Last Night When We Were Young

"Last Night When We Were Young" is a 1935 popular song about nostalgia and young love [1] composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Yip Harburg. Arlen regarded it as the favourite of the songs that he had written.[2]

Lawrence Tibbett recorded the song on October 9, 1935.[2] It was cut from his film Metropolitan but performed instrumentally behind the credits.[3]

"Last Night When We Were Young" was highly regarded by Judy Garland, who recorded it twice, and frequently performed it.[2] Composer Alec Wilder called it a "most remarkable and beautiful song" that "goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music." Continuing, he stated that "[i]t is unlike any other Arlen song that I have heard. However, it is unmistakably his."[3] Harburg did not know where he acquired the title, saying, "the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy".[2] Singer Tony Bennett, aged 95, gave an "emotional" performance of the song at his final concerts, in 2021.[4]

  1. ^ Browne, Ray Broadus; Ambrosetti, Ronald J. (1993). Continuities in Popular Culture: The Present in the Past & the Past in the Present and Future. ISBN 9780879725938.
  2. ^ a b c d Jablonski, Edward (1998). Harold Arlen: Rhythm, Rainbows, and Blues. UPNE. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-55553-366-3. Google Book Search. Retrieved on March 20, 2010.
  3. ^ a b Wilder, Alec (1972). American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 26. ISBN 0-19-501445-6.
  4. ^ "'He's my musical companion': Lady Gaga salutes, duets with Tony Bennett 'One Last Time'".