Tonight You Belong To Me

Tonight You Belong To Me - Lee David
Words by Billy Rose
1926

Not sure in which forum this song really belongs. Mods, feel free to move it if you feel there is a better place.

This song was originally in 3/4, and it was titled “To-night You Belong To Me”

First recorded by Irving Kaufman in 1926, it became a hit the next year when Gene Austin recorded it.

Irving Kaufman (1926 version)
https://youtu.be/usrACzwJToM?si=mDr3z1luzKDeItiP

Gene Austen (recorded in December 1926, released in February 1927)
https://youtu.be/S-HoFhLRuO4?si=lk9_2P6YQnqG6yg9

Patience and Prudence’s version in 1956 was also a hit.
https://youtu.be/W4dqfrzJPbc?si=PbYbSoF-Je3Coha6

Of course, when thinking about this song, many people will immediately remember the version in the 1979 movie The Jerk with Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters. Despite Martin being an excellent banjo player, the ukulele part we hear is not actually played by him but by jazz ukulele player Lyle Ritz.
https://youtu.be/wyinJyWUhas?si=y6zEk-A7GXeKa0M7

Nice vocals and guitar accompaniment on this 2010 recording by Jane Monheit and John Pizzarelli.
https://youtu.be/sZ1xUO4sCQg?si=mbz_7DXAiQJujlpY

Here is my transcription of the song, including the verse and in 3/4 time - and in the original key of Eb.

Tonight You Belong To Me - rp VSM - Lee David (words by Billy Rose) 1926

Not nearly as jazzy as the version in the Jazz 1460 Standards but my changes are based on the way the song was played originally.

Tonight You Belong To Me - Rose-David