Moon River - wikipedia Moon River This article is about the song. For other uses, see Moon River ( disambiguation ). `` Moon River '' Single by Henry Mancini & Orchestra from the album Breakfast at Tiffany 's : Music from the Motion Picture Released 1961 ( 1961 ) Recorded 1960 Studio RCA Music Center of the World, Hollywood, California Genre Pop Length 2 : 41 Label RCA Victor Composer ( s ) Henry Mancini Lyricist ( s ) Johnny Mercer Producer ( s ) Dick Peirce, Joe Reisman Audio sample file help `` Moon River '' is a song composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It was originally performed by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany 's, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song also won the 1962 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The song has been covered by many other artists. It became the theme song for Andy Williams, who first recorded it in 1962 ( and performed it at the Academy Awards ceremony that year ). He sang the first eight bars of the song at the beginning of each episode of his eponymous television show and named his production company and venue in Branson, Missouri, after it ; his autobiography is called `` Moon River '' and Me. Williams ' version was never released as a single, but it charted as an LP track that he recorded for Columbia on a hit album of 1962, Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes. The song 's success was responsible for relaunching Mercer 's career as a songwriter, which had stalled in the mid-1950s because rock and roll had replaced jazz standards as the popular music of the time. The song 's popularity is such that it has been used as a test sample in a study on people 's memories of popular songs. Comments about the lyrics have noted that they are particularly reminiscent of Mercer 's youth in the Southern United States and his longing to expand his horizons. Robert Wright wrote in The Atlantic Monthly, `` This is a love sung to wanderlust. Or a romantic song in which the romantic partner is the idea of romance. '' An inlet near Savannah, Georgia, Johnny Mercer 's hometown, was named Moon River in honor of him and this song. Contents 1 Versions 1.1 Original 1.2 Recordings 2 See also 3 References 4 External links Versions Original Mercer and Mancini wrote the song for Audrey Hepburn to sing in the film Breakfast at Tiffany 's. The lyrics, written by Mercer, are reminiscent of his childhood in Savannah, Georgia, including its waterways. As a child, he had picked huckleberries in summer, and connected them with a carefree childhood and Mark Twain 's Huckleberry Finn. Although an instrumental version is played over the film 's opening titles, the lyrics are first heard in a scene where Paul `` Fred '' Varjak ( George Peppard ) discovers Holly Golightly ( Hepburn ) singing the song, and accompanying herself on the guitar, while sitting on the fire escape outside their apartments. There was an eruption of behind - the - scenes consternation when a Paramount Pictures executive, Martin Rackin, suggested removing the song from the film after a tepid Los Angeles preview. Hepburn 's reaction was described by Mancini and others in degrees varying from her saying, `` Over my dead body ! '' to her using more colorful language to make the same point. An album version was recorded by Mancini and his orchestra and chorus ( without Hepburn 's vocal ) on December 8, 1960. It was released as a single in 1961 and became a number 11 hit in December of that year. Due to unpublished charts in Billboard, Joel Whitburn 's Top Adult ( Contemporary ) Songs variously reported the song as a # 3 or # 1 easy listening hit. Mancini 's original version was also featured in the film Born on the Fourth of July ( 1989 ). In 1993, following Hepburn 's death, her version was released on an album titled Music from the Films of Audrey Hepburn. In 2004, Hepburn 's version finished at # 4 on AFI 's 100 Years... 100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema. Recordings `` Moon River '' was a hit single for Jerry Butler in late 1961 ; it reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December, two weeks before Mancini 's recording reached the same chart ranking. Danny Williams had a hit version of the song that reached number one in the UK in the final week of 1961. Although Andy Williams never released the song as a single, his LP Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes ( 1962 ), was certified gold in 1963 for selling one million units. The album reached number 3 on the Billboard Top 200, eventually selling more than two million copies by 1967. Cadence Records ' president Archie Bleyer disliked Williams ' version, believing that it had little or no appeal to teenagers. In 2002, a 74 - year - old Williams sang the song at the conclusion of the live NBC special telecast celebrating the network 's 75th anniversary. Hundreds of versions of the song have been recorded, and it has been featured in numerous media. Mercer recorded the song in 1974 for his album My Huckleberry Friend. In 2007, saxophonist Dave Koz recorded a version from his standards music album, At the Movies, sung by Barry Manilow. In 2013, Neil Finn and Paul Kelly performed the song on their Goin ' Your Way Tour, during which their performance at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall was recorded for the live album, Goin ' Your Way, released the same year. The title of the album comes from a phrase in the song 's chorus : `` Wherever you 're goin ', I 'm goin ' your way ''. Lawrence Welk 's 1961 instrumental version was featured in Mad Men season 6, episode 13, `` In Care Of '' ( 2013 ). A version of the song was featured in Asif Kapadia 's documentary film, Amy ( 2015 ), about Amy Winehouse. Winehouse 's version, sung at age 16 with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in 2000, is the opening song in the film. BuzzFeed selected 13 covers of the song to mark the death of Andy Williams, including those by Aretha Franklin, Louis Armstrong, Joey McIntyre, Patty Griffin, Elton John, Lisa Hannigan, Morrissey ( 1994 ), Clay Aiken on his 2010 album Tried and True, The Killers, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Westlife, Chevy Chase and R.E.M. Diffuser.fm named these the `` Top 5 Alt - Rock '' versions of the song, overlapping with BuzzFeed 's list : The Killers, Glasvegas, R.E.M., Morrissey and Josh Ritter. The Telegraph highlighted covers by Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Sarah Vaughan, Louis Armstrong, Sarah Brightman and Chevy Chase. Other stars who have covered the song include Rod Stewart in Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V ( 2010 ), which charted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, and Barbra Streisand in The Movie Album ( 2003 ), a Grammy - nominated gold album. See also `` Charade '' ( 1963 song ) The Sweetheart Tree `` Days of Wine and Roses '' ( song ) Moon River radio program List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1960s References ^ Jump up to : Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. p. 135. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. Jump up ^ `` Moon River by Henry Mancini ''. songfacts.com. ^ Jump up to : Cryer, Max. `` The story behind the song : Moon River '', The Telegraph, October 7, 2008, accessed January 6, 2016 ^ Jump up to : Thomas, Bob ; Salter, Jim ( September 26, 2012 ). `` ' Moon River ' Crooner Andy Williams Dies at Age 84 ''. Associated Press. Retrieved May 10, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Bartlett, James C., and Snelus, Paul ; Snelus, Paul ( September 1980 ). `` Lifespan Memory for Popular Songs ''. The American Journal of Psychology. University of Illinois Press. 93 ( 3 ) : 551 -- 560. doi : 10.2307 / 1422730. JSTOR 1422730. ^ Jump up to : Holden, Stephen ( March 30, 1997 ). `` In the Cool, Cool, Cool of Mercer 's Lyrics ''. The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2012. Jump up ^ Wright, Robert. `` Andy Williams 's Moon River -- Decoded and Vindicated at Last ! '', The Atlantic Monthly, September 27, 2012, accessed January 6, 2016 Jump up ^ Spoto, Donald ( 2007 ). Enchantment : The Life of Audrey Hepburn. Arrow Books. p. 159. ISBN 978 - 0 - 09 - 948704 - 3. Jump up ^ `` Henry Mancini -- Breakfast At Tiffany 's ( Music From The Motion Picture Score ) ''. Retrieved February 25, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Hot 100 for Week Ending December 31 ''. Billboard Music Week. 78 ( 51 ). December 25, 1961. Retrieved May 10, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Hot 100 for Week Ending December 17 ''. Billboard Music Week. 78 ( 49 ). December 11, 1961. Jump up ^ `` American certifications -- Moon River _ Other Great Movie Themes ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 24, 2011. Jump up ^ Clive Davis ( November 11, 1967 ). `` Columbia 's View : Market Potential ''. Billboard. p. 26. ISSN 0006 - 2510. ( Special Issue titled A Billboard Spotlight : Andy Williams ) Jump up ^ Boedeker, Hal ( May 7, 2002 ). `` TV Reviews ''. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 10, 2015. Jump up ^ Mercer, Johnny. My Huckleberry Friend, Pye NSPL18432 ( 1974 ) ASIN : B008K7RPIK Jump up ^ Soergel, Brian ( May 24, 2007 ). `` Dave Koz 's Secret Symphony Gig ''. SmoothVibes.com. Jump up ^ Ware, Elizabeth ( October 3, 2007 ). `` Dave Koz - At The Movies ''. SmoothViews.com. Jump up ^ Moon River at AllMusic Jump up ^ Shedden, Iain ( November 16, 2013 ). `` Goin ' Your Way ( Neil Finn and Paul Kelly ) ''. The Australian. News Corp Australia. Retrieved December 16, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Neil Finn / Paul Kelly Australian Tour -- Latest Dates ''. Neil Finn Official Website. January 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Watch Paul Kelly & Neil Finn Concert ''. Paul Kelly Official Website. March 20, 2013. Archived from the original on March 23, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013. Jump up ^ McArthur, Rachael ( November 11, 2013 ). `` Neil Finn and Paul Kelly -- Goin ' Your Way ''. Renowned for Sound ( Brendon Veevers, Robert Lee ). Retrieved December 18, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Season Finale Review : Mad Men : `` In Care Of '' ( Both Sides Now ) ``. Hitfix : What 's Alan Watching ?. June 2013. Jump up ^ Pattison, Michael. `` Weighing Up the Pros and Cons of the New Amy Winehouse Documentary '', Vice.com, July 1, 2015 Jump up ^ Testa, Jessica. `` 13 ' Moon River ' Covers, In Memory of Andy Williams '', BuzzFeed, September 26, 2012, accessed January 6, 2016 Jump up ^ Robinson, Joe. `` Andy Williams Tribute : Top 5 Alt - Rock Versions of ' Moon River ' '', Diffuser.fm, September 2012, accessed January 6, 2016 Jump up ^ Fly Me to the Moon : The Great American Songbook, Vol. 5, Allmusic.com, accessed January 8, 2015 Jump up ^ Santopietro, Tom. The Importance of Being Barbra, Macmillan ( 2007 ) ISBN 142990853X Jump up ^ `` Barbra Streisand '', RIAA, accessed January 8, 2016 External links `` Lyrics to `` Moon River '' from Breakfast at Tiffany 's ``. 1961 Paramount Music Corporation, ASCAP. Reel Classics. Janovitz, Bill. `` Moon River - Henry Mancini, Henry Mancini & His Orchestra : Song Review ''. AllMusic. Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Academy Award for Best Original Song 1934 -- 1940 `` The Continental '' Music : Con Conrad Lyrics : Herb Magidson ( 1934 ) `` Lullaby of Broadway '' Music : Harry Warren Lyrics : Al Dubin ( 1935 ) `` The Way You Look Tonight '' Music : Jerome Kern Lyrics : Dorothy Fields ( 1936 ) `` Sweet Leilani '' Music and lyrics : Harry Owens ( 1937 ) `` Thanks for the Memory '' Music : Ralph Rainger Lyrics : Leo Robin ( 1938 ) `` Over the Rainbow '' Music : Harold Arlen Lyrics : E.Y. Harburg ( 1939 ) `` When You Wish Upon a Star '' Music : Leigh Harline Lyrics : Ned Washington ( 1940 ) 1941 -- 1950 `` The Last Time I Saw Paris '' Music : Jerome Kern Lyrics : Oscar Hammerstein II ( 1941 ) `` White Christmas '' Music and lyrics : Irving Berlin ( 1942 ) `` You 'll Never Know '' Music : Harry Warren Lyrics : Mack Gordon ( 1943 ) `` Swinging on a Star '' Music : Jimmy Van Heusen Lyrics : Johnny Burke ( 1944 ) `` It Might as Well Be Spring '' Music : Richard Rodgers Lyrics : Oscar Hammerstein II ( 1945 ) `` On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe '' Music : Harry Warren Lyrics : Johnny Mercer ( 1946 ) `` Zip - a-Dee - Doo - Dah '' Music : Allie Wrubel Lyrics : Ray Gilbert ( 1947 ) `` Buttons and Bows '' Music : Jay Livingston Lyrics : Ray Evans ( 1948 ) `` Baby, It 's Cold Outside '' Music and lyrics : Frank Loesser ( 1949 ) `` Mona Lisa '' Music and lyrics : Ray Evans and Jay Livingston ( 1950 ) 1951 -- 1960 `` In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening '' Music : Hoagy Carmichael Lyrics : Johnny Mercer ( 1951 ) `` High Noon ( Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin ' ) '' Music : Dimitri Tiomkin Lyrics : Ned Washington ( 1952 ) `` Secret Love '' Music : Sammy Fain Lyrics : Paul Francis Webster ( 1953 ) `` Three Coins in the Fountain '' Music : Jule Styne Lyrics : Sammy Cahn ( 1954 ) `` Love Is a Many Splendored Thing '' Music : Sammy Fain Lyrics : Paul Francis Webster ( 1955 ) `` Que Sera, Sera ( Whatever Will Be, Will Be ) '' Music and lyrics : Jay Livingston and Ray Evans ( 1956 ) `` All the Way '' Music : Jimmy Van Heusen Lyrics : Sammy Cahn ( 1957 ) `` Gigi '' Music : Frederick Loewe Lyrics : Alan Jay Lerner ( 1958 ) `` High Hopes '' Music : Jimmy Van Heusen Lyrics : Sammy Cahn ( 1959 ) `` Never on Sunday '' Music and lyrics : Manos Hatzidakis ( 1960 ) 1961 -- 1970 `` Moon River '' Music : Henry Mancini Lyrics : Johnny Mercer ( 1961 ) `` Days of Wine and Roses '' Music : Henry Mancini Lyrics : Johnny Mercer ( 1962 ) `` Call Me Irresponsible '' Music : Jimmy Van Heusen Lyrics : Sammy Cahn ( 1963 ) `` Chim Chim Cher - ee '' Music and lyrics : Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman ( 1964 ) `` The Shadow of Your Smile '' Music : Johnny Mandel Lyrics : Paul Francis Webster ( 1965 ) `` Born Free '' Music : John Barry Lyrics : Don Black ( 1966 ) `` Talk to the Animals '' Music and lyrics : Leslie Bricusse ( 1967 ) `` The Windmills of Your Mind '' Music : Michel Legrand Lyrics : Alan and Marilyn Bergman ( 1968 ) `` Raindrops Keep Fallin ' on My Head '' Music : Burt Bacharach Lyrics : Hal David ( 1969 ) `` For All We Know '' Music : Fred Karlin Lyrics : Robb Royer and Jimmy Griffin ( 1970 ) 1971 -- 1980 `` Theme from Shaft '' Music and lyrics : Isaac Hayes ( 1971 ) `` The Morning After '' Music and lyrics : Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn ( 1972 ) `` The Way We Were '' Music : Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics : Alan and Marilyn Bergman ( 1973 ) `` We May Never Love Like This Again '' Music and lyrics : Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn ( 1974 ) `` I 'm Easy '' Music and lyrics : Keith Carradine ( 1975 ) `` Evergreen ( Love Theme from A Star Is Born ) '' Music : Barbra Streisand Lyrics : Paul Williams ( 1976 ) `` You Light Up My Life '' Music and lyrics : Joseph Brooks ( 1977 ) `` Last Dance '' Music and lyrics : Paul Jabara ( 1978 ) `` It Goes Like It Goes '' Music : David Shire Lyrics : Norman Gimbel ( 1979 ) `` Fame '' Music : Michael Gore Lyrics : Dean Pitchford ( 1980 ) 1981 -- 1990 `` Arthur 's Theme ( Best That You Can Do ) '' Music and lyrics : Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Christopher Cross and Peter Allen ( 1981 ) `` Up Where We Belong '' Music : Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte - Marie Lyrics : Will Jennings ( 1982 ) `` Flashdance... What a Feeling '' Music : Giorgio Moroder Lyrics : Keith Forsey and Irene Cara ( 1983 ) `` I Just Called to Say I Love You '' Music and lyrics : Stevie Wonder ( 1984 ) `` Say You, Say Me '' Music and lyrics : Lionel Richie ( 1985 ) `` Take My Breath Away '' Music : Giorgio Moroder Lyrics : Tom Whitlock ( 1986 ) `` ( I 've Had ) The Time of My Life '' Music : Franke Previte, John DeNicola and Donald Markowitz Lyrics : Franke Previte ( 1987 ) `` Let the River Run '' Music and lyrics : Carly Simon ( 1988 ) `` Under the Sea '' Music : Alan Menken Lyrics : Howard Ashman ( 1989 ) `` Sooner or Later ( I Always Get My Man ) '' Music and lyrics : Stephen Sondheim ( 1990 ) 1991 -- 2000 `` Beauty and the Beast '' Music : Alan Menken Lyrics : Howard Ashman ( 1991 ) `` A Whole New World '' Music : Alan Menken Lyrics : Tim Rice ( 1992 ) `` Streets of Philadelphia '' Music and lyrics : Bruce Springsteen ( 1993 ) `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' Music : Elton John Lyrics : Tim Rice ( 1994 ) `` Colors of the Wind '' Music : Alan Menken Lyrics : Stephen Schwartz ( 1995 ) `` You Must Love Me '' Music : Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics : Tim Rice ( 1996 ) `` My Heart Will Go On '' Music : James Horner Lyrics : Will Jennings ( 1997 ) `` When You Believe '' Music and lyrics : Stephen Schwartz ( 1998 ) `` You 'll Be in My Heart '' Music and lyrics : Phil Collins ( 1999 ) `` Things Have Changed '' Music and lyrics : Bob Dylan ( 2000 ) 2001 -- 2010 `` If I Did n't Have You '' Music and lyrics : Randy Newman ( 2001 ) `` Lose Yourself '' Music : Eminem, Jeff Bass and Luis Resto Lyrics : Eminem ( 2002 ) `` Into the West '' Music and lyrics : Fran Walsh, Howard Shore and Annie Lennox ( 2003 ) `` Al otro lado del río '' Music and lyrics : Jorge Drexler ( 2004 ) `` It 's Hard out Here for a Pimp '' Music and lyrics : Juicy J, Frayser Boy and DJ Paul ( 2005 ) `` I Need to Wake Up '' Music and lyrics : Melissa Etheridge ( 2006 ) `` Falling Slowly '' Music and lyrics : Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová ( 2007 ) `` Jai Ho '' Music : A.R. Rahman Lyrics : Gulzar ( 2008 ) `` The Weary Kind '' Music and lyrics : Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett ( 2009 ) `` We Belong Together '' Music and lyrics : Randy Newman ( 2010 ) 2011 -- present `` Man or Muppet '' Music and lyrics : Bret McKenzie ( 2011 ) `` Skyfall '' Music and lyrics : Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth ( 2012 ) `` Let It Go '' Music and lyrics : Kristen Anderson - Lopez and Robert Lopez ( 2013 ) `` Glory '' Music and lyrics : John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn ( 2014 ) `` Writing 's on the Wall '' Music and lyrics : James Napier and Sam Smith ( 2015 ) `` City of Stars '' Music : Justin Hurwitz Lyrics : Benj Pasek and Justin Paul ( 2016 ) `` Remember Me '' Music and lyrics : Kristen Anderson - Lopez and Robert Lopez ( 2017 ) Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1959 − 1980 `` Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu ( Volare ) '' by Domenico Modugno ( 1959 ) `` Mack the Knife '' by Bobby Darin ( 1960 ) `` Theme from A Summer Place '' by Percy Faith ( 1961 ) `` Moon River '' by Henry Mancini ( 1962 ) `` I Left My Heart in San Francisco '' by Tony Bennett ( 1963 ) `` Days of Wine and Roses '' by Henry Mancini ( 1964 ) `` The Girl from Ipanema '' by Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz ( 1965 ) `` A Taste of Honey '' by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass ( 1966 ) `` Strangers in the Night '' by Frank Sinatra ( 1967 ) `` Up, Up and Away '' by The 5th Dimension ( Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamont McLemore, Ron Townson ) ( 1968 ) `` Mrs. Robinson '' by Simon & Garfunkel ( Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon ) ( 1969 ) `` Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In '' by The 5th Dimension ( Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamont McLemore, Ron Townson ) ( 1970 ) `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' by Simon & Garfunkel ( Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon ) ( 1971 ) `` It 's Too Late '' by Carole King ( 1972 ) `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' by Roberta Flack ( 1973 ) `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' by Roberta Flack ( 1974 ) `` I Honestly Love You '' by Olivia Newton - John ( 1975 ) `` Love Will Keep Us Together '' by Captain & Tennille ( Daryl Dragon, Toni Tennille ) ( 1976 ) `` This Masquerade '' by George Benson ( 1977 ) `` Hotel California '' by Eagles ( Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, Joe Walsh ) ( 1978 ) `` Just the Way You Are '' by Billy Joel ( 1979 ) `` What a Fool Believes '' by The Doobie Brothers ( Jeffrey Baxter, John Hartman, Keith Knudsen, Michael McDonald, Tiran Porter, Patrick Simmons ) ( 1980 ) 1981 − 2000 `` Sailing '' by Christopher Cross ( 1981 ) `` Bette Davis Eyes '' by Kim Carnes ( 1982 ) `` Rosanna '' by Toto ( Bobby Kimball, Steve Lukather, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, David Hungate, Steve Porcaro ) ( 1983 ) `` Beat It '' by Michael Jackson ( 1984 ) `` What 's Love Got to Do with It '' by Tina Turner ( 1985 ) `` We Are the World '' by USA for Africa ( 1986 ) `` Higher Love '' by Steve Winwood ( 1987 ) `` Graceland '' by Paul Simon ( 1988 ) `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' by Bobby McFerrin ( 1989 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' by Bette Midler ( 1990 ) `` Another Day in Paradise '' by Phil Collins ( 1991 ) `` Unforgettable '' by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole ( 1992 ) `` Tears in Heaven '' by Eric Clapton ( 1993 ) `` I Will Always Love You '' by Whitney Houston ( 1994 ) `` All I Wanna Do '' by Sheryl Crow ( 1995 ) `` Kiss from a Rose '' by Seal ( 1996 ) `` Change the World '' by Eric Clapton ( 1997 ) `` Sunny Came Home '' by Shawn Colvin ( 1998 ) `` My Heart Will Go On '' by Celine Dion ( 1999 ) `` Smooth '' by Santana ( Rodney Holmes, Tony Lindsay, Karl Perazzo, Raul Rekow, Benny Rietveld, Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson ) featuring Rob Thomas ( 2000 ) 2001 − present `` Beautiful Day '' by U2 ( Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. ) ( 2001 ) `` Walk On '' by U2 ( Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. ) ( 2002 ) `` Do n't Know Why '' by Norah Jones ( 2003 ) `` Clocks '' by Coldplay ( Guy Berryman, Jon Buckland, Will Champion, Phil Harvey, Chris Martin ) ( 2004 ) `` Here We Go Again '' by Ray Charles and Norah Jones ( 2005 ) `` Boulevard of Broken Dreams '' by Green Day ( Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Frank Edwin Wright III ) ( 2006 ) `` Not Ready to Make Nice '' by Dixie Chicks ( Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison ) ( 2007 ) `` Rehab '' by Amy Winehouse ( 2008 ) `` Please Read the Letter '' by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant ( 2009 ) `` Use Somebody '' by Kings of Leon ( Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill, Nathan Followill ) ( 2010 ) `` Need You Now '' by Lady Antebellum ( Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood ) ( 2011 ) `` Rolling in the Deep '' by Adele ( 2012 ) `` Somebody That I Used to Know '' by Gotye featuring Kimbra ( 2013 ) `` Get Lucky '' by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers ( 2014 ) `` Stay with Me '' ( Darkchild version ) by Sam Smith ( 2015 ) `` Uptown Funk '' by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars ( 2016 ) `` Hello '' by Adele ( 2017 ) `` 24K Magic '' by Bruno Mars ( 2018 ) Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1959 − 1980 `` Volare '' -- Domenico Modugno ( songwriter ) ( 1959 ) `` The Battle of New Orleans '' -- Jimmy Driftwood ( songwriter ) ( 1960 ) `` Theme from Exodus '' -- Ernest Gold ( songwriter ) ( 1961 ) `` Moon River '' -- Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini ( songwriters ) ( 1962 ) `` What Kind of Fool Am I ? '' -- Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley ( songwriters ) ( 1963 ) `` Days of Wine and Roses '' -- Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini ( songwriters ) ( 1964 ) `` Hello, Dolly ! '' -- Jerry Herman ( songwriter ) ( 1965 ) `` The Shadow of Your Smile '' -- Paul Francis Webster & Johnny Mandel ( songwriters ) ( 1966 ) `` Michelle '' -- John Lennon & Paul McCartney ( songwriters ) ( 1967 ) `` Up, Up, and Away '' -- Jimmy Webb ( songwriter ) ( 1968 ) `` Little Green Apples '' -- Bobby Russell ( songwriter ) ( 1969 ) `` Games People Play '' -- Joe South ( songwriter ) ( 1970 ) `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' -- Paul Simon ( songwriter ) ( 1971 ) `` You 've Got a Friend '' -- Carole King ( songwriter ) ( 1972 ) `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' -- Ewan MacColl ( songwriter ) ( 1973 ) `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' -- Norman Gimbel & Charles Fox ( songwriters ) ( 1974 ) `` The Way We Were '' -- Alan and Marilyn Bergman & Marvin Hamlisch ( songwriters ) ( 1975 ) `` Send In the Clowns '' -- Stephen Sondheim ( songwriter ) ( 1976 ) `` I Write the Songs '' -- Bruce Johnston ( songwriter ) ( 1977 ) `` Evergreen ( Love Theme from A Star Is Born ) '' -- Barbra Streisand & Paul Williams ( songwriters ) / `` You Light Up My Life '' -- Joe Brooks ( songwriter ) ( 1978 ) `` Just the Way You Are '' -- Billy Joel ( songwriter ) ( 1979 ) `` What a Fool Believes '' -- Kenny Loggins & Michael McDonald ( songwriters ) ( 1980 ) 1981 − 2000 `` Sailing '' -- Christopher Cross ( songwriter ) ( 1981 ) `` Bette Davis Eyes '' -- Donna Weiss & Jackie DeShannon ( songwriters ) ( 1982 ) `` Always on My Mind '' -- Johnny Christopher, Mark James & Wayne Carson ( songwriters ) ( 1983 ) `` Every Breath You Take '' -- Sting ( songwriter ) ( 1984 ) `` What 's Love Got to Do with It '' -- Graham Lyle & Terry Britten ( songwriters ) ( 1985 ) `` We Are the World '' -- Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie ( songwriters ) ( 1986 ) `` That 's What Friends Are For '' -- Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager ( songwriters ) ( 1987 ) `` Somewhere Out There '' -- James Horner, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil ( songwriters ) ( 1988 ) `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' -- Bobby McFerrin ( songwriter ) ( 1989 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' -- Larry Henley & Jeff Silbar ( songwriters ) ( 1990 ) `` From a Distance '' -- Julie Gold ( songwriter ) ( 1991 ) `` Unforgettable '' -- Irving Gordon ( songwriter ) ( 1992 ) `` Tears in Heaven '' -- Eric Clapton & Will Jennings ( songwriters ) ( 1993 ) `` A Whole New World '' -- Alan Menken & Tim Rice ( songwriters ) ( 1994 ) `` Streets of Philadelphia '' -- Bruce Springsteen ( songwriter ) ( 1995 ) `` Kiss from a Rose '' -- Seal ( songwriter ) ( 1996 ) `` Change the World '' -- Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick & Tommy Sims ( songwriters ) ( 1997 ) `` Sunny Came Home '' -- Shawn Colvin & John Leventhal ( songwriters ) ( 1998 ) `` My Heart Will Go On '' -- James Horner & Will Jennings ( songwriters ) ( 1999 ) `` Smooth '' -- Itaal Shur & Rob Thomas ( songwriters ) ( 2000 ) 2001 − present `` Beautiful Day '' -- Adam Clayton, David Evans, Laurence Mullen & Paul Hewson ( songwriters ) ( 2001 ) `` Fallin ' '' -- Alicia Keys ( songwriter ) ( 2002 ) `` Do n't Know Why '' -- Jesse Harris ( songwriter ) ( 2003 ) `` Dance with My Father '' -- Richard Marx & Luther Vandross ( songwriters ) ( 2004 ) `` Daughters '' -- John Mayer ( songwriter ) ( 2005 ) `` Sometimes You Ca n't Make It on Your Own '' -- Adam Clayton, David Evans, Laurence Mullen & Paul Hewson ( songwriters ) ( 2006 ) `` Not Ready to Make Nice '' -- Emily Burns Erwin, Martha Maguire, Natalie Maines Pasdar & Dan Wilson ( songwriters ) ( 2007 ) `` Rehab '' -- Amy Winehouse ( songwriter ) ( 2008 ) `` Viva la Vida '' -- Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion & Christopher Martin ( songwriters ) ( 2009 ) `` Single Ladies ( Put a Ring on It ) '' -- Thaddis `` Kuk '' Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart ( songwriters ) ( 2010 ) `` Need You Now '' -- Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott ( songwriters ) ( 2011 ) `` Rolling in the Deep '' -- Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth ( songwriters ) ( 2012 ) `` We Are Young '' -- Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess ( songwriters ) ( 2013 ) `` Royals '' -- Joel Little & Ella Yelich O'Connor ( songwriters ) ( 2014 ) `` Stay with Me '' ( Darkchild version ) -- James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith ( songwriters ) ( 2015 ) `` Thinking Out Loud '' -- Ed Sheeran & Amy Wadge ( songwriters ) ( 2016 ) `` Hello '' -- Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin ( songwriters ) ( 2017 ) `` That 's What I Like '' -- Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip ( songwriters ) ( 2018 ) UK Christmas number - one singles in the 1960s `` I Love You '' ( Cliff Richard & The Shadows, 1960 ) `` Moon River '' ( Danny Williams, 1961 ) `` Return to Sender '' ( Elvis Presley, 1962 ) `` I Want to Hold Your Hand '' ( The Beatles, 1963 ) `` I Feel Fine '' ( The Beatles, 1964 ) `` Day Tripper '' / `` We Can Work It Out '' ( The Beatles, 1965 ) `` Green, Green Grass of Home '' ( Tom Jones, 1966 ) `` Hello, Goodbye '' ( The Beatles, 1967 ) `` Lily the Pink '' ( The Scaffold, 1968 ) `` Two Little Boys '' ( Rolf Harris, 1969 ) Complete list 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s Truman Capote 's Breakfast at Tiffany 's Adaptations House of Flowers ( 1954 musical ) Breakfast at Tiffany 's ( 1961 film ) Breakfast at Tiffany 's ( 1966 musical ) Breakfast at Tiffany 's ( 2013 play ) Music `` Moon River '' Breakfast at Tiffany 's : Music from the Motion Picture ( 1961 soundtrack ) Jazz for `` Breakfast at Tiffany 's '' ( 1961 album ) `` Breakfast at Tiffany 's '' ( 1995 song ) Other Black Givenchy dress of Audrey Hepburn Perry Como Albums Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music ( 1946 ) So Smooth ( 1955 ) We Get Letters ( 1956 ) Saturday Night with Mr. C ( 1958 ) When You Come to the End of the Day ( 1958 ) Como Swings ( 1959 ) Season 's Greetings from Perry Como ( 1959 ) For the Young at Heart ( 1960 ) Sing to Me Mr. C ( 1961 ) By Request ( 1962 ) The Best of Irving Berlin 's Songs from Mr. President ( 1962 ) The Songs I Love ( 1963 ) The Scene Changes ( 1965 ) Lightly Latin ( 1966 ) Perry Como in Italy ( 1966 ) The Perry Como Christmas Album ( 1968 ) Look to Your Heart ( 1968 ) Seattle ( 1969 ) Perry Como in Person at the International Hotel, Las Vegas ( 1970 ) It 's Impossible ( 1970 ) I Think of You ( 1971 ) And I Love You So ( 1973 ) Perry ( 1974 ) Just Out of Reach ( 1975 ) 40 Greatest Hits ( 1975 ) The Best of British ( UK and Canada ) ( 1977 ) Where You 're Concerned ( US ) ( 1978 ) Perry Como ( 1980 ) Perry Como Live on Tour ( 1981 ) So It Goes / Goodbye for Now ( 1983 ) Today ( 1987 ) Perry Como 's Christmas Concert ( 1994 ) On the Radio -- The Perry Como Shows 1943 ( 2009 ) At the Supper Club ( 2010 ) At the Supper Club Part II ( 2011 ) At the Supper Club Part III ( 2011 ) Songs `` ' A ' You 're Adorable '' `` Ac - Cent - Tchu - Ate the Positive '' `` And I Love You So '' `` As Time Goes By '' `` Bali Ha'i '' `` Because '' `` Beyond Tomorrow '' `` Bibbidi - Bobbidi - Boo '' `` Blue Room '' `` A Bushel and a Peck '' `` Ca n't Help Falling in Love '' `` Catch a Falling Star '' `` Chi - Baba, Chi - Baba ( My Bambino Go to Sleep ) '' `` Confessin ' '' `` Days of Wine and Roses '' `` Deep in the Heart of Texas '' `` Delaware '' `` Do n't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes '' `` Dream Along with Me ( I 'm on My Way to a Star ) '' `` A Dreamer 's Holiday '' `` El Cóndor Pasa '' `` Feelings '' `` Fly Me to the Moon '' `` For the Good Times '' `` Forever and Ever '' `` Forget Domani '' `` Give Me Your Hand '' `` Glendora '' `` The Gypsy in My Soul '' `` Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas '' `` He 's Got the Whole World in His Hands '' `` Hello, Young Lovers '' `` Here, There and Everywhere '' `` Home for the Holidays '' `` Hot Diggity ( Dog Ziggity Boom ) '' `` A House Is Not a Home '' `` I Do n't See Me in Your Eyes Anymore '' `` I Dream of You ( More Than You Dream I Do ) '' `` I Think I Love You '' `` I 'll Be Home for Christmas '' `` If ( They Made Me a King ) '' `` It 's Been a Long, Long Time '' `` It 's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas '' `` Kewpie Doll '' `` The Lord 's Prayer '' `` Magic Moments '' `` Mandolins in the Moonlight '' `` Maria '' `` Moon River '' `` More '' `` No Other Love '' `` Papa Loves Mambo '' `` Please Mr. Sun '' `` Prisoner of Love '' `` Round and Round '' `` Santa Claus Is Coming to Town '' `` Say You 're Mine Again '' `` Seattle '' `` The Shadow of Your Smile '' `` Some Enchanted Evening '' `` Somos Novios ( It 's Impossible ) '' `` The Songs I Love '' `` Stop ! And Think It Over '' `` Surrender '' `` Till the End of Time '' `` Unchained Melody '' `` Wanted '' `` The Way You Look Tonight '' `` What 'll I Do '' `` When You and I Were Young, Maggie '' `` Young at Heart '' Related Perry Como discography Perry Como television and radio shows Beat the Band The Chesterfield Supper Club List of songs recorded by Perry Como Goodman Ace Mitchell Ayres Ray Charles Frank Gallop Nick Perito Henry Mancini Albums The Blues and the Beat ( 1960 ) A Merry Mancini Christmas ( 1966 ) Soundtrack albums The Music from Peter Gunn ( 1959 ) Breakfast at Tiffany 's : Music from the Motion Picture ( 1961 ) Collaboration albums In the Pink ( 1984 ) Songs `` Moon River '' `` The Pink Panther Theme '' `` Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet '' `` All His Children '' Related Henry Mancini : Pink Guitar Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moon_River&oldid=865263833 '' Categories : Christmas number - one singles in the United Kingdom 1960s ballads 1961 singles 1961 songs 1960s jazz standards Pop ballads Songs about rivers Songs written for films Works about the Moon Songs with lyrics by Johnny Mercer Songs with music by Henry Mancini Andy Williams songs Jerry Butler songs Aretha Franklin songs Louis Armstrong songs Perry Como songs Judy Garland songs R.E.M. songs Frank Sinatra songs The Killers songs Rod Stewart songs Barbra Streisand songs Westlife songs Best Original Song Academy Award - winning songs Grammy Award for Record of the Year Grammy Award for Song of the Year Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients UK Singles Chart number - one singles Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from March 2016 Articles with hAudio microformats Talk More Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Deutsch Español Euskara فارسی Français 한국어 Hrvatski Italiano עברית Magyar 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Português Русский Simple English Suomi Svenska ไทย Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 15 more Edit links This page was last edited on 22 October 2018, at 20 : 11 ( UTC ). 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Question: who sang the original version of moon river
Answer: Audrey Hepburn