When Day Is Done is a 1926 English lyric version of a German tune by Robert Katscher, originally titled Madonna, du bist schöner als der Sonnenschein. The German melody was first released in 1924 and popularized by Kammersänger C. Richard Tauber. The English lyrics were written by Buddy G. DeSylva, and the song was first recorded in October 1926 in the United States by Harry Pollock & His Club Maurice Diamonds with a vocal chorus by Arthur Hall. The 1926 sheet music was published by Harms Incorporated in New York, and the piece soon became a popular jazz and pop standard performed by many artists. It marks a cross cultural journey from a Viennese revue tune to an American popular song.
