Waltz For Debby
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Bill Evans |
| Lyricist | Gene Lees |
| Year Written | 1956 |
| About Waltz for Debby | |
| Bill Evans composed this song soon after leaving the armed services. He wrote it for his young niece, Debby, the daughter of his brother Harold. With the lyrics by Gene Lees, “Waltz For Debby” became a standard for jazz and popular singers. | |
Lyrics
In her own sweet world
Populated by dolls and clowns
and a prince and a big purple bear.
Lives my favorite girl,
unaware of the worried frowns
that we weary grown ups all wear.
In the sun she dances to silent music,
songs that are spun of gold
somewhere in her own little head.
One day all too soon
she’ll grow up and she’ll leave her dolls
and her prince and her silly old bear.
When she goes they will cry
as she whispers “Good-bye.”
They will miss her I fear
but then so will I.
Session / Album Information
1964
“Waltz for Debby” was recorded on September 4, 1964 and released in 1964 on the album Who Can I Turn To. It was arranged by George Siravo.
This recording released on:
- 1964: Columbia LP 12″: CS 9085 — Who Can I Turn To
- 1964: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 2285 — Who Can I Turn To
- 1964: Columbia 45: 4-43141
- 1991: Columbia CD: C4K 46843 — Forty Years – The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
- 1993: CBS/Sony CD: SRCS-6641 — Forty Years: The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
- 2004: Columbia/Legacy CD: C5K 92784 — Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
- 1995: Columbia CD: CK 66503 — Who Can I Turn To
- 2011: Disc #30 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK29) Who Can I Turn To
1975-1
“Waltz For Debby” was recorded in June, 1975 and was released that year on The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album.
This recording released on:
- 1975: Fantasy LP 12″: F 9489 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
- 1984: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab LP 12″: MFSL-1-117 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
- 1991: Fantasy CD: OJCCD-439-2 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
- 1992: Fantasy/OJC CD: OJCCD 439 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
- 2000: Fantasy CD: 204392 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
- 2001: JVC XRCD CD: JVCXR-020802 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
- 2006: Fantasy CD: FCD-30177 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
- 2009: Concord CD: FAN-31281 — The Complete Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Recordings
- 2011: Disc #52 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK51) The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album
1975-2
“Waltz For Debby” (alternate, take #11) was recorded in June, 1975 and was released that year on The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album.
This recording released on:
- 2006: Fantasy CD: FCD-30177 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
- 2009: Concord CD: FAN-31281 — The Complete Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Recordings
- 2011: Disc #52 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK51) The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album