If I Had My Druthers (from "Li'l Abner"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures the full range of Mercer's artistry in one comprehensive volume. The piano/vocal/guitar format makes these arrangements accessible whether you're accompanying a singer, teaching repertoire to students, or learning standards for your own performance. Mercer's lyrics reward close reading and offer vocalists character work that goes far deeper than surface charm.

These songs carry the warmth and sophistication of mid-twentieth-century popular music, from the dreaminess of "Moon River" to the rhythmic snap of "Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive." Mercer's fingerprints are everywhere: clever internal rhymes, conversational phrasing, and an underlying confidence that good craft and genuine emotion belong together.

Vocalists building a standards repertoire will find essential material here, from sophisticated ballads to character-driven novelty numbers. Pianists and guitarists who accompany singers, teach voice lessons, or perform in jazz or cabaret settings will use this book repeatedly. Music educators can draw individual arrangements to introduce students to American popular song craft.

• Study the lyrical rhythm closely before locking into the melody. Mercer's words often sit slightly ahead of or behind the beat in ways that create conversational naturalness; honor those placements rather than forcing the melody into rigid time.
• Balance accompaniment texture with the singer's storytelling needs. In introspective numbers like "Skylark" or "Laura," the piano should support rather than dominate. In rhythm-driven novelty songs like "G.I. Jive," lean into groove.
• Pay attention to the guitar chord frames to understand harmonic movement, even if you're primarily a pianist. Many Mercer standards evolved in jazz settings, and the chords suggest voicings and reharmonization possibilities that can deepen your interpretation.

Individual arrangements work beautifully in recital programs where you want to showcase American song standards alongside classical material or jazz repertoire. For educational settings, select pieces that match your singers' ranges and dramatic sensibilities. The breadth of this collection means you can build a thematic program around Mercer standards alone, or draw single songs to complement other programming.

• Interpreting conversational phrasing within metric structures
• Understanding song form and harmonic movement in standards
• Building character through lyrical storytelling and subtext
• Reading chord symbols and understanding their voice-leading implications
• Recognizing regional and colloquial language as musical content