SWINGING ON A STAR - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"Swinging on a Star" was written by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke and published in 1944. The first recording was made by Bing Crosby on July 7, 1944, in Los Angeles for the film "Going My Way," where the song debuted and later won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Its popularity has endured through covers by artists such as Burl Ives and later pop and jazz singers. The lyrics offer a lighthearted moral message, contrasting whimsical animal imagery with the virtues of self-improvement and education. Musically, it follows a polished mid-1940s popular-song construction, with a gently swinging melody and accessible 32-bar form that suits both solo singers and ensemble arrangements.