Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"I Wished on the Moon" is a song composed by Ralph Rainger with lyrics by Dorothy Parker, written for the 1935 film The Big Broadcast of 1936. Bing Crosby sang it in the film, and his recording with the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra reached number 2 on the charts. The earliest recording, however, was made by Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra featuring a young Billie Holiday on vocals in July 1935.

The song follows a 32-bar AABA form and is best suited to a gentle ballad tempo. The melody unfolds in graceful, arching phrases that complement the romantic longing of the lyrics. The harmony relies on standard ii–V–I progressions, with the bridge introducing a modulation that effectively heightens the emotional contour. It is a vocalist's song at heart, rewarding expressive phrasing and subtle dynamic control, though instrumentalists have also found it a compelling vehicle for tender ballad interpretation.

The original Billie Holiday–Teddy Wilson recording holds historical significance as one of Holiday's early sessions. Frank Sinatra's version on the 1966 album Moonlight Sinatra, arranged by Nelson Riddle, offers a lush, atmospheric reading that has become a beloved reference for this standard.