Oh, Lady Be Good

Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald

About Oh, Lady Be Good

"Oh, Lady Be Good!" is a 1924 song by George and Ira Gershwin. It was introduced by Walter Catlett in the Broadway musical Lady, Be Good! written by Guy Bolton, Fred Thompson, and the Gershwin brothers and starring Fred and Adele Astaire. The song was also performed by the chorus in the film Lady Be Good (1941), although the film is unrelated to the musical. Recordings in 1925 were by Paul Whiteman, Carl Fenton, and Cliff Edwards. A 1947 recording of the song became a hit for Ella Fitzgerald, notable for her scat solo. For her album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook (1959), it was sung as a ballad arranged by Nelson Riddle. 


Year:
1959
3:58
133 

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Listen to my tale of woe
it's terribly sad but true
All dressed up, no place to go
Each evening I'm awfully blue
I must win some handsome guy
Can't go on like this
I could blossom out I know
With somebody just like you, so

Oh sweet and lovely
Lady be good
Oh lady be good to me
I am so awfully misunderstood
So lady be good, to me
Oh, please have some pity
I'm all alone in this big city
I tell you I'm just 
a lonesome babe in the wood
So lady be good to me

Oh, please have some pity
I'm all alone in this big city
I tell you I'm just 
a lonesome babe in the wood
So lady be good to me

Oh, lady be good to me

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Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), also known as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella", was an American jazz and song vocalist. With a vocal range spanning three octaves (D♭3 to D♭6), she was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing. more »

11 fans

Written by: GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


4 facts about this song

General Information
"Oh, Lady Be Good!" is a famous song written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1924 Broadway show, "Lady, Be Good!"
Ella Fitzgerald's Version
Ella Fitzgerald, with her remarkable vocal virtuosity, released a swing version of "Oh, Lady Be Good!" in 1947. - Her version is particularly known for the vocal improvisation in the scat solo, which showcased her ability to match the instruments in her band. - Fitzgerald's take on "Oh, Lady Be Good!" remains one of the most iconic renditions of the song, and it has been credited for helping to elevate her career. - Even though she was known for her scat singing and improvisation, Fitzgerald's rendition of "Oh, Lady Be Good!" still accurately conveys the original musical intent of the Gershwin brothers.
Paul Whiteman's Version
Paul Whiteman's orchestra was the first to record "Oh, Lady, Be Good!" in December 1924. - Whiteman's early jazz version of the song was notable for its inventive use of instruments not traditionally associated with jazz, including strings and woodwinds. - His orchestral arrangement of "Oh, Lady Be Good!" helped bridge the divide between jazz and classical music, and established Whiteman as the "King of Jazz" in the Roaring Twenties.
Cultural Impact
"Oh, Lady Be Good!" has been covered by numerous artists over the years, spanning a variety of genres including jazz, pop, and big band. - The song is considered a classic American standard. Its catchy melody and a cleverly written lyrics by Ira Gershwin helped it gain popular and critical acclaim. - Dance routines were often built around the rhythm of "Oh, Lady Be Good!" during the jazz age. This was particularly typical in dance marathons, a significant part of 1920s and 1930s American popular culture. - "Oh, Lady Be Good!" has also been used in several films and television programs, further cementing its status as an enduring piece of American music history.

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