Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise is a song with music by Sigmund Romberg and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II from the 1928 operetta The New Moon. It tells of bitterness and yearning for a lost love, sung in the show by Philippe, the best friend of the hero Robert Mission. The piece was originally composed as a tango, but many later versions swing or otherwise alter the tempo and feel to fit jazz styles. In the 1940 film version of the operetta, Nelson Eddy sings it as a cheerful ditty while he shines his shoes, despite the melancholy lyrics. The song also features in MGM’s Deep in My Heart (1954) sung by Betty Wand (dubbing for Tamara Toumanova) and by Helen Traubel. Since then it has become a respected jazz standard with numerous recordings by artists such as John Coltrane, Abbey Lincoln, Miles Davis, Chet Baker and Stan Getz with Kenny Barron, among others. It remains a staple on many albums and in jazz repertoires today.
