Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

Herman Hupfeld wrote both the words and music to this iconic song for the 1931 Broadway musical Everybody's Welcome, where it was introduced by Frances Williams. Originally a modest hit, the song achieved immortality when Dooley Wilson performed it as Sam in the 1942 film Casablanca. It was voted #2 on AFI's list of the greatest songs in American film history.

Originally published in E-flat major and performed in D-flat major in the film, the song has since been played in various keys. The famous refrain beginning "You must remember this" is actually the chorus—a preceding verse referencing Einstein's theory exists but is rarely performed. The melody is gentle and immediately memorable, carried by warm, uncomplicated harmony that makes it one of the most singable standards in the repertoire. It is almost always performed as a ballad.

Due to the 1942 musicians' strike, Wilson could not record a commercial version; RCA Victor reissued Rudy Vallée's 1931 recording, which reached #1 eleven years after its original release. Jazz recordings by Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and Frank Sinatra are among the most celebrated versions. Since 1999, Warner Bros. has incorporated the song's melody into its studio logo, a tribute to Casablanca's enduring legacy.