pennies from heaven

This standard found a silver lining in the dark grey cloud of the Great Depression. The songwriting team of Johnny Burke and Arthur Johnston composed ‘Pennies from Heaven’ in 1936. Johnson wrote the music and Burke did the lyrics. The song gave the title to two movies and has been featured in several other films. It has been recorded by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Dinah Washington, Clark Terry, Frances Langford, Arthur Tracy, Big Joe Turner, Dean Martin, The Skyliners, and many others.








Bing Crosby introduced the song in the film ‘Pennies From Heaven’, for which it received an Academy Award nomination. His version with with Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra spent ten weeks at the top of the charts.


That same year Billie Holiday recorded a version with Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra. Their version peaked at number three.



Louis Prima


Stan Getz with the Oscar Peterson Trio




Frank Sinatra and Count Basie





A long time ago
A million years BC
The best things in life
Were absolutely free.
But no one appreciated
A sky that was always blue.
And no one congratulated
A moon that was always new.
So it was planned that they would vanish now and them
And you must pay before you get them back again.
That's what storms were made for
And you shouldn't be afraid for
Every time it rains it rains
Pennies from heaven.
Don't you know each cloud contains
Pennies from heaven.
You'll find your fortune falling
All over town.
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down.
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers.
If you want the things you love
You must have showers.
So when you hear it thunder
Don't run under a tree.
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me