The Melody Lingers On: All The Things You Are
Read what Tony Thornton has to say about a classic song - and very soon you begin to hum the tune. Then, long before you reach the last sentence, and provided there's no-one around to eavesdrop, you will probably burst into song. This week Tony tells us about what he considers to be the greatest popular song ever written. Many will agree with him, including the Editor of Open Writing.
On 17 November 1939, a show called Very Warm For May opened at the Alvin Theatre in New York City. It was a flop and ran for only 59 performances. The only thing that persuaded people to see the show was the score by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein.
No one realised it at the time, but tucked away among the songs was (for many, including me) the greatest popular song ever written - All The Things You Are.
Listeners are attracted to a song because it’s ‘catchy’ or because ‘there’s something about it’ - they like it without knowing why. When musicians listen, they know what that ‘something’ is - it’s the way the song is constructed.
But with All The Things You Are, even they were baffled and when they saw the sheet music for the first time they were astounded. No other song has so many hidden key changes that merge flawlessly. To play it is to receive one shock after another and the mind is boggled when you get to the end.
It’s written in Ab and starts by effortlessly tracing a delightful route from Fm to C. The switch to Cm via Eb, Ab and D7 takes you to G. A daring leap to F#m to B7 goes to E. Then an unbelievable C7 introduces the original Fm modulation that eventually arrives back at Ab. Only Jerome Kern could have produced such a dazzling work.
The marvelous harmonics made it a jazz standard. Despite its complexity, musicians hastily added it to their repertoire and remembered it like a French irregular verb. If you ask any composer: which song do you wish you had written or which song do you most admire, you will get only one answer. The song was Kern’s last masterpiece for Broadway. 15 years after his death it was still selling 1,000 music copies a month.
There once was a time when you could visit a lounge bar and listen to a background piano player - who might (if brave enough) ask for requests. If you’re ever in this situation, ask for All The Things You Are. The piano player will either turn a ghastly shade and mumble something about ‘not having the music’ or will beam you a knowing smile and give you a brilliant rendition.
The words were written by Oscar Hammerstein who agonized over the word ‘divine’ at the end of the second last line. He thought it was clichéd and strived for weeks to find another word. He couldn’t and cringed every time he heard the song. The rest of the words are so full of magic that he needn’t have worried.
Just listen to it. Even if you don’t know where it’s going, if you just listen, it will be a journey you will take again… and again…
More from Jerome Kern next time.
All The Things You Are
You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long.
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song.
You are the angel glow that lights a star,
The dearest things I know are what you are.
Some day my happy arms will hold you,
And some day I’ll know that moment divine,
When all the things you are, are mine!
