Long Ago (And Far Away)

Helen Forrest, Dick Haymes

About Long Ago (And Far Away)

"Long Ago (and Far Away)" is a popular song with music by Jerome Kern, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin, about nostalgia from the 1944 Technicolor film musical Cover Girl starring Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly and released by Columbia Pictures. The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1944 but lost out to “Swinging on a Star”. The song was published in 1944 and sold over 600,000 copies in sheet music in a year. In 2004 it finished #92 in AFI's 100 Years. ..100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema. In the film it is sung by Rita Hayworth (dubbed by Martha Mears) to Gene Kelly, and later briefly reprised by Jinx Falkenburg. Charting versions were recorded almost simultaneously by Dick Haymes and Helen Forrest, Bing Crosby, Jo Stafford, and Perry Como. The Dick Haymes-Helen Forrest recording was released by Decca Records as catalog number 23317. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on April 27, 1944 and lasted 11 weeks on the chart, peaking at #2. The Jo Stafford recording was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 153. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on May 4, 1944 and lasted 12 weeks on the chart, peaking at #6. The Perry Como recording was released by RCA Victor as catalog number 20-1569. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on May 11, 1944 and lasted three weeks on the chart, peaking at #8. The Bing Crosby recording was released by Decca Records as catalog number 18608. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on June 29, 1944 and lasted four weeks on the chart, peaking at #5. The flip side, "Amor," also charted, making this a two-sided hit. The Crosby version of "Long Ago (and Far Away)" was used in the film Someone to Love (1987). Johnny Desmond sang it in German with Glenn Miller and the American Band of the AEF. 


Year:
1999
130 
#2

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Long ago and far away
I dreamed a dream one day
And now that dream is here beside me
Long the skies were overcast
But now the clouds have passed
You're here at last
Chills run up and down my spine
Aladdin's lamp is mine
The dream I dreamed was not denied me
Just one look and then I knew
That all I longed for long ago was you

Long ago and far away
I dreamed a dream one day
And now that dream is here beside me
Long the skies were overcast
But now the clouds have passed
You're here at last
Chills run up and down my spine
Aladdin's lamp is mine
The dream I dreamed was not denied me
Just one look and then I knew
That all I longed for long ago was you

Just one look and then I knew
(Him, with her humming along)
That all I longed for long ago

Was you

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Helen Forrest

Helen Forrest (April 12, 1917 – July 11, 1999) was an American singer. more »

2 fans

Written by: IRA GERSHWIN, JEROME KERN

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Origin of the Song
"Long Ago (And Far Away)" is a pop standard song that was written by Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin for the 1944 Technicolor film "Cover Girl," starring Rita Hayworth.
Jerome Kern's Role
Jerome Kern, one of the greatest American songwriters, composed the music for "Long Ago (And Far Away)". He also composed the song "The Way You Look Tonight," which previously won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Film Involvement
"Cover Girl," the movie in which "Long Ago (And Far Away)" first appeared, was popular at the box office. In the film, Rita Hayworth's character performs this song.
Oscar Nomination
"Long Ago (And Far Away)" was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1944 but didn’t win the award.
Billboard Chart Success
Perry Como and The Satisfiers along with Russ Case and his Orchestra recorded the song in 1944 and it reached number two on the Billboard chart.
Plot Significance
In the movie "Cover Girl," the song was central to the plot development portraying the love interest between Hayworth's character and the character played by Gene Kelly.
Helen Forrest's Cover
In 1944, Helen Forrest and Dick Haymes teamed up to record the song, and their version reached number five on the Billboard chart.
Glenn Miller's Version
Glenn Miller recorded a version of the song that charted at number six on the Billboard chart in 1944, with Johnny Desmond on vocals.
Bing Crosby's Version
Bing Crosby, the most recorded performer in history, recorded a version of the song for Decca which reached number seven on the Billboard chart.
Other Notable Covers
Jo Stafford also recorded a version of this song. Her rendition did not chart but it gained popularity due to her swinging style and established her status as one of the most versatile voices of her time.
Song Legacy
"Long Ago (And Far Away)" has since been covered by many artists and become a mainstream jazz standard, cementing its legacy in American music history.

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