They Can’t Take That Away From Me
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | George Gershwin |
| Lyricist | Ira Gershwin |
| Year Written | 1936 |
| About They Can’t Take That Away From Me | |
| This song was written for the 1937 Fred Astaire – Ginger Rodgers movie Shall We Dance. Unlike most songs that Astaire introduced in his films, there was no dance number associated with “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” It is one of the Gershwin’s finest love songs. George Gershwin died just two months after this film was released. | |
Lyrics
The way she wears her hat
The way she sips her tea
The memory of all that
No, no, they can’t take that away from me
The way her smile just beams,
The way she sings off key,
The way she haunts my dreams,
No, no, they can’t take that away from me
We may never, never meet again
On that bumpy road to love
Still I’ll always, always keep the memory of
The way she holds her knife
The way we danced till three
The way she changed my life
No, no, they can’t take that away from me!
No, they can’t take that away from me!
We may never, never meet again
On that bumpy road to love
Still I’ll always, always keep the memory of
The way she holds her knife
The way we danced till three
The way she changed my life
No, no, they can’t take that away from me!
No, they can’t take that away from me!
Session / Album Information
1967
“They Can’t Take That Away From Me” was recorded on October 16, 1967 and released that year on the album For Once In My Life. It was arranged by Torrie Zito.
This recording released on:
- 1967: Columbia LP 12″: CS 9573 — For Once In My Life
- 1967: Columbia LP 12″: CL 2773 — For Once In My Life
- 1967: CBS LP 12″: SBPG 63166 — For Once In My Life (UK)
- 1967: CBS LP 12″ (Mono): BPG 63166 — For Once In My Life [UK]
- 1971: Columbia LP 12″: C 30558 — Love Story
- 1989: Columbia House Music Collection CD: C21 7925 — The Great American Composers: George and Ira Gershwin
- 2007: Sony Music CD: 715320 — Sings the Ultimate American Songbook, Vol. 1
- 2009: Beat Goes On CD: 886 — For Once In My Life/I’ve Gotta Be Me [UK]
- 2011: Disc #35 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK34) For Once In My Life
- 2011: Disc #41 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK40) Love Story
1993
“They Can’t Take That Away From Me” was recorded in July 1993 and was released that year on Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.
This recording released on:
- 1993: Columbia CD: CK 57424 — Steppin’ Out
- 2011: Disc #59 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK58) Steppin’ Out
1994
“They Can’t Take That Away From Me” was recorded and televised live on April 12, 1994 on MTV. The song was recorded as a duet with Elvis Costello. The MTV Unplugged album was released in June of that year. The songs from the televised concert were arranged by Tony Bennett and the Ralph Sharon Trio.
This recording released on:
- 1993: Columbia CD: CK 66214 — MTV Unplugged
- 2011: Discs #60/61 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK59) MTV Unplugged
2011
“They Can’t Take That Away From Me” was recorded in 2011 with Brad Paisley and was released that year on Duets II. This recording released on:
- 2011: RPM Sony: Duets II (Target Release)