"Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" is a popular jazz song with lyrics and music by Cole Porter. Part of the Great American Songbook, it was published by Chappell & Company and introduced by Nan Wynn and Jere McMahon in 1944 in Billy Rose's musical revue Seven Lively Arts.
The lyrics celebrate how happy the singer is in the company of the beloved, but suffering equally whenever the two separate. Describing it by analogy as a musical "change from major to minor", Porter begins with an A major chord and ends with an A minor chord, matching the mood of the music to the words.
The Benny Goodman Quintet (vocal by Peggy Mann) enjoyed a hit record with the song in 1945.
Other notable recordings Musician Album Year SourceTeddy Wilson with Maxine Sullivan 1945 Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book 1956 Ray Charles & Betty Carter Ray Charles and Betty Carter 1961 Sarah Vaughan After Hours 1961 John Coltrane My Favorite Things 1961 The Hi-Lo's Now 1981 Lewis, Don. "Easy Listening: A Hi-Lo's High" . The Milwaukee Journal. July 19, 1981. Retrieved 2014-03-06.Annie Lennox Red Hot + Blue 1990 Carly Simon Film Noir 1997 Bob Florence with Annette Sanders You Will Be My Music 2007 Diana Krall Quiet Nights 2009 Lady Gaga Cheek to Cheek 2014 LaufeyA Night at the Symphony2023
References