I'm Beginning to See the Light is a 1944 jazz standard with music by Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, and Harry James and lyrics by Don George. It was first recorded by Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra in New York on December 1, 1944, with Joya Sherrill on vocals, and released in early 1945 as RCA Victor 20-1618 backed with Don't You Know I Care. A competing version by Harry James and His Orchestra with Kitty Kallen topped the charts in January 1945, while Ellington's version reached No 6 on the pop chart. The tune quickly became a swing and big band staple and has been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie and many others. Known for its witty light imagery in the lyrics and a vamp driven A section, it has appeared in Broadway shows such as Sophisticated Ladies and in the 2000 film My Dog Skip.
