Lover is a 1932 popular song composed by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Lorenz Hart. It was introduced by Jeanette MacDonald in the film Love Me Tonight (1932) and appears on the movie’s soundtrack. The tune was originally conceived as a Viennese waltz, but soon became a swinging jazz standard performed in many tempos and styles. It charted in 1933 with popular recordings by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, Guy Lombardo, and Greta Keller. Over the years it has been recorded by artists such as Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane, Gene Krupa, and Stan Kenton, making it one of Rodgers and Hart’s enduring gems. The song remains a staple in the Rodgers and Hart legacy and a favorite in jazz repertoires around the world.
