Come Rain or Come Shine is a popular music song and jazz standard written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It was written for the Broadway musical St. Louis Woman, which opened on March 30, 1946, and it was released as a single in 1946 from the St. Louis Woman album. The tune is a ballad noted for its opulent harmony and an unusual opening that repeats a single A natural note, creating a stark, driving mood. It became a modest hit during the show’s run and has since grown into a major jazz standard, widely covered and admired for its introspective possibilities for improvisation.
Notable recordings
- Tommy Dorsey (1946, first recording)
- Margaret Whiting (1946)
- Billie Holiday
- Sarah Vaughan
- Ray Charles
- Bill Evans
- Judy Garland
- Frank Sinatra
- Stan Getz
- Monica Zetterlund with the Bill Evans Trio
- Ralph Towner
