THE SONG IS ENDED - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"The Song Is Ended (But the Melody Lingers On)" was composed by Irving Berlin with lyrics also by Berlin, published in 1927. It first reached audiences through performances in stage reviews of the late 1920s.

The tune quickly became popular and was recorded by Paul Whiteman and Ruth Etting, whose versions helped establish it as a widely recognized ballad. The song’s reflective sentiment matched Berlin’s trademark melodic clarity.

Jazz musicians later adopted the tune for its strong harmonic framework, which supports both lyrical singing and understated improvisation. Its theme of music outlasting the moment has contributed to its enduring place in the American songbook.