BEI MIR BIST DU SCHOEN - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" (German for “To Me, You Are Beautiful”) was composed by Sholom Secunda with lyrics by Jacob Jacobs in 1932 for the Yiddish musical *I Would If I Could*. The English adaptation by Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin in 1937 turned it into an international hit after being recorded by The Andrews Sisters. Their lively swing rendition sold over a million copies and established the group’s career.

The song’s melody reflects its Yiddish theatrical origins, full of expressive phrasing and chromatic movement. Its chord progression lends itself naturally to jazz harmonization, which allowed big bands and vocalists to reinterpret it with fresh energy. Lyrically, it celebrates admiration and affection, bridging cultural worlds between Jewish folk music and American swing. Its infectious rhythm and cross-cultural appeal have ensured its place in both jazz and pop repertoires ever since.