A Chronology of Gershwin's Music

(Part I: 1916-1924)

Title

Lyrics

Year 

Show
When You Want 'Em, You Can't Get 'Em, When You've Got 'Em, You Don't Want 'Em Lyric, Murray Roth   1916 
Making of a Girl Lyric, Harold Atteridge;  Music, Sigmund Romberg and George Gershwin   1916 The Passing Show of 1916
My Runaway Girl Lyric, Murray Roth   1916 The Passing Show of 1916
When the Armies Disband Lyric, Irving Caesar   1916
Rialto Ripples Music, George Gershwin and Will Donaldson   1917
We're Six Little Nieces of Our Uncle Sam Lyric, Lou Paley   1917
You-oo Just You Lyric, Irving Caesar   1918 Hitchy-Koo of 1918
The Real American Folk Song Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1918 Ladies First
Some Wonderful Sort of Someone Lyric, Schuyler Greene   1918 Ladies First
There's Magic in the Air Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1918 Half Past Eight
Hong Kong   1918 Half Past Eight
Ten Commandments of Love   1918 Half Past Eight
Cupid   1918 Half Past Eight
I Was So Young (You Were so Beautiful) Lyric, Irving Caesar and Al Bryan   1919 Good Morning, Judge
There's More to the Kiss than the X-X-X Lyric, Irving Caesar   1919 Good Morning, Judge
O Land of Mine, America Lyric, Micael E. O'Rourke   1919
Something About Love Lyric, Lou Paley   1919 The Lady in Red
Some Wonderful Sort of Someone (revised) Lyric, Schuyler Greene   1919 The Lady in Red
When You Live in a Furnished Flat Lyric, Arthur J. Jackson and B. G. DeSylva   1919 La-La-Lucille!
The Best of Everything Lyric, Arthur J. Jackson and B. G. DeSylva   1919 La-La-Lucille!
From Now On Lyric, Arthur J. Jackson and B. G. DeSylva   1919 La-La-Lucille!
It's Hard to Tell Lyric, Arthur J. Jackson and B. G. DeSylva   1919 La-La-Lucille!
Tee-Oodle-Um-Bum-Bo Lyric, Arthur J. Jackson and B. G. DeSylva   1919 La-La-Lucille!
Nobody But You Lyric, Arthur J. Jackson and B. G. DeSylva   1919 La-La-Lucille!
It's Great to Be in Love Lyric, Arthur J. Jackson and B. G. DeSylva   1919 La-La-Lucille!
There's More to the Kiss than the Sound Lyric, Irving Caesar   1919 La-La-Lucille!
Somehow It Seldom Comes True Lyric, Arthur J. Jackson and B. G. DeSylva   1919 La-La-Lucille!
The Love of a Wife Lyric, Arthur J. Jackson and B. G. DeSylva   1919 La-La-Lucille! (unused)
Our Little Kitchenette Lyric, Arthur J. Jackson and B. G. DeSylva   1919 La-La-Lucille! (unused)
Money, Money, Money! Lyric, Arthur J. Jackson and B. G. DeSylva   1919 La-La-Lucille! (unused)
Kisses Lyric, Arthur J. Jackson and B. G. DeSylva   1919 La-La-Lucille! (unused)
We're Pals Lyric, Irving Caesar   1919 Dere Mable 
Back Home Lyric, Arthur Francis   1919 Dere Mable
Swanee Lyric, Irving Caesar   1919 Capitol Revue
Come to the Moon Lyric, Ned Wayburn and Lou Paley   1919 Capitol Revue
The League of Nations Lyric, by B. G. DeSylva and John Henry   1919 Morris Gest Midnight Whirl
Doughnuts Lyric, by B. G. DeSylva and John Henry   1919 Morris Gest Midnight Whirl
Poppyland Lyric, by B. G. DeSylva and John Henry   1919 Morris Gest Midnight Whirl
Limehouse Nights Lyric, by B. G. DeSylva and John Henry   1919 Morris Gest Midnight Whirl
Let Cutie Cut Your Cuticle Lyric, by B. G. DeSylva and John Henry   1919 Morris Gest Midnight Whirl
Baby Dolls Lyric, by B. G. DeSylva and John Henry   1919 Morris Gest Midnight Whirl
LULLABY for string quartet   1919
Yan-Kee Lyric, Irving Caesar   1920
Oo, How I Love to Be Loved by You Lyric, Lou Paley   1920 Ed Wynn's Carnival
My Lady Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1920 George White's Scandals of 1920
Everbody Swat the Profiteer Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1920 George White's Scandals of 1920
On My Mind the Whole Night Long Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1920 George White's Scandals of 1920
Tum On and Tiss Me Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1920 George White's Scandals of 1920
Scandal Walk Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1920 George White's Scandals of 1920
The Songs of Long Ago Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1920 George White's Scandals of 1920
Idle Dreams Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1920 George White's Scandals of 1920
My Old Love Is My New Love Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1920 George White's Scandals of 1920
Waiting for the Sun to Come Out Lyric, Arthur Francis   1920 The Sweetheart Shop
Spanish Love Lyric, Irivng Caesar   1920 Broadway Brevities of 1920
Lu Lu Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1920 Broadway Brevities of 1920
Snow Flakes Lyric,, Arthur Jackson   1920 Broadway Brevities of 1920
On the Brim of Her Old Fashioned Bonnet Lyric, E. Ray Goetz   1920 From Picadilly to Broadway
The Baby Bluse Lyric, E. Ray Goetz   1920 From Picadilly to Broadway
Wanting You Lyric, Irving Caesar   1921 Blue Eyes
Just to Know You Are Mind Lyric, Arthur Francis   1921 A Dangerous Maid
Boy Wanted Lyric, Arthur Francis   1921 A Dangerous Maid
The Simple Life Lyric, Arthur Francis   1921 A Dangerous Maid
Dancing Shoes Lyric, Arthur Francis   1921 A Dangerous Maid
Some Rain Must Falll Lyric, Arthur Francis   1921 A Dangerous Maid (unused)
The Sirens Lyric, Arthur Francis   1921 A Dangerous Maid (unused)
Futurisic Melody Lyric, E. Ray Goetz   1921 Selwyn's Snapshhots of 1921
Mother Eve Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1921 George White's Scandals of 1921
I Love You Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1921 George White's Scandals of 1921
South Sea Isles Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1921 George White's Scandals of 1921
Drifting Along with the Tide Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1921 George White's Scandals of 1921
She's Just A Baby Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1921 George White's Scandals of 1921
Where East Meets West Lyric, Arthur Jackson   1921 George White's Scandals of 1921
My Log Cabin Home Lyric, Irving Caesar and B. G. DeSylva   1921 The Perfect Fool
No One Else but That Girl of Mine Lyric, Irving Caesar   1921 The Perfect Fool
Tomale (I'm Hot for You) Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1921
Swanee Rose (Originally published as "Dixie Rose") Lyric, Irving Caesar and B. G. DeSylva   1921
In the Heart of a Geisha Lyric, Fred Fisher   1921
Do It Again! Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1922 The French Doll
All to Myself Lyric, Arthur Francis   1922 For Goodness Sake
Someone Lyric, Arthur Francis   1922 For Goodness Sake
Tra-La-La Lyric, Arthur Francis   1922 For Goodness Sake
Just a Tiny Cup of Tea Lyric, B. G. DeSylva and E. Ray Goetz   1922 George White's Scandals of 1922
Oh, What She Hangs Our Lyric, B. G. DeSylva    1922 George White's Scandals of 1922
Cinderelatives Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1922 George White's Scandals of 1922
I Found a Four Leaf Clover Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1922 George White's Scandals of 1922
I Can't Tell Where They're from When They Dance Lyric, B. G. DeSylva and E. Ray Goetz   1922 George White's Scandals of 1922
I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise Lyric, B. G. DeSyva and Arthur Francis   1922 George White's Scandals of 1922
Across the Sea Lyric, B. G. DeSylva and E. Ray Goetz   1922 George White's Scandals of 1922
Argentina Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1922 George White's Scandals of 1922
Where Is the Man of My Dreams Lyric, B. G. DeSylva and E. Ray Goetz   1922 George White's Scandals of 1922
Selection Lyric, B. G. DeSylva and E. Ray Goetz   1922 George White's Scandals of 1922
Blue Monday    1922 George White's Scandals of 1922 (withdrawn after one performance)
Gol-Durn Music, George Gershwin and William Daly; Lyric, Brian Hooker   1922 Our Nell
Innocent Ingenue Baby  Music, George Gershwin and William Daly; Lyric, Brian Hooker   1922 Our Nell
The Cooney Country Fair Lyric, Brian Hooker   1922 Our Nell
Names I love to Hear Music,  George Gershwin and William Daly; Lryic, Brian Hooker   1922 Our Nell
By and By Lyric, Brian Hooker   1922 Our Nell
Madrigal Lyric, Brian Hooker   1922 Our Nell
We Go to Church on Sunday Lyric, Brian Hooker   1922 Our Nell
Walking Home with Angeline Lyric, Brian Hooker   1922 Our Nell
Oh, You Lady! Lyric, Brian Hooker   1922 Our Nell
Little Villages Lyric, Brian Hooker   1922 Our Nell
The Custody of the Child Lyric, Brian Hooker   1922 Our Nell (unused)
The Yankee Doodle Blues Lyric, Irving Caesar and B. G. DeSylva   1922
The Flapper Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1922
That American Boy of Mine Lyric, Irving Caesar   1923 The Dancing Girl
Sweethheart (I'm So Glad That I Met You) Lyric, Clifford Grey   1923 The Rainbow
Good-Night, My Dear Lyric, Clifford Grey   1923 The Rainbow
Any Little Tune Lyric, Clifford Grey   1923 The Rainbow
Moonlight in Versailles Lyric, Clifford Grey   1923 The Rainbow
In the Rain Lyric, Clifford Grey   1923 The Rainbow
Innocent Lonesome Blue Baby Lyric, Brian Hooker and Clifford Grey; Music, George Gershwin and William Daly   1923 The Rainbow
Beneath the Eastern Moon Lyric, Clifford Grey   1923 The Rainbow
Oh! Nina Lyric, Clifford Grey   1923 The Rainbow
Strut Lady with Me Lyric, Clifford Grey   1923 The Rainbow
Sunday in London Town Lyric, Clifford Grey   1923 The Rainbow
Little Scandal Dolls Lyric, B. G. DeSylva, E. Ray Goetz, and Ballard MacDonald   1923 George White's Scandals of 1923
You and I Lyric, B. G. DeSylva, E. Ray Goetz, and Ballard MacDonald   1923 George White's Scandals of 1923
Katrinka Lyric, B. G. DeSylva, E. Ray Goetz, and Ballard MacDonald   1923 George White's Scandals of 1923
Lo-La-Lo Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1923 George White's Scandals of 1923
There is Nothing Too Good for You Lyric, B. G. DeSylva, E. Ray Goetz   1923 George White's Scandals of 1923
Throw Her in High! Lyric, B. G. DeSylva, E. Ray Goetz   1923 George White's Scandals of 1923
Let's Be Lonesome Together Lyric, B. G. DeSylva, E. Ray Goetz   1923 George White's Scandals of 1923
The Life of a Rose Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1923 George White's Scandals of 1923
Where Is She? Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1923 George White's Scandals of 1923
Laugh Your Cares Away Lyric, B. G. DeSylva, E. Ray Goetz, and Ballard MacDonald   1923 George White's Scandals of 1923
(On the Beach at) How've-You-Been Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1923 George White's Scandals of 1923
Selection Lyric, B. G. DeSylva, E. Ray Goetz, and Ballard MacDonald   1923 George White's Scandals of 1923
I Won't Say I Will but I Won't Say I Won't  Lyric, B. G. DeSylva and Arthur Francis   1923 Little Miss Bluebeard
At Half Past Seven Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1923 Nifties of 1923
Nashville Nightingale Lyric, Irving Caesar   1923 Nifties of 1923
The Sunshine Trail Lyric, Arthur Francis   1923 The Sunshine Trail
Strike, Strike, Strike Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924  Sweet Little Devil
Virginia Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil
Someone Believes In You Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil
The Jijibo Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil
OPENING: Quite A Party Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil
Under a One-Man Top Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil 
The Matrimonial Handicap Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil
Just Supposing Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil 
Hey! Hey! Let Ér Go! Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil 
Hooray for the U.S.A. Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil 
Mah-Jongg Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil 
Pepita Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil 
Selection Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil 
You're Mighty Lucky, My Little Ducky Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil (unused) 
Sweet Little Devil Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil (unused) 
Be the Life of the Crowd Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 Sweet Little Devil (unused) 
RHAPSODY IN BLUE, for Jazz Band and Piano Orchestrated by Ferde Grofé    1924 Premiere: Aeolian Hall, 2/12/24 
Just Missed the Opening Chorus Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 George White's Scandals of 1924 
I Need a Garden Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 George White's Scandals of 1924 
Night Time in Araby Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 George White's Scandals of 1924 
I'm Going Back Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 George White's Scandals of 1924 
Year after Year Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 George White's Scandals of 1924 
Somebody Loves Me Lyric, B. G. DeSylva and Ballard MacDonald   1924 George White's Scandals of 1924 
Tune In (to Station J.O.Y.) Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 George White's Scandals of 1924 
Mah-Jongg Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 George White's Scandals of 1924 
Lovers of Art Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 George White's Scandals of 1924 
Rose of Madrid Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 George White's Scandals of 1924 
I Love You, My Darling Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 George White's Scandals of 1924 
Kongo Kate Lyric, B. G. DeSylva   1924 George White's Scandals of 1924 
Opening Chorus: Leaving Town While We May Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Till I Meet Someone Like You Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Isn't It Wonderful Lyric, Ira Gershwin and Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
This Is the Life for a Man Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
When Toby Is out of Town Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Some Far-Away Someone Lyric, Ira Gershwin and B. G. DeSylva   1924 Primrose 
The Mophams Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Finale: Can We Do Anything? Lyric, Ira Gershwin and Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Opening: Roses of France Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Four Little Sirens Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Berkeley Square and Kew Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Boy Wanted Lyric, Ira Gershwin and Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Wait a Bit, Susie Lyric, Ira Gershwin and Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Isn't It Terrible What They Did to Mary Queen of Scots Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Naughty Baby Lyric, Ira Gershwin and Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Finale: Is It the Fourteenth of July Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Ballet Lyric,    1924 Primrose 
I Make Hay When the Moon Shines Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
That New-Fangled Mother of Mine Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Beau Brummel Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Primrose 
Opening: Seeing Dickie Home Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good 
Hang on to Me Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good 
A Wonderful Party Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good 
The End of a String Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good 
We're Herre Because Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good 
Fascinating Rhythm Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good 
Opening: The Robinson Hotel Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good 
The Half of It, Dearie, Blues Lyric,    1924 Lady, Be Good
Juanita Lyric,    1924 Lady, Be Good
Little Jazz Bird Lyric,    1924 Lady, Be Good 
Swiss Miss Lyric, Arthur Jackson and Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good
The Man I Love Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good (unused)
Will You Remember Me? Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good (unused)
Singin'Pete Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good (unused)
Evening Star Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good (unused)
The Bad, Bad Men Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good (unused)
Opening: Weather Man Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good (unused)
Opening: Rainy Afternoon Girls Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good (unused)
Laddie Daddie Lyric, Ira Gershwin   1924 Lady, Be Good (unused)
Something About Love Lyric, Lou Paley   1924 Lady, Be Good (London production - 1926))
I'd Rather Charleston Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Lady, Be Good (London production - 1926))
Buy a Little Button from Us Lyric, Desmond Carter   1924 Lady, Be Good (London production - 1926))