BUTTON UP YOUR OVERCOAT - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"button up your overcoat" was composed by ray henderson with lyrics by b.g. desylva and lew brown, and published in 1928. Its first popular performance took place in the Broadway musical Follow Thru in January 1929, and the earliest well‑documented recording was by helen kane in 1929 in new york. Over the years the song has been revived by artists such as johnny mercer, nat king cole and frank sinatra, appreciated for its blend of swing era charm and enduring melody.

The lyrics playfully advise a listener to brace for life’s chilly winds (“button up your overcoat”), combining light‑hearted humor with romantic optimism. Musically, the piece uses an AABA structure typical of its era, with a clear melodic line and an upbeat tempo that invites vocal and instrumental interpretation in both large and small ensemble settings.