# Skylark (song)

"Skylark" is an American popular song with lyrics by Johnny Mercer (1909-1976), and music by Hoagy Carmichael (1899-1981), published in 1941.

## Background

Carmichael wrote the melody, based on a Bix Beiderbecke cornet improvisation, as "Bix Licks", for a project to turn the novel Young Man With a Horn into a Broadway musical. After that project failed, Carmichael brought in Johnny Mercer to write lyrics for the song. Mercer said that he struggled for a year after he got the music from Carmichael before he could get the lyrics right. Mercer recalled that Carmichael initially called him several times about the lyrics but had forgotten about the song by the time Mercer finally wrote them. The yearning expressed in the lyrics was based on Mercer's longing for Judy Garland, with whom he had an affair.
Several artists recorded charting versions of the song in 1942, including the Glenn Miller Orchestra (vocal by Ray Eberle), Harry James and His Orchestra (vocal by Helen Forrest), Dinah Shore, and Bing Crosby. The Glenn Miller recording on RCA Bluebird peaked at no. 7 on the Billboard pop singles chart.
This song is considered a jazz standard. Additionally, it is believed to have inspired a long-running Buick car of the same name that was produced from 1953 to 1998.

## Cover versions

| Year | Performer(s) |
| 2002 | Beegie Adair – Centennial Composers Collection |
| 1961 | Tony Bennett – Tony Sings for Two |
| 1962 | Art Blakey with Freddie Hubbard – Caravan |
| 1956 | Hoagy Carmichael with Art Pepper – Hoagy Sings Carmichael |
| 2019 | Kate Ceberano and Paul Grabowsky – Tryst |
| 2001 | Bill Charlap – Stardust |
| 2016 | Kristin Chenoweth – The Art of Elegance |
| 1987 | Rosemary Clooney – Rosemary Clooney Sings the Lyrics of Johnny Mercer |
| 1966 | Sonny Criss "Skylark" This is Criss Prestige Records (21Oct1966) |
| 1942 | Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra. This also charted in 1942 reaching a peak position of No.14. |
| 1961 | Bobby Darin – Love Swings |
| 1974 | Paul Desmond – Skylark |
| 2016 | Bob Dylan – Fallen Angels |
| 1964 | Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book |
| 1960 | The Fleetwoods |
| 1963 | Aretha Franklin – Laughing on the Outside |
| 1949 | Erroll Garner |
| 1977 | Dexter Gordon – Biting the Apple |
| 2021 | Taylor Eigsti with Casey Abrams - Tree Falls |
| 2003 | Steve Hass – Traveler |
| 1942 | Earl Hines with Billy Eckstine |
| 2015 | Stevie Holland – Life Goes On |
| 2009 | Mark Isham and Kate Ceberano – Bittersweet |
| 1941 | Harry James with Helen Forrest. This reached No. 11 on the Billboard charts in 1942. |
| 1997 | k.d. lang – Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Soundtrack |
| 2003 | Abbey Lincoln – It's Me |
| 2011 | Chuck Loeb, featuring Lizzy Loeb, vocals – Plain 'n' Simple |
| 1981 | Susannah McCorkle – The Songs of Johnny Mercer |
| 1958 | Carmen McRae – Birds of a Feather |
| 1973 | Bette Midler – Bette Midler |
| 1942 | Glenn Miller and His Orchestra with vocals by Ray Eberle in 1942, rising to No. 7 on the charts. |
| 1962 | Matt Monro – Sings Hoagy Carmichael |
| 2004 | Marion Montgomery – Skylark |
| 1961 | David "Fathead" Newman – Straight Ahead |
| 1941 | Anita O'Day with the Gene Krupa Orchestra recorded the song on November 25, 1941. |
| 2010 | Gregory Porter – Water |
| 2010 | Sue Raney - Listen Here |
| 1996 | María Rivas – Muaré |
| 1984 | Linda Ronstadt with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra – Lush Life. Ronstadt's version was nominated for a Grammy Award. |
| 1977 | Jimmy Rowles and Stan Getz – The Peacocks |
| 1942 | Dinah Shore recorded February 10, 1942 for Bluebird This reached the No. 5 spot in the Billboard charts. |
| 1941 | Ginny Simms with the Edgar Fairchild Orchestra (18 December 1941). |
| 1950 | Mel Tormé with Pete Rugolo and His Orchestra |
| 1995 | Cassandra Wilson – New Moon Daughter |
| 2022 | Chano Domínguez and Antonio Lizana – Estándares (with Spanish lyrics adapted by the singer Antonio Lizana) |
| 2008 | Rachael Price - The Good Hours |