"Always" is a popular song written by

Irving Berlin Irving Berlin (born Israel Beilin; yi, ישראל ביילין; May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-American composer, songwriter and lyricist. His music forms a large part of the Great American Songbook. Born in Imperial Russi ...

in 1925, as a wedding gift for his wife

Ellin Mackay Ellin Berlin (née Mackay, 22 March 1903 – 29 July 1988) was an American author. She was the wife of Irving Berlin and the daughter of Clarence Mackay and Katherine Duer Mackay. She met Irving Berlin in 1924, and her father opposed marriage from ...

, whom he married in 1926, and to whom he presented the substantial

royalties A royalty payment is a payment made by one party to another that owns a particular asset, for the right to ongoing use of that asset. Royalties are typically agreed upon as a percentage of gross or net revenues derived from the use of an asset o ...

. Although legend (and

Groucho Marx Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (; October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977) was an American comedian, actor, writer, stage, film, radio, singer, television star and vaudeville performer. He is generally considered to have been a master of quick wit an ...

) claims Berlin wrote the song "Always" for ''

The Cocoanuts ''The Cocoanuts'' is a 1929 pre-Code musical comedy film starring the Marx Brothers (Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, and Zeppo Marx in his first starring role). Produced for Paramount Pictures by Walter Wanger, who is not credited, the fil ...

'', he never meant for the song to be included in that musical, and it was not. Thematically, it serves as a sequel to Berlin's earlier song "

When I Lost You "When I Lost You" is a song with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. It was written in 1912 after his wife of five months, the former Dorothy Goetz, died of typhoid fever. In it he poured out the grief of his loss; it was the only song that he e ...

," which pertained to the death of his first wife Dorothy. The song entered into the public domain on January 1, 2021. The song is an important plot element in

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...

's play '' Blithe Spirit''. It also features in the 1944 film ''

Christmas Holiday ''Christmas Holiday'' is a 1944 American film noir crime film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly. Based on the 1939 novel of the same name by W. Somerset Maugham, the film is about a woman who marries a South ...

'', in which it is sung by

Deanna Durbin Edna Mae Durbin (December 4, 1921 – April 17, 2013), known professionally as Deanna Durbin, was a Canadian-born actress and singer, who moved to the USA with her family in infancy. She appeared in musical films in the 1930s and 1940s. With t ...

Lyrics

Everything went wrong, And the whole day long I'd feel so blue. For the longest while I'd forget to smile, Then I met you. Now that my blue days have passed, Now that I've found you at last - I'll be loving you Always With a love that's true Always. When the things you've planned Need a helping hand, I will understand Always. Always. Days may not be fair Always, That's when I'll be there Always. Not for just an hour, Not for just a day, Not for just a year, But Always. I'll be loving you, oh Always With a love that's true Always. When the things you've planned Need a helping hand, I will understand Always. Always. Days may not be fair Always, That's when I'll be there Always. Not for just an hour, Not for just a day, Not for just a year, But Always. Not for just an hour, Not for just a day, Not for just a year, But Always.

References

{{Authority control 1925 songs Songs written by Irving Berlin Pop standards