While We're Young (1943 song)

"While We're Young" is a 1943 song with music composed by Alec Wilder and Morty Palitz, to lyrics by Bill Engvick, which was popularized by Don Cherry, Tony Bennett and other artists.^[1] Wilder quoted his Algonquin neighbour, James Thurber, as saying that Engvick's lyrics to "While We're Young" was "the finest piece of English writing he knew".^[2] The lyric Thurber refers to begins:

We must fulfill This golden time When hearts awake So shyly, Softly.
Songs were made to sing While we're young. Ev'ry day is spring While we're young...

Versions

• Judy Garland on Miss Show Business (1955)
• Peggy Lee on Rendezvous with Peggy Lee (1949)
• Single by Don Cherry (1951)^[3]
• Tony Bennett, B-side to Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart", and also from debut album Because of You (1956)
• Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra (1952) and re-recorded for the album For the Young at Heart (1960)
• Red Norvo and His Orchestra from Presenting Red Norvo EP (1954)
• André Kostelanetz and His Orchestra – Mood For Love EP (1955)
• Percy Faith and His Orchestra with Mitch Miller – It's So Peaceful in the Country 3×7″ EP set (1956)
• Rosemary Clooney – Sings Songs for the Young at Heart EP (1956)
• Johnny Mathis on his 1957 Warm LP and 1958 While We're Young EP
• Don Rondo on his Rondo, No. 2 EP (1959)
• André Previn and David Rose from Secret Songs For Lovers No.3 EP (1960)
• Mike Douglas, B-side to "Here's to My Jenny" (1966)
• John Gary – A Heart Filled with Song (1966)
• Della Reese – The Best of Della Reese (1972)
• Johnny Hartman - Thank You for Everything (1998), rec. 1976
• Art Garfunkel – Some Enchanted Evening (2007)

References

1. Alec Wilder Letters I Never Mailed: Clues to a Life p13 1580462081 - 2005 "A year later, in 1943, another songwriting success came from Wilder's collaboration with WILLIAM ENGVICK and with songwriter and producer Morty Palitz, resulting in "While We're Young." Wilder was to develop a long partnership with the ..."
2. Philip Lambert Alec Wilder 2013 34 0252094840 "Engvick also wrote lyrics for three songs composed by Wilder in collaboration with Morty Palitz, the record ... little trifle," says Wilder (Life Story, 57).26 The trio's most distinguished effort was "While We're Young," which began with a melodic phrase that Engvick had in his ear as he wrote a different lyric, "Everywhere I Look" (I 94.5). ... Engvick created the new lyric.27 Wilder was fond of quoting an Algonquin acquaintance, the writer James Thurber, saying that the lyric to "While We're Young" was "the finest piece of English writing he knew" (Songs Were Made to Sing, 6)."
3. Billboard 1951 August 25