WHEN I GROW TOO OLD TO DREAM - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“when i grow too old to dream” was written in 1934 by composer Sigmund Romberg and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II.

The song was first recorded on January 9, 1935 by Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra, with vocalist Kenny Sargent, at Decca’s New York studio. Since then, it has been interpreted by a wide array of artists, including Nat King Cole, Gracie Fields, John Pizzarelli, and Jimmy Smith.

The lyrics are a tender reflection on aging and enduring love — even when one can no longer dream, love remains. Musically, it has a nostalgic, romantic structure, often performed as a ballad with sweeping melodies and gentle harmonies that support both vocal and instrumental renditions.