Darn That Dream — Chord Changes & Harmonic Analysis
- Composer:
- Jimmy Van Heusen
- Year:
- 1939
- Key:
- G major
- Form:
- AABA (32 bars)
- Style:
- Ballad
- Tempo:
- 60–100 BPM
A beautiful ballad with rich harmonic movement. Features chromatic bass lines and effective use of altered dominants.
About This Standard
Composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Eddie DeLange for the 1939 Broadway musical Swingin' the Dream, Darn That Dream became a favorite jazz ballad through Tommy Dorsey's 1939 recording. Its lush, extended chord vocabulary and dreamy atmosphere made it a natural vehicle for introspective ballad playing.
Notable recordings:
- Tommy Dorsey — (1939, original recording)
- Miles Davis — (various recordings)
- Bill Evans — (various recordings)
Chord Changes
Notation
Harmonic Analysis
Darn That Dream is a 32-bar AABA ballad in G major with rich extended harmony. The A sections feature a lush chain of ii-V-I progressions with added 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths, giving the tune its dreamy, impressionistic character. Secondary dominants add color throughout. The bridge moves to D major territory before returning home. The slow harmonic rhythm and extended voicings make it an ideal vehicle for chord melody playing and developing a lush, orchestral piano style.