The Very Thought of You

By Ray Noble
1934

British bandleader Noble composed this endurant and poignant standard, and introduced it with his own orchestra, featuring Al Bowlly as the singer. It has been recorded countless times by pop and jazz artists, popping up decade after decade. On a personal note, my grandmother's wartime sweetheart used to sing this to her before going off to Europe, where he was killed. It is also a favorite to sing to my daughter at bedtime, and my best friend wisely used the Billie Holiday recording as his wedding song...

Lyrics:

I don't need your photograph to keep by my bed
Your picture is always in my head
I don't need your portrait, dear, to bring you to mind
For sleeping or waking, dear, I find

The very thought of you and I forget to do
The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
I'm living in a kind of daydream
I'm happy as a king
And foolish though it may seem
Why to me that's everything

The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love

I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love

Recorded By:

Bing Crosby
Frank Sinatra
Ella Fitzgerald
Billie Holiday
Tony Bennett & Paul McCartney