DON'T YOU KNOW I CARE - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"don't you know i care" was composed by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Mack David in 1944. The song expresses romantic longing and heartfelt devotion, blending Ellington’s sophisticated harmonic style with a tender vocal line.

The first recording was by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra in New York, highlighting the ensemble’s tight arrangements and expressive solos. Later interpretations by Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and instrumental jazz groups have emphasized the song’s lyrical and harmonic richness.

The composition uses a 32-bar AABA structure with lush chord progressions, allowing performers to explore both emotional depth and improvisational nuance in their renditions.