Nancy (with the Laughing Face) is a 1942 song written by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Phil Silvers, originally titled Bessie (With The Laughing Face). Frank Sinatra first recorded it in 1944 and released it as a Columbia single in December 1944, with a runtime of about 3:39. The tune is a tender jazz standard and traditional pop ballad about a child with a laughing face, and its origin story includes Silvers suggesting the song for Johnny Burke’s wife Bessie, which later became associated with Sinatra’s daughter Nancy, a connection that led to royalties being assigned to Nancy. It quickly became a standard and has been recorded by many artists, including Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley with Bill Evans, The Fleetwoods, and The Johnny Mann Singers, appearing on albums such as Sinatra’s Sinatra (1963). The song also has notable pop culture ties, such as a version performed at Ronald Reagan’s 1981 inaugural ball sometimes referred to as Nancy (with the Reagan Face).
