Why Was I Born?

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"Why Was I Born?"
Why Was I Born%3F.jpg
Single by Helen Morgan
B-side "Don't Ever Leave Me"
Written1929
Published1929 T.B. Harms, Inc., Universal Polygram International Publishing, Inc. [1]
ReleasedJanuary 20, 1930 [2]
RecordedOctober 16, 1929 take 2 [3]
Studio New York City
Venue Sweet Adeline (1929 Broadway musical)
Genre Show tune, Popular Music
Length3.22
Label Victor 22199
Composer(s) Jerome Kern
Lyricist(s) Oscar Hammerstein II

"Why Was I Born?" is a 1929 song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Oscar Hammerstein II. [4]

It was written for the show Sweet Adeline (1929) and introduced by Helen Morgan. [5] Popular recordings in 1930 were by Helen Morgan and by Libby Holman. [6]

Notable recordings

Horne singing "Why Was I Born?" in Till the Clouds Roll By (1946) Lena Horne in Till the Clouds Roll By 2.jpg
Horne singing "Why Was I Born?" in Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)

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References

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  2. "Victor 27682 (Black label (popular) 10-in. double-faced) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  3. "Victor matrix BVE-56191. Why was I born? / Helen Morgan - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  4. 1 2 "Ella Fitzgerald – Sings The Jerome Kern Songbook (1963, Reel-To-Reel)". Discogs.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
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