Look for the Silver Lining

"Look for the Silver Lining" is a 1919 popular song with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by B.G. DeSylva.

1920 sheet music cover

Judy Garland as Marilyn Miller performing the song in Till the Clouds Roll By (1946), a biographical film loosely based on the life and work of Jerome Kern

Background

The song was written in 1919 for the unsuccessful musical Zip, Goes a Million. In 1920, it was published[1] and reused in the musical Sally whence it was popularized by Marilyn Miller. Among others, it was later covered several times by Judy Garland, whose version also became, and remains, well-known.

A 1949 biopic was released with the same title as the song is about Marilyn Miller.

The song was the basis for the ILGWU anthem "Look for the union label". It is lampooned by another song, "Look for a Sky of Blue," in the satirical 1959 musical Little Mary Sunshine.

Marion Harris' recording of the song is (anachronistically) featured in a memorable dance scene between Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley in the popular Masterpiece Classic series "Downton Abbey". The scene can be viewed in Episode 8 of Series 2 where the plot-line reached early-to-mid 1919; however, the recording was not made until 29 December 1920.

The song was used as the opening theme of CBS Radio's The Billie Burke Show (1943–1946).[2]

Notable recordings

Brad Mehldau – Suite: April 2020 (2020).
Leslie Odom Jr. – Leslie Odom Jr. (2014).
Chet Baker – Chet Baker Sings (1956). For several years a clip of Baker's rendition accompanied a bumper for Turner Classic Movies' morning programming block, titled "Sunny Side of Life" and featuring animation inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper.
Aretha Franklin – The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin (1962).
Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album On the Sentimental Side (1962).
Susannah McCorkle – From Broken Hearts to Blue Skies (1998), Most Requested Songs (1999).
Margaret Whiting – Margaret Whiting Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook (1960).
Andy Williams – The Village of St. Bernadette (1959).
Roberta Sherwood – Look for the Silver Lining (1959).

References

Suskin, Steven. Show Tunes: The Songs, Shows, and Careers of Broadway's Major Composers. Oxford University Press: 2000.
Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-09-21. The Billie Burke Show, situation comedy.

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[1] Suskin, Steven. Show Tunes: The Songs, Shows, and Careers of Broadway's Major Composers. Oxford University Press: 2000.

[dunningota-2] Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-09-21. The Billie Burke Show, situation comedy.

Look for the Silver Lining

Background

Notable recordings

See also

References