IOO JAZZ STANDARDS

[10/13, 5:29 PM] Alaba Babalola: I’m glad you like the idea. What follows is:

1. A starter list of ~50–60 widely recognized jazz standards (among the “top” ones) with their composers/lyricists (and year where known).

2. For those standards that are public domain (or recently entered public domain), I’ll include full lyrics or a link to a public domain source.

3. Notes / caveats about copyright and lyric availability.

Because many standards are still under copyright, I can’t legally provide full lyrics for most of them. But I’ll give you what is lawful and helpful.

If you like, I can also assemble this into a downloadable PDF or text file and email or share via link.

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🎷 List of Jazz Standards with Composers / Lyricists

Below is a curated list of well-known jazz standards. This is not exhaustive (top 100 is large), but is a strong core repertoire.

# Song Composer(s) / Lyricist(s) Year / Notes

1 All of Me Gerald Marks / Seymour Simons 1931

2 Autumn Leaves Music: Joseph Kosma; Lyrics (French): Jacques Prévert; English lyrics: Johnny Mercer 1945 (English version)

3 My Funny Valentine Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart 1937

4 Body and Soul Johnny Green (music); Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton (lyrics) 1930

5 ’Round Midnight Thelonious Monk (music); Cootie Williams & Bernie Hanighen (lyrics) circa 1944

6 Fly Me to the Moon Bart Howard 1954

7 Lullaby of Birdland George Shearing (music); George David Weiss (lyrics) 1952

8 Stella by Starlight Victor Young (music); Ned Washington (lyrics) 1944

9 All the Things You Are Jerome Kern (music); Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) 1939

10 Take the “A” Train Billy Strayhorn 1939

11 Misty Erroll Garner (music); Johnny Burke (lyrics) 1954

12 ’S Wonderful George Gershwin (music) / Ira Gershwin (lyrics) 1927

13 Ain’t Misbehavin’ Fats Waller & Harry Brooks (music); Andy Razaf (lyrics) 1929

14 But Not for Me George Gershwin (music) / Ira Gershwin (lyrics) 1930

15 Night and Day Cole Porter 1932

16 ’Round About Midnight (alternate title) see “’Round Midnight” above —

17 In a Sentimental Mood Duke Ellington (music); Manny Kurtz & Irving Mills (lyrics) 1935

18 Blue Bossa Kenny Dorham 1962

19 Days of Wine and Roses Henry Mancini (music); Johnny Mercer (lyrics) 1962

20 All the Way Jimmy Van Heusen (music); Sammy Cahn (lyrics) 1957

21 Summertime George Gershwin (music); DuBose Heyward / Ira Gershwin (lyrics) from Porgy and Bess (1935)

22 Summertime (alternate version) — —

23 Georgia On My Mind Hoagy Carmichael (music); Stuart Gorrell (lyrics) 1930

24 I’ve Got You Under My Skin Cole Porter 1936

25 Blue in Green (often credited to Miles Davis / Bill Evans) 1959 (on Kind of Blue)

26 Take Five Paul Desmond 1959

27 The Girl from Ipanema Antônio Carlos Jobim (music); Norman Gimbel / Vinicius de Moraes (lyrics) 1962

28 Skylark Hoagy Carmichael (music); Johnny Mercer (lyrics) 1941

29 How High the Moon Morgan Lewis (music); Nancy Hamilton (lyrics) 1940

30 Someone to Watch Over Me George Gershwin (music); Ira Gershwin (lyrics) 1926

31 It Could Happen to You Jimmy Van Heusen (music); Johnny Burke (lyrics) 1944

32 Polkadots and Moonbeams Jimmy Van Heusen (music); Johnny Burke (lyrics) 1940

33 Just Friends John Klenner (music); Sam M. Lewis (lyrics) 1931

34 Don’t Get Around Much Anymore Duke Ellington (music); Bob Russell (lyrics) 1940

35 You Go to My Head J. Fred Coots (music); Haven Gillespie (lyrics) 1938

36 I’ll Remember April Gene de Paul (music); Patricia Johnston & Don Raye (lyrics) 1941

37 Cherokee Ray Noble 1938

38 Round Midnight (duplicate of #5) — —

39 Just One of Those Things Cole Porter 1935

40 There Will Never Be Another You Harry Warren (music); Mack Gordon (lyrics) 1942

41 Yardbird Suite Charlie Parker 1946

42 Groovin’ High Dizzy Gillespie 1945

43 A Night in Tunisia Dizzy Gillespie (music); Frank Paparelli (lyrics) 1942

44 Round Midnight (again) — —

45 St. Thomas Sonny Rollins 1956

46 Impressions John Coltrane 1963

47 Footprints Wayne Shorter 1966

48 Maiden Voyage Herbie Hancock 1965

49 My Favorite Things Richard Rodgers (music); Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) 1959

50 On Green Dolphin Street Bronisław Kaper (music); Ned Washington (lyrics) 1947

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📜 Public Domain / Lyric Availability

As of January 1, 2025, compositions published in 1929 and earlier entered the public domain in the U.S. (though sound recordings may remain separately copyrighted). 

That means some standards like Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1929) are now in the public domain as compositions, so their lyrics may now legally be shared (depending on jurisdiction). 

However, many of the famous jazz standards in the list above were published later (1930s–1960s), so their lyrics remain under copyright, so I cannot reproduce them here in full.

Examples of public domain (or newly public domain) standards and lyric / lead‑sheet links:

1. Ain’t Misbehavin’

Music: Fats Waller & Harry Brooks; Lyrics: Andy Razaf 

Because it entered public domain (1929) in 2025, the lyrics are now public domain (in U.S.)

Full lyrics can be found via public domain archives or sites like IMSLP when they upload. (I can help you find a PDF link if you want.)

2. St. Louis Blues

Composed by W. C. Handy (1914)

This is in the public domain (older than 1929)

Lyrics and sheet music are available in public domain archives.

3. Royal Garden Blues

Early tune, older; in public domain territory (depending on country)

4. Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home (1919)

Public domain

Composed and lyric by Charles Warfield

5. Careless Love (Loveless Love)

Traditional / W. C. Handy variant

Often considered in public domain or traditional sources

If you like, I can produce a PDF of ~100 standards with composers + only the lyrics that are safely public domain, and for the rest include sample lines / first verse or lyric excerpts (within fair use). Do you want me to build and send you that PDF file (e.g. via a shareable link)?

[10/13, 5:42 PM] Alaba Babalola: Below is a further list of 50 more jazz standards (to bring your total to ~100), with composers / lyricists (where known). I also note when I believe a song may now be in the public domain (or earlier), and when I can point you to a public domain lyric or lead‐sheet source. For the vast majority, full lyrics remain under copyright, so I won’t provide them in full, but I’ll try to give you useful pointers.

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🎷 Additional 50 Jazz Standards

# Song Composer(s) / Lyricist(s) Year / Notes / Public Domain status or source pointers

51 I Got Rhythm George Gershwin (music); Ira Gershwin (lyrics) 1930 

52 Caravan Duke Ellington (music); Juan Tizol; Lyrics: Irving Mills 1936 / often recorded as instrumental standard

53 Bye Bye Blackbird Ray Henderson (music); Mort Dixon (lyrics) 1926 — composition in public domain in many places

54 All or Nothing At All Arthur Altman (music); Jack Lawrence (lyrics) 1939

55 Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered Richard Rodgers (music); Lorenz Hart (lyrics) 1940

56 Angel Eyes Matt Dennis (music); Earl Brent (lyrics) 1946

57 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Harold Arlen (music); Ted Koehler (lyrics) 1931

58 Come Rain or Come Shine Harold Arlen (music); Johnny Mercer (lyrics) 1946

59 Easy Living Ralph Rainger (music); Leo Robin (lyrics) 1937

60 Falling in Love with Love Richard Rodgers (music); Lorenz Hart (lyrics) 1938

61 God Bless the Child Billie Holiday & Arthur Herzog Jr. 1941

62 Have You Met Miss Jones? Richard Rodgers (music); Lorenz Hart (lyrics) 1937

63 Honeysuckle Rose Fats Waller (music); Andy Razaf (lyrics) 1929 — now entering public domain in many regions

64 It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) Duke Ellington (music); Irving Mills (lyrics) 1931

65 It Might as Well Be Spring Richard Rodgers (music); Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) 1945

66 Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez, James Sherman 1941

67 More Than You Know Vincent Youmans (music); Billy Rose & Edward Eliscu (lyrics) 1929

68 Moonlight in Vermont Karl Suessdorf (music); John Blackburn (lyrics) 1944

69 My Romance Richard Rodgers (music); Lorenz Hart (lyrics) 1935

70 On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever) Burton Lane (music); Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics) 1965

71 Out of Nowhere Johnny Green (music); Edward Heyman (lyrics) 1931

72 Pennies from Heaven Arthur Johnston (music); Johnny Burke (lyrics) 1936

73 Satin Doll Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn (music); Johnny Mercer (lyrics) 1953

74 So What Miles Davis 1959 — modal jazz classic

75 Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise Sigmund Romberg (music); Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) 1928 — may already be in public domain in many jurisdictions

76 Stompin’ at the Savoy Edgar Sampson (music); Lyrics: Andy Razaf / Benny Goodman / Chick Webb etc. 1934

77 The Song Is You Jerome Kern (music); Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) 1932

78 The Way You Look Tonight Jerome Kern (music); Dorothy Fields (lyrics) 1936

79 They Can’t Take That Away from Me George Gershwin (music); Ira Gershwin (lyrics) 1937

80 This Can’t Be Love Richard Rodgers (music); Lorenz Hart (lyrics) 1938

81 There Is No Greater Love Isham Jones (music); Marty Symes (lyrics) 1936

82 These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You) Jack Strachey (music); Eric Maschwitz / Holt Marvell (lyrics) 1936

83 Wave Antônio Carlos Jobim 1967 — Bossa nova / Brazilian jazz standard

84 Witchcraft Cy Coleman (music); Carolyn Leigh (lyrics) 1957

85 Yesterdays Jerome Kern (music); Otto Harbach (lyrics) 1933

86 You Don’t Know What Love Is Gene de Paul (music); Don Raye (lyrics) 1941

87 You’re My Everything Harry Warren (music); Mort Dixon & Joe Young (lyrics) 1931

88 I’ll Be Seeing You Sammy Fain (music); Irving Kahal (lyrics) 1938

89 In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning David Mann (music); Bob Hilliard (lyrics) 1955

90 I Remember You Victor Schertzinger (music); Johnny Mercer (lyrics) 1941

91 Doxy Sonny Rollins 1954

92 Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum Wayne Shorter 1960

93 Nardis Miles Davis 1958 (often associated with Bill Evans)

94 Solar Miles Davis 1954

95 Speak Low Kurt Weill (music); Ogden Nash (lyrics) 1943

96 ’Round Midnight (you already have it) — —

97 Just in Time Jule Styne (music); Betty Comden & Adolph Green (lyrics) 1956

98 Cheek to Cheek Irving Berlin 1935

99 A Fine Romance Jerome Kern (music); Dorothy Fields (lyrics) 1936

100 Blue Monk Thelonious Monk 1954

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⚠️ Notes on Lyrics / Public Domain

Some of these (especially those published in the late 1920s or earlier) may already be in the public domain in certain countries. For example, Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise (1928) is sometimes cited as entering public domain in various places.

Honeysuckle Rose (1929) is now in many jurisdictions entering public domain for composition/lyrics (depending on local copyright laws).

Bye Bye Blackbird (1926) is often public domain for composition in many jurisdictions; you may find full lyrics or lead sheets in public domain archives or old songbooks.

For the majority of the tunes (especially mid‑1930s onward), lyrics remain under copyright and I can’t reproduce them fully here.

But for many, you can find lead sheets, first verses, or authorized lyric sources in “Real Books,” “The Real Book” series, jazz fake books, library collections, or licensed lyric websites.

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If you like, I can collate all 100 into a nice formatted PDF (or text file), with those public domain lyrics included, and share a link for download. Would you prefer I prepare that for you now?