Frank Sinatra “I’ll Wind”

“In The Wee Small Hours”: 70 Years Of A Masterpiece. Chapter 13 – Repertoire: “I’ll Wind”

Frank Sinatra “I’ll Wind”

Composed by Harold Arlen (music) and Ted Koehler (lyrics) in 1934, “Ill Wind” was created for that year’s Cotton Club Parade and was originally performed by Adelaide Hall. This piece marked the final collaboration between Arlen and Koehler for the legendary Cotton Club. Its somber, melancholic tone made it a standout ballad in the vocal jazz repertoire of the era.

The song is a sorrowful lament against adverse forces—represented by a “cruel wind”—that seem determined to bring misfortune. The narrator feels defeated by bad luck and the wounds of lost love. It is a plea for that negative wind to go away and allow a moment of peace. Nelson Riddle’s arrangement is restrained and sophisticated, employing soft strings and gentle winds to evoke an introspective atmosphere. Sinatra delivers the song with a blend of resignation and elegance, enhancing the theme’s gloomy nature without falling into exaggeration.

Blow, ill wind, blow away
Let me rest today
You’re blowin’ me no good
No good
Go, ill wind, go away
Skies are oh so gray
Around my neighborhood
And that’s no good
You’re only misleading
The sunshine I’m needing
Ain’t that a shame
It’s so hard to keep up
With troubles that creep up
From out of nowhere
When love’s to blame
So, ill wind, blow away
Let me rest today
You’re blowin’ me no good
No good”

Article written by Mahnuel Muñoz (Al Mal Tiempo, Frank Sinatra) https://www.facebook.com/groups/120950148274703/

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