Swanee
First release by Jos. Samuels Dance Orchestra (1919)
- Music written by
- George Gershwin
- Lyrics written by
- Irving Caesar
- Language
- English
- ISWC
-
T-900.077.554-2 ISWC
T-900.761.876-0 GEMA, ISWC
- Comments
-
This song was George Gershwin's first hit and, at least during his lifetime, his most rewarding song financially. Gershwin was aged 20 when this song was written. He and his lyricist, Irving Caeser, maintained they wrote the song in about ten minutes, starting in a Manhattan bus and completing it in Gershwin's apartment. It was intended in part to be a parody of Stephen Foster's Old Folks at Home.
The song was introduced In "Demi Tasse", which was part of a Vaudeville revue at the Capitol Theatre, opening on October 24, 1919. In "Demi Tasse", "Swanee" was a big production number, featuring some 60 chorus girls. Al Jolson heard Gershwin play the song on piano at a party and ultimately interpolated it into his current show "Sinbad". - Published by
-
WARNER BROS INC
GEMA
- Licensing
- Request a synchronization license
