August 2026 - "Tonight You Belong to Me"
This month’s free tab is an arrangement of the Tin Pan Alley-era tune “Tonight You Belong to Me”. Composed 100 years ago in 1926 by lyricist Billy Rose and composer David Lee (aka Lee David) it is a prime example of the type of sentimental ballads and romantic duets that were immensely popular at the time and have also survived into current pop culture.
The lyricist, Billy Rose (1899–1966), became one of the most recognizable figures in American entertainment as a songwriter, Broadway producer, and impresario. Before becoming famous for his theatrical productions, Rose established himself as a lyricist, contributing words to many enduring songs, including “Me and My Shadow,” “I Found a Million Dollar Baby (In a Five and Ten-Cent Store),” “That Old Gang of Mine,” and “It’s Only a Paper Moon”. He also collaborated on several novelty songs, including “Does the Spearmint Lose Its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?” and “A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich and You.”
Composer Lee David (1891–1978) was a New York songwriter and Broadway composer whose career included music for stage productions such as A Night in Venice and Broadway Nights, as well as songs associated with revues and theatrical productions. In addition to his collaboration with Billy Rose on “Tonight You Belong to Me,” David wrote or co-wrote numerous songs, including “Big Apple,” “Sipping Cider Through a Straw,” “Sorority Waltz,” “Moon River Waltz,” and “Just a Year Ago Tonight.” His partnership with Rose produced one of his best-known successes, combining Rose’s sentimental lyrics with David’s melodic style.
Its first major success came through recordings by Gene Austin and Irving Kaufman, both of whom helped establish it as a standard of the period. Over the decades since, “Tonight You Belong to Me” has been revived by many performers. The song was recorded by artists including Frankie Laine, Lawrence Welk with the Lennon Sisters, Dottie Evans, and Audrey Marsh. A 1956 recording by sisters Patience and Prudence McIntyre became the best-known modern version, reaching the Billboard charts and introducing the song to a new generation. Later interpretations included recordings by Janet Klein and Peggy Lee, and Paul McCartney. The song received renewed popular attention when it was performed by Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters in the 1979 film “The Jerk”.
Here’s a link to a YouTube video of the tune being performed by Molly McCormack and Tull Glazener from a concert in 2018:
NOTE: In measure 9, there is an “optional” use of the 1+ fret on the middle string starting on beat 3. If you don’t happen to have a 1+ fret on your instrument, you can just play the middle string open (0) at that point.
Enjoy!
—Tull
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