I Cover The Waterfront
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Johnny Green |
| Lyricist | Edward Heyman |
| Year Written | 1933 |
| About I Cover the Waterfront | |
| The song “I Cover the Waterfront” was inspired by the 1932 novel of the same name by Max Miller, which was also made into a film and re-scored just prior to release to include the Johnny Green song. It has been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and even John Lee Hooker. | |
Lyrics
Away from the city that hurts and mocks
I’m standing alone by the desolate docks.
In the still and the chill of the night.
I see the horizon, the great unknown.
My heart has an ache its as heavy as stone.
Will the dawn coming on make it light?
I cover the waterfront;
I’m watching the sea.
Will the one I love be coming back to me?I cover the waterfront;
In search of my love,
And I’m covered by a starless sky above
Here am I patiently waiting, hoping and longing
Oh, how I yearn!
Where are you?
Are you forgetting?
Do you remember?
Will you return?
I cover the waterfront
I’m watching the sea
For the one I love must soon come back to me.
All alone
Please come back to me
Session / Album Information
1958
“I Cover The Waterfront” was recorded on November 4, 1958 and was released in 1959 on the album Hometown, My Town. It was arranged by Ralph Burns.
This recording was released on:
- 1959: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1301 — Hometown, My Town
- 1969: Columbia LP 12″: CS 9891 — Love Story: 20 All-Time Great Recordings
- 1971: CBS LP 12″: 66297 — Love Songs (UK)
- 2011: Disc #15 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874603-JK15) Hometown, My Town