| I Loves You, Porgy | |
|---|---|
| Duet from Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin | |
| Genre | Opera, jazz |
| Text | Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward |
| Premiere | |
| Date | September 30, 1935 |
| Location | Colonial Theatre (Boston) |
"I Loves You, Porgy" is a duet from the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin.[1] It was performed in the opera's premiere in 1935[2] and on Broadway the same year by Anne Brown and Todd Duncan.[1] They recorded the song on volume 2 of the album Selections from George Gershwin's Folk Opera Porgy and Bess in 1942.[3] The duet occurs in act 2, scene 3, Catfish Row, where Porgy promises Bess that he will protect her.[4] Bess has a lover, Crown, who is abusive and continually seduces her.[4]
The song was popularised by Nina Simone's adaptation from her debut album, Little Girl Blue.[5]