Jazz Standards Songs and Instrumentals (God Bless the Child)

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God Bless the Child (1941)

Origin and Chart Information

Rank	170

Words and Music	Arthur Herzog Jr Billie Holiday

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Music and Lyrics Analysis

Musical analysis of “God Bless the Child”
Original Key	Eb major, shifting to relative minor during “B”
Form	A - A - B - A
Tonality	“A” is major; “B” is minor
Movement	Ascending and descending a third by step in two registers, followed by a downward skip and a leap; “B” is a series of descending minor thirds until the last two measures before “A” returns.
Comments (assumed background)
A fairly simple melody in the style of an “old-time” spiritual, the chord progression is based on a series of IV-I, or “plagal,” cadences, suggesting the traditional “Amen” of many traditional hymns.
K. J. McElrath - Musicologist for JazzStandards.com Check out K. J. McElrath's book of Jazz Standards Guide Tone Lines at his web site (www.bardicle.com).

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CD Recommendations for This Tune

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Andy Bey and the Bey Sisters

Andy Bey and the Bey Sisters
2000 Prestige Records 24245
Original recording 1964

The song has an appropriate gospel groove within the tight harmonies of Andy (also on piano), Salome, and Geraldine Bey. Powerful, dignified and full of soul.

Rene Marie

How Can I Keep from Singing
2000 MAXJAZZ 109
Original recording 2000

This is a high energy, snappy swinger of a rendition from singer Rene Marie. Articulate, passionate, and engaging, the vocalist delivers a top notch performance.

Stanley Turrentine

Never Let Me Go
2004 Blue Note 90838
Original recording 1963

A heavy blues vibe, courtesy of Shirley Scott’s wailing organ, permeates Turrentine’s reading of the song and inspires the saxophonist to deliver a mournful, plaintive beauty.

Art Abrams Swing Machine Big Band

Art Attack
1997 AYA Records

Abrams’ big band is noted not only for its section work but for its fine soloists. Scott Anderson kicks off the tune with his sweet trombone followed by the slightly edgier alto sax of Brian Dickerson. The band shifts gears before slowing down the closing. Fine arrangement by Abrams.

Jazz History Notes

Billie Holiday recorded her composition on a number of occasions, but a wonderful video from 1950 has her appearing with her former boss Count Basie and his short-lived septet that included Clark Terry (trumpet) and Wardell Grey (tenor sax).

Webster Young, a cornet/trumpet player heavily influenced by Miles Davis, had a pretty tone and fine command of his instrument. A talented musician, his recording career was brief, ending in 1961, although he continued to play for a number of years thereafter. His 1957 tribute to Billie Holiday is a sleeper, memorable for his contribution but also for the uncluttered arrangements and for the work of Lester Young-inspired tenor saxophonist Paul Quinichette. (According to the liner notes Young played Miles’ cornet on the date.)

Multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy’s unusual, unaccompanied, live performance from 1951 of “God Bless the Child” features him on bass clarinet, an instrument rarely used in jazz.

Chris Tyle - Jazz Musician and Historian

Billie Holiday

The Life and Artistry of Lady Day
Music Video Distributors DVD 0265

Count Basie

Count Basie Septet and Octet on Film and Live
Universal International 981063

Webster Young

For Lady
Original Jazz Classics 1716

Written by the Same Composer or Team...

This section shows the jazz standards written by the same writing team. Click on a name to see all of a writer's jazz standards.

Arthur Herzog Jr and Billie Holiday
Year	Rank	Title
1941	170	“God Bless the Child”
1946	253	“Don’t Explain”

Reading and Research

Additional information on “God Bless the Child” may be found in:

The Tin Pan Alley Song Encyclopedia by Thomas S. Hischak

1 paragraph including the following types of information: film productions, history and performers.

Reading Lyrics by Robert Gottlieb, Robert Kimball

Includes the following types of information: song lyrics.