"Body and Soul" is a song and jazz standard featured in the 1985 film The Color Purple which was written in 1930 with music by Johnny Green and lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, and Frank Eyton. It was also used as the musical theme and underscoring in the 1947 film Body and Soul, directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Jane Greer, and William Holden.
Background[]
The song was first recorded by Jack Hylton's orchestra with Pat O'Malley in England on February 7, 1930. It became popular in the US after Paul Whiteman's orchestra with Jack Fulton performed it on October 11, 1930. The song reached number one on the Billboard charts for six weeks and stayed there for a total of 15 weeks. It has been covered by many artists over the years, such as Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Billy Eckstine, Amy Winehouse, and Tony Bennett. The song is considered one of the most influential jazz standards of all time and has been featured in many films, TV shows, commercials, video games, and musicals.
Lyrics[]
My heart is sad and lonely
For you I sigh, for you dear only
Why haven't you seen it
I'm all for you body and soul
I spend my days in longing
And wondering why it's me you're wronging
I tell you I mean it
I'm all for you body and soul
I can't believe it
It's hard to conceive it
That you'd turn away romance
Are you pretending
It looks like the ending
Unless I could have just one more chance to prove, dear
My life a wreck you're making
You know I'm yours for just the taking
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul
My life a wreck you're making
You know I'm yours for the very taking
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul
