Isn't It a Pity? is a song composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It was written for the unsuccessful 1933 musical Pardon My English and introduced by George Givot and Josephine Huston. The piece was released in 1933 as part of the show, not on a standalone album, and later became a standard recorded by many artists. Genre wise it is a show tune and a classic American popular song. Notable recordings include Sarah Vaughan on the 1958 album Sarah Vaughan Sings George Gershwin and Ella Fitzgerald on the 1959 album Ella Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book. The song is known for its reflective, rueful mood about love and missed chances.
