Who Cares? (So Long As You Care For Me) (From "Of Thee I Sing"): Lead Sheet

This lead sheet captures one of Gershwin's most charming melodic inventions from his Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, rendered with the care and accuracy that defines the Just Real Books series. Guitarists at any level of jazz fluency will find the harmonic language accessible yet sophisticated enough to reward deeper exploration. The inclusion of over 100 Gershwin standards in a single volume makes this an essential reference that pays for itself through regular use in rehearsals and performances.

Witty and urbane, with a melody that dances playfully over sophisticated chords. The song balances tenderness with a knowing sophistication; it's the sound of someone making an emotional point with style and humor rather than sentimentality.

Jazz guitarists of all levels who want authoritative, publisher-approved transcriptions of American standards. Music educators building jazz curricula, ensemble directors seeking repertoire for jazz combos, and composers interested in studying Gershwin's harmonic and melodic craft.

• Acknowledge the song's theatrical origins by letting the melody breathe expressively; this is a love song with genuine personality, not a head to be raced through.
• Pay attention to Gershwin's chromatic harmony and voice-leading details in the changes—they reward close listening and careful comping.
• Experiment with different voicing densities depending on the context; stripped-down two-note accompaniments can be as effective as fuller chords in the right setting.
• If using this in a combo setting, listen closely to horn players and singers to find space for your interpretive choices rather than filling every moment.

Pair this with other Gershwin songs from the collection for a complete jazz standards evening, or use it as a standard for small jazz ensembles exploring American musical theater repertoire. It works equally well in a sit-in context or as part of a carefully constructed recital program.

• Reading and interpreting lead sheet notation with jazz chord symbols
• Understanding chromatic harmony and non-diatonic chord substitutions in 1920s-1930s Broadway idiom
• Developing melodic phrasing and expression in a jazz context
• Building fluency with jazz comping and accompaniment textures