Another day, another famous birthday
I was going to link only to the biography, but there are just too many funny quotes, so here it is.
It's the birthday of lyricist Ira Gershwin, born Israel Gershvin on the East Side of New York City (1896). He's considered one of the great lyricists of the twentieth century, best known for writing the lyrics to songs like "I've Got Rhythm" (1930) and "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" (1937). But he always felt overshadowed by the talent of his younger brother, the composer George Gershwin. The two brothers worked together on many songs, and Ira once heard a radio announcer say, "Here is a new song by George Gershwin and his lovely wife Ira."
He originally wanted to write for H. L. Mencken's satirical magazine Smart Set, but he only got published there once and they only paid him a dollar. So he got a job as the business manager of a traveling carnival. When his brother broke into the musical world, he decided to try writing lyrics. On his first few songs, he used the pseudonym Arthur Francis so that his work would not be judged by his brother's reputation.
The Gershwin brothers were complete opposites. George loved parties, loved being in the spotlight; he was outgoing and talkative and a ladies man. Ira was shy and quiet and a bookworm. But they worked well together. When asked whether the music came first or the lyrics, Ira said, "What usually comes first is the contract."
They collaborated on many musicals, including Funny Face (1927), Strike Up the Band! (1930), and Porgy and Bess (1935). After George died of a brain tumor in 1937, Ira took a break from songwriting for four years, but he eventually came back and worked with other composers like Jerome Kern and Kurt Weill. He also wrote new lyrics to his brother's music for the movie An American in Paris (1951).
Though Ira Gershwin won a Pulitzer Prize for his lyrics in 1932, he was always modest about his work. When he published a collection of his lyrics in 1959, he wrote in the introduction, "Any resemblance to actual poetry, living or dead, is highly improbable." His secretary said that he almost always criticized his own work, but occasionally he would pat himself on the shoulder and say, "Good job, Gershwin. Good job."
He said he hated writing love songs, but some of his best songs are about longing for love, including "Someone To Watch Over Me" (1926) and "But Not For Me" (1930).
He wrote, "They're writing songs of love - but not for me
A lucky star's above - but not for me
With love to lead the way I've found more clouds of gray
Than any Russian play could guarantee."
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