S'wonderful: The Lyrics of Ira Gershwin

It’s not uncommon for an artist to receive an award nomination posthumously; however, two nominations in the same year, for the same award, nearly thirty years after the artist’s death? That takes some serious staying power, power that the lyrics of Ira Gershwin possess.

A Legacy of Powerful Lyrics

Ira Gershwin, brother and collaborator to composer George Gershwin, was born December 6 of 1893. During his multi-decade career, Ira was responsible for crafting the lyrics for some of the most memorable songs of the twentieth century, including “Someone to Watch Over Me,” Embraceable You,” and dozens more. Last week, Grammy award nominations were issued with Ira Gershwin snagging two posthumous nods for Best Musical Theatre Album: one for his groundbreaking work on “Porgy and Bess,” and one for the new musical comprised of Gershwin tunes, “Nice Work if You Can Get It.”

Ira Gershwin’s memoir, “Lyrics on Several Occasions,” remains a master class text in the art of the lyric – for those who found Sondheim’s “Look, I Made a Hat” and “Finishing the Hat” full of insight and inspiration, I strongly recommend checking out Gershwin’s text from your local library for a different, equally valid perspective.

In many ways, the works of Ira Gershwin prefigure Sondheim and provided a foundation upon which the modern musical could be built. Ira took delight in playing with words, stretching, twisting, rearranging and them as some children play with their gum (and this is why they don’t let Ann write song lyrics). The works of Ira Gershwin, especially those composed with George, have made such an impact on the American cultural landscape as to inspire the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, administered by the Library of Congress. Founded in 2007, its current recipients include Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder, as the award is given to artists whose body of work upholds the standards set by that inimitable fraternal duo.

As the daughter of a classical musician, the music of George and Ira Gershwin forms the backdrop to many of my early memories – dancing with my dad to “They Can’t Take that Away from Me”; belting out “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” in the car on family road trips; discovering the joy in brokenhearted irony during my high school days with songs like “But Not for Me.” They are timeless memories, made evergreen by the music that embraces them. Ira Gershwin himself once said, “Life is a jubilee,” and I couldn’t agree more. After all, it’s his music that continues to make a nation’s spirit dance.

Mad about a Gershwin tune? Tell us which one in the comments below!