jazzstandards.com/compositions-0/skylark.htm
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