The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given every year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to the songwriters who write the best original song specifically for a movie. Only songs that are "original and written specifically for the motion picture" can win.

The award category was first given at the 7th Academy Awards. That ceremony was for 1934 movies. Nominations are made by Academy members who are songwriters and composers. All Academy members vote for the winner.

List of winners and nominees

1930s
 1934: "The Continental" – The Gay Divorcee • Music: Con Conrad • Lyrics: Herb Magidson
 "Carioca" – Flying Down to Rio • Music: Vincent Youmans • Lyrics: Edward Eliscu and Gus Kahn
 "Love in Bloom" – She Loves Me Not • Music: Ralph Rainger • Lyrics: Leo Robin
 1935: "Lullaby of Broadway" – Gold Diggers of 1935 • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Al Dubin
 "Lovely to Look at" – Roberta • Music: Jerome Kern • Lyrics: Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh
 "Cheek to Cheek" – Top Hat • Music and lyrics: Irving Berlin
 1936: "The Way You Look Tonight" – Swing Time • Music: Jerome Kern • Lyrics: Dorothy Fields
 "I've Got You Under My Skin" – Born to Dance • Music and lyrics: Cole Porter
 "Pennies from Heaven" – Pennies from Heaven • Music: Arthur Johnston • Lyrics: Johnny Burke
 "When Did You Leave Heaven" – Sing, Baby, Sing • Music: Richard A. Whiting • Lyrics: Walter Bullock
 "Did I Remember" – Suzy • Music: Walter Donaldson • Lyrics: Harold Adamson
 "A Melody from the Sky" – The Trail of the Lonesome Pine • Music: Louis Alter • Lyrics: Sidney D. Mitchell
 1937: "Sweet Leilani" – Waikiki Wedding • Music and lyrics: Harry Owens
 "Whispers in the Dark" – Artists and Models • Music: Friedrich Hollaender • Lyrics: Leo Robin
 "Remember Me" – Mr. Dodd Takes the Air • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Al Dubin
 "They Can't Take That Away from Me" – Shall We Dance • Music: George Gershwin (posthumous nomination) • Lyrics: Ira Gershwin
 "That Old Feeling" – Vogues of 1938 • Music: Sammy Fain • Lyrics: Lew Brown
 1938: "Thanks for the Memory" – The Big Broadcast of 1938 • Music: Ralph Rainger • Lyrics: Leo Robin
 "Always and Always" – Mannequin • Music: Edward Ward • Lyrics: Chet Forrest and Bob Wright
 "Change Partners" – Carefree • Music and lyrics: Irving Berlin
 "The Cowboy and the Lady" – The Cowboy and the Lady • Music: Lionel Newman • Lyrics: Arthur Quenzer
 "Dust" – Under Western Stars • Music and lyrics: Johnny Marvin
 "Jeepers Creepers" – Going Places • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
 "Merrily We Live" – Merrily We Live • Music: Phil Craig • Lyrics: Arthur Quenzer
 "A Mist over the Moon" – The Lady Objects • Music: Ben Oakland • Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
 "My Own" – That Certain Age • Music: Jimmy McHugh • Lyrics: Harold Adamson
 "Now It Can Be Told" – Alexander's Ragtime Band • Music and lyrics: Irving Berlin
 1939: "Over the Rainbow" – The Wizard of Oz • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Yip Harburg
 "Faithful Forever" – Gulliver's Travels • Music: Ralph Rainger • Lyrics: Leo Robin
 "I Poured My Heart into a Song" – Second Fiddle • Music and Lyrics: Irving Berlin
 "Wishing" – Love Affair • Music and lyrics: Buddy DeSylva

1940s
 1940: "When You Wish Upon a Star" – Pinocchio • Music: Leigh Harline • Lyrics: Ned Washington
 "Down Argentine Way" – Down Argentine Way • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Mack Gordon
 "I'd Know You Anywhere" – You'll Find Out • Music: Jimmy McHugh • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
 "It's a Blue World" – Music in My Heart • Music and Lyrics: Chet Forrest and Bob Wright
 "Love of My Life" – Second Chorus • Music: Artie Shaw • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
 "Only Forever" – Rhythm on the River • Music: James V. Monaco • Lyrics: Johnny Burke
 "Our Love Affair" – Strike Up the Band • Music and Lyrics: Roger Edens and Georgie Stoll
 "Waltzing in the Clouds" – Spring Parade • Music: Robert Stolz • Lyrics: Gus Kahn
 "Who Am I?" – Hit Parade of 1941 • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Walter Bullock
 1941: "The Last Time I Saw Paris" – Lady Be Good • Music: Jerome Kern • Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
 "Baby Mine" – Dumbo • Music: Frank Churchill • Lyrics: Ned Washington
 "Be Honest With Me" – Ridin' on a Rainbow • Music and Lyrics: Gene Autry and Fred Rose
 "Blues in the Night" – Blues in the Night • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
 "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B" – Buck Privates • Music: Hugh Prince • Lyrics: Don Raye
 "Chattanooga Choo Choo" – Sun Valley Serenade • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Mack Gordon
 "Dolores" – Las Vegas Nights • Music: Louis Alter • Lyrics: Frank Loesser
 "Out of the Silence" – All-American Co-Ed • Music and Lyrics: Lloyd B. Norlin
 "Since I Kissed My Baby Goodbye" – You'll Never Get Rich • Music and Lyrics: Cole Porter
 1942: "White Christmas" – Holiday Inn • Music and Lyrics: Irving Berlin
 "Always in My Heart" – Always in My Heart • Music: Ernesto Lecuona • Lyrics: Kim Gannon
 "Dearly Beloved" – You Were Never Lovelier • Music: Jerome Kern • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
 "How About You?" – Babes on Broadway • Music: Burton Lane • Lyrics: Ralph Freed
 "I've Heard That Song Before" – Youth on Parade • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
 "(I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo" – Orchestra Wives • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Mack Gordon
 "Love Is a Song" – Bambi • Music: Frank Churchill (posthumous nomination) • Lyrics: Larry Morey
 "Pennies for Peppino" – Flying with Music • Music: Edward Ward • Lyrics: Chet Forrest and Bob Wright
 "Pig Foot Pete" – Hellzapoppin' • Music: Gene de Paul • Lyrics: Don Raye
 "There's a Breeze on Lake Louise" – The Mayor of 44th Street • Music: Harry Revel • Lyrics: Mort Greene
 1943: "You'll Never Know" – Hello, Frisco, Hello • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Mack Gordon
 "Change of Heart" – Hit Parade of 1943 • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Harold Adamson
 "Happiness is a Thing Called Joe" – Cabin in the Sky • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Yip Harburg
 "My Shining Hour" – The Sky's the Limit • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
 "Saludos Amigos" – Saludos Amigos • Music: Charles Wolcott • Lyrics: Ned Washington
 "Say a Prayer for the Boys Over There" – Hers to Hold • Music: Jimmy McHugh • Lyrics: Herb Magidson
 "That Old Black Magic" – Star Spangled Rhythm • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
 "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" – Thank Your Lucky Stars • Music: Arthur Schwartz • Lyrics: Frank Loesser
 "We Mustn't Say Good Bye" – Stage Door Canteen • Music: James V. Monaco • Lyrics: Al Dubin
 "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" – Something to Shout About • Music and Lyrics: Cole Porter
 1944: "Swinging on a Star" – Going My Way • Music: Jimmy Van Heusen • Lyrics: Johnny Burke
 "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night" – Higher and Higher • Music: Jimmy McHugh • Lyrics: Harold Adamson
 "I'll Walk Alone" – Follow the Boys • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
 "I'm Making Believe" – Sweet and Low-Down • Music: James V. Monaco • Lyrics: Mack Gordon
 "Long Ago (and Far Away)" – Cover Girl • Music: Jerome Kern • Lyrics: Ira Gershwin
 "Now I Know" – Up in Arms • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Ted Koehler
 "Remember Me to Carolina" – Minstrel Man • Music: Harry Revel • Lyrics: Paul Webster
 "Rio de Janeiro" – Brazil • Music: Ary Barroso • Lyrics: Ned Washington
 "Silver Shadows and Golden Dreams" – Lady, Let's Dance • Music: Lew Pollack • Lyrics: Charles Newman
 "Too Much in Love" – Song of the Open Road • Music: Walter Kent • Lyrics: Kim Gannon
 "The Trolley Song" – Meet Me in St. Louis • Music and Lyrics: Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin
 1945: "It Might as Well Be Spring" – State Fair • Music: Richard Rodgers • Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
 "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" – Here Come the Waves • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
 "Anywhere" – Tonight and Every Night • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
 "Aren't You Glad You're You?" – The Bells of St. Mary's • Music: James Van Heusen • Lyrics: Johnny Burke
 "The Cat and the Canary" – Why Girls Leave Home • Music: Jay Livingston • Lyrics: Ray Evans
 "Endlessly" – Earl Carroll Vanities • Music: Walter Kent • Lyrics: Kim Gannon
 "I Fall in Love Too Easily" – Anchors Aweigh • Music:Jule Styne • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
 "I'll Buy That Dream" – Sing Your Way Home • Music: Allie Wrubel • Lyrics: Herb Magidson
 "Linda" – The Story of G.I. Joe • Music and Lyrics: Ann Ronell
 "Love Letters" – Love Letters • Music: Victor Young • Lyrics: Edward Heyman
 "More and More" – Can't Help Singing • Music: Jerome Kern (posthumous nomination) • Lyrics: Yip Harburg
 "Sleighride in July" – Belle of the Yukon • Music: James Van Heusen • Lyrics:Johnny Burke
 "So in Love" – Wonder Man • Music: David Rose • Lyrics: Leo Robin
 "Some Sunday Morning" – San Antonio • Music: Ray Heindorf and M.K. Jerome • Lyrics: Ted Koehler
 1946: "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" – The Harvey Girls • Music: Harry Warren • Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
 "All Through the Day" – Centennial Summer • Music: Jerome Kern (posthumous nomination) • Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
 "I Can't Begin to Tell You" – The Dolly Sisters • Music: James V. Monaco (posthumous nomination) • Lyrics: Mack Gordon
 "Ole Buttermilk Sky" – Canyon Passage • Music: Hoagy Carmichael • Lyrics: Jack Brooks
 "You Keep Coming Back Like a Song" – Blue Skies • Music and Lyrics: Irving Berlin
 1947: "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" – Song of the South • Music: Allie Wrubel • Lyrics: Ray Gilbert
 "A Gal in Calico" – The Time, the Place and the Girl • Music: Arthur Schwartz • Lyrics: Leo Robin
 "I Wish I Didn't Love You So" – The Perils of Pauline • Music and Lyrics: Frank Loesser
 "Pass That Peace Pipe" – Good News • Music and Lyrics: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin and Roger Edens
 "You Do" – Mother Wore Tights • Music: Josef Myrow • Lyrics: Mack Gordon
 1948: "Buttons and Bows" – The Paleface • Music: Jay Livingston • Lyrics: Ray Evans
 "For Every Man There's a Woman" – Casbah • Music: Harold Arlen • Lyrics: Leo Robin
 "It's Magic" – Romance on the High Seas • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
 "This Is the Moment" – That Lady in Ermine • Music: Frederick Hollander • Lyrics: Leo Robin
 "The Woody Woodpecker Song" – Wet Blanket Policy • Music and Lyrics: Ramey Idriss and George Tibbles
 1949: "Baby, It's Cold Outside" – Neptune's Daughter • Music and Lyrics: Frank Loesser
 "It's a Great Feeling" – It's a Great Feeling • Music: Jule Styne • Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
 "Lavender Blue" – So Dear to My Heart • Music: Eliot Daniel • Lyrics: Larry Morey
 "My Foolish Heart" – My Foolish Heart • Music: Victor Young • Lyrics: Ned Washington
 "Through a Long and Sleepless Night" – Come to the Stable • Music: Alfred Newman • Lyrics: Mack Gordon

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

References

Original song
Music awards
Lists of songs
1934 establishments