Tune Tuesday: Always

 

A Love Song for the Ages: Irving Berlin’s Always

Some songs are more than just melodies and lyrics—they carry stories, memories, and deep emotions within them. Irving Berlin’s Always is one of those songs. Written in 1925, this tune isn’t just a jazz standard—it’s a love letter, quite literally.

A Musical Gift of Love

Berlin composed Always as a wedding gift for his future wife, Ellin Mackay, whom he married in 1926. But he didn’t just write the song for her—he gave her all the royalties, a gesture that would prove to be incredibly valuable as the song became a major hit. Imagine that—one of the most successful songwriters of all time handing over the financial rights to one of his compositions as a pure expression of love. That’s a pretty high bar for romantic gestures!

The song was an immediate success, covered by countless artists over the decades, from Frank Sinatra to Billie Holiday. Despite its popularity in the early 20th century, Always isn’t heard as often in jazz jams today. It belongs to an older era of standards, a time before bebop pushed harmonic complexity to new levels. Still, its simplicity and heartfelt melody make it a timeless piece.

A Study in Simplicity

Musically, Always is a great example of how a straightforward chord progression and melody can be incredibly effective. Compared to the intricate harmonies of later jazz styles—bebop, modal jazz, fusion—it feels almost minimalistic. But that’s part of its charm. There’s a purity to its movement, a clarity that allows the emotions behind the music to shine through.

For guitarists, Always provides a beautiful study in accompaniment. Its steady harmonic structure makes it a great piece for practicing chord-melody arrangements, and the lyrical quality of the tune allows for expressive soloing. Sometimes, stepping back from complex progressions and digging into a simple, heartfelt tune can be just as rewarding as tackling a John Coltrane chart.

Experience Always on Guitar

There’s something special about revisiting these older tunes, especially ones with such a touching backstory. If you haven’t explored Always before, I highly recommend giving it a listen and even taking it for a spin on your instrument.

Want to hear it come to life on guitar? Check out my performance of Always and let’s keep the music going. CLICK HERE

JS
 jonshields.org
 guitarbook.org


*note - part or all of this article may have been written with AI.

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