Young at Heart (Frank Sinatra song)

"Young at Heart"
Song

For the Bananarama song of the same name, see Young at Heart (Bananarama song).

"Young at Heart" is a pop standard, a ballad with music by Johnny Richards and lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. The song was written and published in 1953, with Leigh contributing the lyrics to what was originally a Richards instrumental called "Moonbeam." Frank Sinatra was the first performer to record the song, which became a million-selling hit in 1953 (and spilling over with popularity into 1954). The song was such a hit that a movie that Sinatra was filming at the same time with Doris Day was renamed to the song title, and the song was included in the opening and closing credits of the movie, which was released as Young at Heart. The song has also been used on the soundtracks of other films, including It Could Happen to You, The Front, Sweet Dreams, and Space Cowboys (in a rendition by Willie Nelson).

Other performers who have recorded versions of "Young at Heart" include Jimmy Durante, Connie Francis, Perry Como, Tony Bennett, Shawn Colvin, Rosemary Clooney, Bobby Vinton, Tom Waits, Bing Crosby, Barry Manilow, Landon Pigg and Vonda Shepard. The Cure incorporated verses from "Young At Heart" during concert performances of "Why Can't I Be You?" (widely available on bootlegs).

Brooke Astor, chairwoman of the Vincent Astor Foundation and the wife of the last member of the famous Astor family, died on August 13, 2007. The Rockefeller University paid for a death notice in the Times using lyrics from the song:

"And if you should survive to 105, Look at all you'll derive out of being alive. Then here is the best part, You'll have a head start, If you are among the very young at heart."