Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" is a ballad written by Cole Porter in 1944. It was introduced by Nan Wynn and Jere McMahon in Billy Rose's Broadway revue Seven Lively Arts. Though the show ran only 183 performances, this song endured as one of Porter's most poignant contributions to the Great American Songbook.

Set in E♭ major with a 32-bar ABAC form, the song's hallmark is the harmonic shift from major to minor that Porter writes directly into the lyric. At the key moment, the harmony moves from A♭ major to A♭ minor, perfectly mirroring the bittersweet ache of parting described in the words. The overall harmonic language is restrained and elegant, with the melody unfolding in simple, graceful phrases that allow the emotional weight to come from the subtle modal coloring. For improvisers, the challenge lies in honoring the song's understated beauty while exploring the expressive possibilities of this major-to-minor shift.

The benchmark recording is Ella Fitzgerald's 1956 version on Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book for Verve, with orchestral arrangements by Buddy Bregman. The Benny Goodman Quintet with vocalist Peggy Mann made the first notable recording in 1944, reaching number 12 on the charts.