"Look for the Silver Lining" is a 1919

popular Popularity or social status is the quality of being well liked, admired or well known to a particular group. Popular may also refer to: In sociology * Popular culture * Popular fiction * Popular music * Popular science * Populace, the total ...

song with music by

Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in ove ...

and lyrics by B.G. DeSylva.

Background

The song was written in

1919 Events January * January 1 ** The Czechoslovak Legions occupy much of the self-proclaimed "free city" of Pressburg (now Bratislava), enforcing its incorporation into the new republic of Czechoslovakia. ** HMY ''Iolaire'' sinks off the ...

for the unsuccessful musical ''Zip, Goes a Million''. In 1920, it was publishedSuskin, Steven. ''Show Tunes: The Songs, Shows, and Careers of Broadway's Major Composers''. Oxford University Press: 2000. and reused in the musical ''Sally'' whence it was popularized by

Marilyn Miller Marilyn Miller (born Mary Ellen Reynolds; September 1, 1898 – April 7, 1936) was one of the most popular Broadway musical stars of the 1920s and early 1930s. She was an accomplished tap dancer, singer and actress, and the combination of these ...

. Among others, it was later covered several times by

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. While critically acclaimed for many different roles throughout her career, she is widely known for playing the part of Dorothy Gale in '' The ...

, whose version also became, and remains, well-known. A 1949 biopic was released with the same title as the song is about Marilyn Miller.

Marion Harris Marion Harris (born Mary Ellen Harrison; April 4, 1896 – April 23, 1944) was an American popular singer who was most successful in the late 1910s and the 1920s. She was the first widely known white singer to sing jazz and blues songs.Ward, Elij ...

' recording of the song is (anachronistically) featured in a memorable dance scene between Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley in the popular

Masterpiece Classic ''Masterpiece'' (formerly known as ''Masterpiece Theatre'') is a drama anthology television series produced by WGBH-TV, WGBH Boston. It premiered on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on January 10, 1971. The series has presented numerous acclaim ...

series ''

Downton Abbey ''Downton Abbey'' is a British historical drama television series set in the early 20th century, created and co-written by Julian Fellowes. The series first aired in the United Kingdom on ITV on 26 September 2010 and in the United States o ...

''. The scene can be viewed in Episode 8 of Series 2 where the plot-line reached early-to-mid 1919; however, the recording was not made until 29 December 1920. The song was used as the opening theme of

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

Radio's '' The Billie Burke Show'' (1943–1946).

Notable recordings

* Steve Conway ( Columbia UK single, 1950). * Chet Baker – ''

Chet Baker Sings ''Chet Baker Sings'' is the debut vocal album by jazz musician Chet Baker, released in 1954 by Pacific Jazz Records. In 2001, the album received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award. Baker would return to selections from this album throughout his care ...

'' (1954). For several years a clip of Baker's rendition accompanied a

bumper Bumper or Bumpers may refer to: People * Betty Bumpers (1925-2018), American activist, First Lady of Arkansas, wife of Dale Bumpers * Dale Bumpers (1925–2016), American politician, governor of Arkansas and senator * Bumper Robinson (born 197 ...

for

Turner Classic Movies Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie-oriented pay-TV network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcasting campus in the Midtown business district of At ...

' morning programming block, titled "Sunny Side of Life" and featuring animation inspired by the paintings of

Edward Hopper Edward Hopper (July 22, 1882 – May 15, 1967) was an American realist painter and printmaker. While he is widely known for his oil paintings, he was equally proficient as a watercolorist and printmaker in etching. Hopper created subdued drama ...

. * Roberta Sherwood – ''Look for the Silver Lining'' (1959). * Andy Williams – '' The Village of St. Bernadette'' (1959). * Margaret Whiting – '' Margaret Whiting Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook'' (1960). * Aretha Franklin – '' The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin'' (1962). * Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album ''

On the Sentimental Side ''On the Sentimental Side'' was intended to be a long-playing vinyl album and it was recorded in June 1962 by Bing Crosby for his own company, Project Records at United Recording, Hollywood. The album is in a “sing-along” style and Crosby o ...

'' (1962). * Les & Larry Elgart - ''Girl Watchers'' (1966). *

Susannah McCorkle Susannah McCorkle (January 1, 1946 – May 19, 2001) was an American jazz singer. Life and career A native of Berkeley, California, McCorkle studied Italian literature at the University of California at Berkeley before dropping out to move to ...

– ''

From Broken Hearts to Blue Skies ''From Broken Hearts to Blue Skies'' is an album by Susannah McCorkle released in 1999. Reception Music critic Paula Edelstein of Allmusic praised the album and wrote "McCorkle's singing is straight from the heart and soul and she's clearly towe ...

'' (1998), ''Most Requested Songs'' (1999). *

Leslie Odom Jr. Leslie Lloyd Odom Jr. (; born August 6, 1981) is an American actor and singer. He made his acting debut on Broadway in 1998 and first gained recognition for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in the musical ''Hamilton'', which earned him a Tony Award f ...

– ''

'' (2014). *

Brad Mehldau Bradford Alexander Mehldau (; born August 23, 1970) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Mehldau studied music at The New School, and toured and recorded while still a student. He was a member of saxophonist Joshua Redman's Qua ...

– '' Suite: April 2020'' (2020).

References

1919 songs Songs with music by Jerome Kern Songs with lyrics by Buddy DeSylva Andy Williams songs {{pop-standard-stub

Background

Notable recordings

See also

References