WHEN IT'S SLEEPY TIME - Free Jazz Leadsheet

The song listed as “when it's sleepy time” likely refers to the jazz standard “when it’s sleepy time down south,” composed by Clarence Muse, Leon René, and Otis René in 1931.

The first commercial recording was made by Louis Armstrong and his orchestra on April 20, 1931, in a studio session released later that year. Armstrong later adopted it as a signature tune, recording it many times over his career.

The lyrics evoke nostalgia for the American South, reflecting themes of memory, longing, and belonging. Musically, the song is a gentle swing ballad, often performed with warm phrasing, and has become deeply associated with Armstrong’s expressive trumpet and vocal style.