You’re in luck, Paula. Someone to Watch Over Me is one of my personal favorites and I have a copy of the entire song. It was introduced in 1926 in the musical Oh Kay starring the British actress Gertrude Lawrence. Most of the popular compositions then were written for stage musical and it was very common for them to have this verse at the beginning. I supposed this was made to make the transition from spoken dialogue to song number clearer to the audience. As time went on though, this verse was eventually dropped and only the main song remained.
According to The Gershwins, a book of recollections by Robert Kimball and Alfred Simon, this song was Lawrence’s second act solo George wrote in his journal some years after the opening of the show: "It was all very wistful and on the opening night, somewhat to the surprise of the management, Miss Lawrence sang a song to a doll. This doll was a strange-looking object I found in a Philadelphia toy store and gave to Miss Lawrence with the suggestion that she use it in the number. That doll stayed in the show for the entire run."
According to the reviews the song "wrung the withers of even the most hardhearted of those present." Someone to Watch Over Me has gone on to become one of the most loved songs ever written. It has been used in several films, Mr. Holland’s Opus, Someone to Watch Over Me and others. It has been recorded by every singer of note from Frank Sinatra to Elton John, from Ella Fitzgerald to Linda Ronstadt. I recall Kuh Ledesma singing a touching version. And most recently there it was in the soundtrack of Pangako Ikaw Lang as lovely as ever. As for Robert Arevalo singing, he has always been able to carry a tune. In fact, he was a rather swoony Gaylord Ravenal to Celeste Legaspi’s Magnolia in a production of Showboat some years ago.
Someone to Watch Over Me was composed by George Gershwin. He was born on September 26, 1898 in New York and he grew up to become one of the greatest American composers. His works, particularly the jazz symphony Rhapsody in Blue are considered evocative of the vast melting pot of culture and races that America was becoming during Gershwin’s time. He is best known though for his popular songs. With most of the lyrics written by his brother Ira, these works have stood the passage of time and remain big favorites up to now. Breathes there a singer who has never dreamed of recording a Gershwin song? Embraceable You, Love is Here to Stay, I’ve Got a Crush on You, The Man I Love, Summertime. Not likely.
George Gershwin died on July 11, 1937 after surgery to remove a brain tumor. He was only 39 years old.
Someone to Watch Over Me
There’s a saying old says that love is blind
Still we’re often told ’seek and ye shall find’
So I’m going to seek a certain girl I’ve had in mind
Looking everywhere, haven’t found her yet
She’s the big affair I cannot forget
Only girl I ever think of with regret
I’d like to add her initial to my monogram
Tell me where’s the shepherd for this lost lamb
There’s a somebody I’m longing to see
I hope that she turns out to be
Someone who’ll watch over me
I’m a little lamb who’s lost in the wood
I know I could always be good
To one who’ll watch over me
Although she may not be the girl some men think of
As handsome to my heart she carries the key
Won’t you tell her please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh how I need
Someone to watch over me
Someone to watch over me