“Speak Low” was written in 1943 by composer Kurt Weill. It was first featured on the musical comedy “One Touch of Venus”. Ogden Nash wrote lyrics to this piece. Speak Low has been widely recorded and performed amongst jazz musicians and is an important tune to add to your repertoire. There is a set of popular hits during the head that are worth checking out. An example of this is a recording of Ahmad Jamal which you can find in “The Complete Ahmad Jamal Argo Trio Sessions”. This tune is most commonly played in the key of F major.
Speak Low
Words & Music by Ogden Nash & Kurt WeillRecorded by Frank Sinatra, 1945
A7+5 Em7/9 A7 Em7/9 A7/9 Em7/9 A7 Em7/9
Speak low when you speak, love,
A7/9 Em7/9 A7/9 Em7/9 A7 D6 A7 B7
Our summer day withers a - way too soon, too soon.
Cdim A7 Em7 A7 Em7 Cdim
Speak low when you speak, love
Edim D F#7 A7 Em7 Edim D
Our moment is swift, like ships a - drift we're swept apart.
A7+5 Em7/9 A7 Em7/9 A7/9 Em7/9 A7 Em7/9
Speak low, darling speak low,
A7/9 Em7/9 A7/9 Em7/9 A7 D7 A7 B7
Love is a spark lost in the dark, too soon, too soon,
Cdim A7/6 Em7 A7 Edim Em7/9 Edim D
I feel that wherever I go tomorrow is near,
Cdim A7 Edim D
Tomorrow is here and always too soon.
Em7 Cdim G G/F# Em7 A7
Time is so old and love so brief,
D G A7 DM7 F#m Edim F#7
Love is pure gold and time a thief.
A7+5 Em7/9 A7 Em7/9 A7/9 Em7/9 A7 Em7/9
We're late darling, we're late,
A7/9 Em7/9 A7/9 Em7/9 A7 D6 A7 B7
The curtain des - cends, ev'rything ends too soon, too soon,
G9 Edim D F#7 B7
I wait darling, I wait
D F#m Bm E Edim Gdim A7 A7+5 D6
Will you speak love to me, speak love to me and soon.
