George Gershwin composed this iconic number for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess, collaborating with lyricist Ira Gershwin and librettist DuBose Heyward. The song emerged from Gershwin's ambition to create a distinctly American opera that honored African American culture and musical traditions.
Gershwin's gift for melody is unmistakable here. He crafted a tune that captures both the hope and desperation of the moment, anchoring it in the blues and jazz idioms that defined his compositional voice. The song has since become a standard, recorded by singers across jazz, pop, and classical traditions.
