The Lamp Is Low
"The Lamp Is Low" is a jazz standard and popular song composed in 1939, with music adapted by Peter De Rose and Bert Shefter from Maurice Ravel's 1899 piano piece Pavane pour une infante défunte and lyrics written by Mitchell Parish.[1][2] The song's romantic, melancholic theme evokes a quiet evening scene, blending classical influences with American popular music traditions.[3] First recorded by vocalist Mildred Bailey with her orchestra on April 24, 1939, the track quickly gained traction in the swing era, featuring Bailey's smooth, interpretive style over a lush orchestral arrangement.[4] This debut recording, released as a single, marked the song's entry into the jazz repertoire and helped establish it as a vehicle for vocal and instrumental improvisation.[5] Soon after, bandleader Tommy Dorsey recorded a version on May 1, 1939, featuring vocalist Jack Leonard, further popularizing the tune among big bands.[6] Over the decades, "The Lamp Is Low" has been covered more than 240 times, becoming a staple in jazz performances due to its elegant melody and lyrical depth.[4] The song's enduring appeal lies in its versatility, bridging classical roots with jazz innovation and continuing to inspire musicians across genres.[3]Origins and Composition
Adaptation from Ravel
"The melody of "The Lamp Is Low" originates from Maurice Ravel's "Pavane pour une infante défunte," composed in 1899 as a piano piece and orchestrated in 1910.[7] This work is a slow pavane in adagio tempo, characterized by its elegiac quality and evocation of a somber procession honoring a deceased princess, as suggested by the title's translation.[8]" "In 1939, American songwriters Peter De Rose and Bert Shefter adapted Ravel's theme into a popular song format, restructuring it as a 32-bar AABA form common in Tin Pan Alley compositions and ideal for jazz and swing interpretations.[9] They accelerated the tempo from Ravel's original adagio to a moderate ballad pace, making it more accessible for vocal and ensemble performance.[8] The adaptation preserved key elements of the source material, such as the descending chromatic motif from the opening, while simplifying rhythmic and melodic contours to suit contemporary popular music conventions.[10]" "This transformation exemplified the 1930s trend in American popular music, where classical themes were frequently borrowed and repurposed for commercial songs, often drawing from composers like Tchaikovsky and Ravel to capitalize on their familiarity.[11] Legally, the adaptation required crediting Ravel's estate, as the composer had passed away in December 1937, ensuring royalties were directed to his heirs under emerging copyright practices for international works.[12] Later, lyricist Mitchell Parish fitted words to the adapted melody to complete the song.[8]"Songwriting Credits
"The Lamp Is Low" is credited to music composers Peter De Rose and Bert Shefter, with lyrics by Mitchell Parish.[13][3] Peter De Rose (March 10, 1900 – April 23, 1953) was an American composer and pianist born and raised in New York City, educated at DeWitt Clinton High School, and renowned for popular hits such as "Deep Purple" and "Wagon Wheels."[13][14] He contributed to the song by harmonizing and structuring the adaptation of Maurice Ravel's "Pavane pour une infante défunte" into a commercial pop melody.[3][14] Bert Shefter (May 15, 1904 – June 29, 1999) was a Russian-born American pianist, arranger, and film composer who immigrated to the United States and became active in New York City's music scene.[15][16] He collaborated with De Rose on melodic adjustments to enhance the song's appeal for the swing era audience.[3][14] Mitchell Parish (July 10, 1900 – March 31, 1993), born Michael H. Pashelinsky in Lithuania and raised in the United States after immigrating as an infant, was a prolific American lyricist celebrated for romantic standards like "Stardust" and "Deep Purple."[17][18] He penned the English lyrics in 1939, drawing on themes of intimacy and nocturne imagery to complement the melody's wistful tone.[3][18] The song was published in 1939 by Robbins Music Corporation, with sheet music explicitly crediting De Rose, Shefter, Parish, and Ravel as the source of the foundational theme; it received initial copyright as a pop standard registered under ASCAP.[2][19] De Rose and Shefter worked within New York's Tin Pan Alley song factories, a hub for popular music production, while Parish specialized in crafting evocative ballads suited to the era's big band and swing styles.[14][17]Lyrics and Themes
Lyrical Content
"The Lamp Is Low" features lyrics written by Mitchell Parish in 1939, set to a melody adapted from Maurice Ravel's "Pavane pour une infante défunte."[3] The complete lyrics, as published in the original sheet music, consist of a single verse and refrain that repeat, emphasizing intimacy and reverie in a dimly lit setting.[20] The song's lyrics are as follows:Dream beside me in the midnight glow,This structure follows a classic 32-bar AABA form, with two 8-bar A sections (verses), an 8-bar B section (bridge), and a final 8-bar A section (chorus). The verses employ an AABB rhyming scheme—such as "glow/low" and "go/low"—which enhances singability and rhythmic flow.[3] Stylistically, the lyrics rely on the repetition of the refrain "the lamp is low" to evoke a sense of subdued, flickering light, creating a hypnotic quality ideal for jazz vocal improvisation.[3] The simple, repetitive phrasing allows for emotional delivery while maintaining accessibility, a hallmark of standards from the era.[20] No significant variations appear in the original 1939 lyric sheets compared to later publications.[2]
The lamp is low.
Dream and watch the shadows come and go,
The lamp is low.
While you linger in my arms,
My lips will sigh, "I love you so."
Dream the sweetest dream will ever know.
Tonight the moon is high,
The lamp is low.[20][21]