BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“by the light of the silvery moon,” sometimes spelled with minor variations in sheet music editions, was written in 1909 with lyrics by Edward Madden and music by Gus Edwards. The song quickly entered the popular repertoire of the vaudeville era. Its first well-known recording appeared in 1910, performed by the Hayes Quartet, helping establish it as a standard of early Tin Pan Alley.

The tune has been revived many times, including a popular 1950s film version featuring Doris Day. Its lyrics depict a gently romantic scene set under moonlight, and its straightforward 32-bar structure and lilting melodic line made it adaptable for both stage performance and later jazz interpretations.