| Composer | Henry Mancini |
| Lyricist | Johnny Mercer |
| Year Written | 1962 |
About This Song
“Days of Wine and Roses” was written by Heny Mancini and Johnny Mercer for the 1962 film Days of Wine and Roses. The film starred Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick, both of whom were nominated for the Lead Actor and Actress for the Academy Award. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
View the lyrics
The days of wine and roses
Laugh and run away
Like a child at play
Through the meadow land toward a closing door
A door marked “nevermore” that wasn’t there before
The lonely night discloses
Just a passing breeze filled with memories
Of the golden smile that introduced me to
The days of wine and roses and you
Recordings
1965
Tony Bennett recorded “Days of Wine and Roses” on December 29, 1965. Larry Wilcox wrote the arrangement; Johnny Mandel wrote the arrangement.
CO 87408
Release History
| 1966 | Columbia LP 12″: CS 9272 — The Movie Song Album |
| 1966 | Columbia LP 12″: CL 2472 — The Movie Song Album |
| 1966 | CBS LP 12″: BPG 62677 — The Movie Song Album (UK) |
| 1969 | Columbia LP 12″: CS 9891 — Love Story: 20 All-Time Great Recordings |
| 1971 | CBS LP 12″: 66297 — Love Songs (UK) |
| 1973 | Columbia LP 12″: C 32239 — Sunrise, Sunset |
| 1973 | Embassy LP 12″: EMB 31002 — Trolley Song |
| 1976 | Columbia Special Products LP 12″: P2 13756 — Hollywood Hits |
| 1998 | Columbia CD: CK 09272 — The Movie Song Album |
| 2006 | RPM/Columbia/Legacy CD: 82876 87233 2 — The Movie Song Album |
| 2011 | Columbia: The Complete Collection — Disc 32 — The Movie Song Album |
| 2011 | Columbia: The Complete Collection — Disc 48 — Sunrise, Sunset |
1975
Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Days of Wine and Roses” in June 1975 for The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.
Release History
| 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 | Columbia: The Complete Collection — Disc 52 — The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album |