Composer Victor Herbert wrote what is now “Indian Summer” in 1919 as a piano piece which he titled “An American Idyll.” In 1939 Al Dubin created a lyric for the piece. Tommy Dorsey’s orchestra recorded it with vocalist Frank Sinatra the following year, and the song was on the Hit Parade for 14 weeks and rose to number one. The version by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra with vocalist Ray Eberle also charted in 1940 for ten weeks, rising to number eight.

In her book Lullaby of Broadway: Life and Times of Al Dubin, One of America’s Great Lyricists, his daughter, Patricia Dubin McGuire, tells the story behind “Indian Summer.” “The melody had been around for quite some time and Victor Herbert’s daughter had invited songwriters to put lyrics to the unusual and beautiful tune. Many songwriters competed, among them Stanley Adams, former ASCAP president. But Al’s lyric was selected and he was temporarily gratified by the honor. The song remained one of his favorite lyrics.”

Two pieces of the sheet music are offered for sale on line: one with a picture of orchestra leader Everett Hoagland purports to be dated 1934, and the other, with a picture of bandleader Don Reid, purports to be from 1939 although the Big Bands database reports that Reid did not form his own orchestra until 1944.

In American Popular Song: The Great Innovators, 1900-1950 Alec Wilder, who admits to not being a fan of Victor Herbert, says that “Indian Summer” is “...unlike anything of his I’ve ever heard, and bears no European mark on it. It’s a thirty-two measure song with the form of A-B-A-C. The melody sings marvelously throughout without a single cliche or let down.”

Dubin’s lyric takes its title from that time in late autumn when warm, sunny weather recalls summer. It’s a nostalgic time, bringing up memories of summer romance, in this case one that is over:

Summer, you old Indian Summer,

You’re the tear that comes after Junetime’s laughter.

You see so many dreams that don’t come true,

Dreams we fashioned when Summertime was new.

“Indian Summer” was picked up early by clarinetist Sidney Bechet, the Gene Krupa Orchestra, and by singer/actress Ginny Simms with Kay Kyser’s band. It has been recorded by vocal groups such as the Four Freshmen, Hi-Los, and Singers Unlimited; by saxophonists from Coleman Hawkins to Paul Desmond to Ken Peplowski (1998) and Teddy Edwards (2003); by singers from Ella Fitzgerald to Sarah Vaughan to Greta Matassa (2007); by pianists from Erroll Garner to Bill Mays (2001); and by almost every jazz guitarist you can name, most recently Vic Juris, John Pizzarelli, John Pisano, and Ron Eschete.