Younger than Springtime
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Younger than Springtime
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| published = 1949
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| genre = Showtune'
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| composer = Richard Rodgers
| lyricist = Oscar Hammerstein II
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"Younger than Springtime" is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. It has been widely recorded as a jazz standard.
The song is performed in the first act by Lieutenant Cable when he makes love to his adored Liat, to whom he was only recently introduced by her mother Bloody Mary. The song shows that love just happens and does not follow the rules of racial separation prevalent in the United States at that time.
In the original Broadway show, the song was performed by William Tabbert while in the 1958 film, it was sung by John Kerr miming to a vocal by Bill Lee.
Lyrical Analysis
Hammerstein used repetition as a key aspect of the song repeating the words "am I" and "are you" when describing Cable and Liat: "softer than starlight", "gayer than laughter" and "younger than springtime".
Musical Analysis
The song is written in F Major.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sheetmusicnow.com/products/younger-than-springtime-p366331|title = Younger Than Springtime|website = Sheet Music Now}}{{cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/jobs/find/job_detail/49279.html |title=South Pacific - Submit Photo / Resume for NYC Appointments - Delaware Theatre Company - Performer Job Opening |website=www.playbill.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116054142/http://playbill.com/jobs/find/job_detail/49279.html |archive-date=2013-01-16}}
Other notable recordings
- 1949 William Tabbert in the Original Broadway Cast album.{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Richard-Rodgers-Oscar-Hammerstein-2nd-Mary-Martin-Ezio-Pinza-South-Pacific-With-Original-Broadway-Ca/master/320989|website=Discogs.com|access-date=May 28, 2017}}
- 1949 Dick Haymes - included in the album Imagination{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Dick-Haymes-Imagination/release/8988124|website=Discogs.com|date=1982 |access-date=May 28, 2017}}
- 1949 Gordon MacRae - Capitol-602{{cite web|title=45cat.com|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/54602|website=45cat.com|access-date=May 28, 2017}}
- 1949 Dinah Shore - Columbia – 38460{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Dinah-Shore-Younger-Than-Springtime-A-Wonderful-Guy/release/4095505|website=Discogs.com|access-date=May 29, 2017}}
- 1950 Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians - Decca 9-24668{{cite web|title=45cat.com|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/924668|website=45cat.com|access-date=May 29, 2017}}
- 1952 Billy Eckstine for his album Love Songs By Rodgers And Hammerstein.{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Billy-Eckstine-Love-Songs-By-Rodgers-And-Hammerstein/release/6680121|website=Discogs.com|access-date=May 29, 2017}}
- 1954 Rosemary Clooney - recorded May 3, 1954{{cite book|last1=Crossland|first1=Ken|title=Late Life Jazz - The Life and Career of Rosemary Clooney|date=2013|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-979857-5|page=193}} and included in the album While We're Young.{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Rosemary-Clooney-While-Were-Young/master/963391|website=Discogs.com|access-date=May 28, 2017}}
- 1955 Margaret Whiting for her album Love Songs by Margaret Whiting.{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Margaret-Whiting-Love-Songs-/master/684871|website=Discogs.com|access-date=May 28, 2017}}
- 1956 Mario Lanza recorded for his album Lanza on B'way.{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Mario-Lanza-Lanza-On-Bway/master/475210|website=Discogs.com|access-date=May 28, 2017}}
- 1957 The Andrews Sisters included in the album Fresh and Fancy Free.{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Andrews-Sisters-Fresh-And-Fancy-Free/master/540796|website=Discogs.com|access-date=May 28, 2017}}
- 1958 Bill Lee included in the film soundtrack album.
- 1958 Andy Williams released a version of the song on his album, Andy Williams Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein.{{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/andy-williams-sings-rodgers-hammerstein-mw0001196070|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=October 20, 2024}}
- 1961 Matt Monro included in the album The Rarities Collection.{{cite web|title=allmusic.com|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-rarities-collection-mw0002577983|website=allmusic.com|access-date=May 29, 2017}}
- 1963 Bing Crosby recorded the song for the South Pacific album in the Reprise Musical Repertory Theatre series.
- 1963 The Hi-Lo's also recorded the song for the South Pacific album in the Reprise Musical Repertory Theatre series.
- 1963 Vic Damone included in his album On the Street Where You Live.{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Vic-Damone-On-The-Street-Where-You-Live/master/731321|website=Discogs.com|date=1964 |access-date=May 29, 2017}}
- 1965 Ken Dodd for his album Tears of Happiness.{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Ken-Dodd-Tears-Of-Happiness/master/476542|website=Discogs.com|date=1965 |access-date=May 29, 2017}}
- 1966 John Gary recorded for his album Choice.{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/John-Gary-Choice/master/776237|website=Discogs.com|date=1966 |access-date=May 29, 2017}}
- 1967 Frank Sinatra recorded September 20, 1967{{cite web|title=Frank Sinatra Discography|url=http://www.jazzdiscography.com/Artists/Sinatra/reprise.php|website=jazzdiscography.com|access-date=May 29, 2017}} and included in the album Movin' with Nancy.{{cite web|title=allmusic.com|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/movin-with-nancy-mw0000190324|website=allmusic.com|access-date=May 29, 2017}}
- 1986 Mandy Patinkin included in the studio album South Pacific.{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Kiri-Te-Kanawa-Jos%C3%A9-Carreras-Sarah-Vaughan-Mandy-Patinkin-South-Pacific/release/3009196|website=Discogs.com|date=1986 |access-date=May 29, 2017}}
- 1991 Plácido Domingo for his album The Broadway I Love.{{cite web|title=Discogs.com|url=https://www.discogs.com/Placido-Domingo-The-Broadway-I-Love/release/3381301|website=Discogs.com|date=1991 |access-date=May 29, 2017}}
- 1996 Bryn Terfel - recorded for the album Something Wonderful: Bryn Terfel Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein.{{cite web|title=allmusic.com|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/something-wonderful-bryn-terfel-sings-rodgers-hammerstein-mw0000165811|website=allmusic.com|access-date=May 29, 2017}}
- 1999 Judy Collins included in her album Classic Broadway.{{cite web|title=allmusic.com|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/classic-broadway-mw0000669220|website=allmusic.com|access-date=May 29, 2017}}
- 2022 It appears rather ironically in a scene in My Old School.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Rodgers and Hammerstein}}
{{Tales of the South Pacific}}
{{Mario Lanza}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Younger Than Springtime}}
Category:Songs with music by Richard Rodgers
Category:Songs with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II