"While We're Young" is a 1943 song with music composed by Alec Wilder and Morty Palitz, to lyrics by

Bill Engvick William Engvick (July 1, 1914 – September 4, 2012) was an American lyricist, many of whose compositions appear in films. Engvick graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1937. He is best known for his collaborations with c ...

, which was popularized by

Don Cherry Donald Stewart Cherry (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian former ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator. Cherry played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, and later coached the team for five se ...

Tony Bennett Anthony Dominick Benedetto (born August 3, 1926), known professionally as Tony Bennett, is an American retired singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz. Bennett is also a painter, having created works under his birt ...

and other artists. Wilder quoted his Algonquin neighbour,

James Thurber James Grover Thurber (December 8, 1894 – November 2, 1961) was an American cartoonist, writer, humorist, journalist and playwright. He was best known for his cartoons and short stories, published mainly in ''The New Yorker'' and collected ...

, as saying that Engvick's lyrics to "While We're Young" was "the finest piece of English writing he knew". The lyric Thurber refers to begins:

Versions

*Judy Garland on ''Miss Show Business (1955)'' * Peggy Lee on ''Rendezvous with Peggy Lee'' (1949) *Single by Don Cherry (1951)Billboard 1951 August 25 *Tony Bennett, B-side to Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart", and also from debut album '' Because of You'' (1956) *Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra (1952) and re-recorded for the album '' For the Young at Heart'' (1960) *

Red Norvo Red Norvo (born Kenneth Norville; March 31, 1908 – April 6, 1999) was an American musician, one of jazz's early vibraphonists, known as "Mr. Swing". He helped establish the xylophone, marimba, and vibraphone as jazz instruments. His reco ...

and His Orchestra from ''Presenting Red Norvo'' EP (1954) * André Kostelanetz and His Orchestra – ''Mood For Love'' EP (1955) *

Percy Faith Percy Faith (April 7, 1908 – February 9, 1976) was a Canadian-American bandleader, orchestrator, composer and conductor, known for his lush arrangements of pop and Christmas standards. He is often credited with popularizing the "easy listeni ...

and His Orchestra with

Mitch Miller Mitchell William Miller (July 4, 1911 – July 31, 2010) was an American choral conductor, record producer, record-industry executive, and professional oboist. He was involved in almost all aspects of the industry, particularly as a conductor ...

– ''It's So Peaceful in the Country'' 3×7″ EP set (1956) * Rosemary Clooney – ''Sings Songs for the Young at Heart'' EP (1956) * Johnny Mathis on his 1957 Warm LP and 1958 ''While We're Young'' EP * Don Rondo on his ''Rondo, No. 2'' EP (1959) * André Previn and David Rose from ''Secret Songs For Lovers No.3'' EP (1960) * Mike Douglas, B-side to "Here's to My Jenny" (1966) *

John Gary John Gary (born John Gary Strader; November 29, 1932 – January 4, 1998) was an American singer, recording artist, television host, and performer on the musical stage. Early life From Watertown, New York, Gary started singing at the age of 5. ...

– ''A Heart Filled with Song'' (1966) *

Della Reese Delloreese Patricia Early (July 6, 1931 – November 19, 2017), known professionally as Della Reese, was an American jazz and gospel singer, actress, and ordained minister whose career spanned seven decades. She began her long career as a s ...

– The Best of Della Reese (1972) *

Johnny Hartman John Maurice Hartman (July 3, 1923 – September 15, 1983) was an American jazz singer who specialized in ballads. He sang and recorded with Earl Hines' and Dizzy Gillespie's big bands and with Erroll Garner. Hartman is best remembered for his ...

- '' Thank You for Everything'' (1998), rec. 1976 *

Art Garfunkel Arthur Ira Garfunkel (born November 5, 1941) is an American singer, poet, and actor. He is best known for his partnership with Paul Simon in the folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Highlights of Garfunkel's solo music career include one top-10 h ...

– ''

Some Enchanted Evening "Some Enchanted Evening" is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical ''South Pacific''. It has been described as "the single biggest popular hit to come out of any Rodgers and Hammerstein show." Mast, Gerald''Can't Help Singin': ...

'' (2007)

References

1943 songs 1951 singles Songs written by Alec Wilder Songs with lyrics by William Engvick Johnny Mathis songs {{1940s-song-stub