I See Your Face Before Me

Johnny Hartman

About I See Your Face Before Me

I See Your Face Before Me is a popular song composed by Arthur Schwartz, with lyrics by Howard Dietz. It was introduced by Evelyn Laye and Adele Dixon in the 1937 Broadway musical Between the Devil. Two recordings of the song made the charts shortly after the show's debut: Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians reached number 12, and Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra made it to number 13. Johnny Hartman's 1980 recording was part of the soundtrack for the 1995 film, The Bridges of Madison County. Hartman's recording accompanies a key scene where the characters Robert and Francesca dance and kiss for the first time. The song was also the first composition that Nelson Riddle wrote an arrangement for, in 1938. Riddle would later arrange "I See Your Face Before Me" for Frank Sinatra's 1955 album, In the Wee Small Hours. 


Year:
1998
3:36
725 
#3

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I see your face before me
Crowding my every dream
There is your face before me
You are my only theme
It doesn't matter where you are
I can see how fair you are
I close my eyes and there you are
Always
If you could share the magic
If you could see me too
There would be nothing tragic
In all my dreams of you
Would that my love could haunt you so
Knowing I want you so
I can't erase
Your beautiful face before me.

Would that my love could haunt you so
Knowing I want you so
I can't erase
Your beautiful face before me.

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Johnny Hartman

John Maurice Hartman (July 3, 1923 – September 15, 1983) was an American baritone jazz singer who specialized in ballads and earned critical acclaim, though he was never widely known. He recorded a well-known collaboration with the saxophonist John Coltrane in 1963 called John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, and was briefly a member of Dizzy Gillespie's group and recorded with Erroll Garner. Most of Hartman's career was spent recording solo albums. more »

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Written by: ARTHUR SCHWARTZ, HOWARD DIETZ

Lyrics © Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


9 facts about this song

Composer and Lyricists
"I See Your Face Before Me" is a song composed by Arthur Schwartz with lyrics by Howard Dietz. It was written for the 1937 Broadway musical "Between the Devil."
Frank Sinatra's Version
Frank Sinatra, one of the most famous singers of the 20th century, recorded his rendition of "I See Your Face Before Me" for his album "In the Wee Small Hours" in 1955. This album is often considered as one of the best, if not the best, among Sinatra's album discography.
Guy Lombardo's Influence
Famous bandleader Guy Lombardo also recorded a version of this song. Lombardo is often remembered for his New Year's Eve broadcasts of 'Auld Lang Syne.' His music was popular during the swing and big band era.
Johnny Hartman's Take
Jazz vocalist Johnny Hartman also covered "I See Your Face Before Me" in his album "The Johnny Hartman Collection 1947-1972." Hartman's deep, smooth voice adds a unique layer to the classic song.
Unique Interpretations
Although the song has the same lyrics, each artist brings their unique style and interpretation to it. Sinatra's vocals emit a hauntingly beautiful melancholy, Lombardo's version highlights the song’s fluid melody within a dance band arrangement, while Hartman's smooth baritone voice offers the comfort of a love song.
Use in Films
The song was used in movies like "The Score" (2001), "Gluckauf" (2014) and "Bitter Harvest" (1993) and continues to be a favourite among jazz enthusiasts even today.
Chart Rankings
Although a classic, "I See Your Face Before Me" did not chart when originally released by these artists. However, based on its popularity over time, it has become an evergreen standard performed by many artists over the years.
Grammy Hall of Fame
Frank Sinatra's album "In the Wee Small Hours," which features "I See Your Face Before Me," was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.
Cultural Impact
The song has been recorded by various artists since its creation, demonstrating its appeal and cultural impact across different generations and musical genres.

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