Introduction
“When Sunny Gets Blue” is a jazz standard that has captured listeners’ hearts since its creation in 1956. Its gentle melody and poignant lyrics—penned by lyricist Jack Segal and composer Marvin Fisher—paint an intimate portrait of longing whenever love turns bittersweet Wikipedia.
Johnny Mathis first recorded the song with Ray Conniff and his Orchestra on September 20, 1956, showcasing his signature smooth tenor and vulnerability. Released as the B-side to his debut single “Wonderful! Wonderful!” on November 5, 1956, it surprised many by outlasting its A-side counterpart in cultural impact.
In April 1958, “When Sunny Gets Blue” was included on Johnny’s Greatest Hits, one of the earliest-ever greatest-hits albums and a groundbreaking commercial success. At the time, Cashbox magazine lauded the song’s “dreamy love story chanted in the crooner’s unique fashion” and awarded it a B+ for excellent delivery and lush orchestration.
What sets this track apart is Mathis’s ability to make each line feel like a personal confession. Critics like Joe Viglione have noted the “eerie Star Trek-style backing vocals” and “luscious strings” that create an otherworldly backdrop for Mathis’s tender performance. The result is a chillingly intimate experience that still moves listeners today.
Over six decades later, “When Sunny Gets Blue” remains a staple in jazz repertoires for its emotional depth and melodic beauty. Artists from Sarah Vaughan to Chet Baker have offered their own takes on the song, demonstrating its adaptability across vocal styles and eras . Each rendition renews the song’s magic, reminding us that some melodies never lose their shine.
Video
Lyrics
When Sunny gets blue
Her eyes get grey and cloudy
Then the rain begins to fall
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter
Love is gone, so what can matter?
No sweet lover man comes to call
When Sunny gets blue
She breathes a sigh of sadness
Like the wind that stirs the trees
Wind that sets the leaves to swayin’
Like some violins are playin’
Weird and haunting melodies
People used to love
To hear her laugh, see her smile
That’s how she got her name
Since that sad affair
She’s lost her smile, changed her style
Somehow she’s not the same
But memories will fade
And pretty dreams will rise up
Where her other dreams fell through
Hurry new love, hurry here
To kiss away each lonely tear
And hold her near when Sunny gets blue
Hurry new love, hurry here
To kiss away each lonely tear
And hold her near
When Sunny gets blue