Greatest Love Songs Ever: #10 “Stardust”

By Tom Quiner, Board President, Pulse Life Advocates

The greatest living songwriter, Paul McCartney, said that “Stardust” is the song he most wishes he had written.

Hoagy Carmichael composed the song in 1927, and Mitchell Parish added a dazzling set of lyrics the next year to create a timeless masterpiece that endures 98 years on.

Country legend, Willie Nelson, introduced a new generation to “Stardust” with his cover of the song in 1978, performed at the Austin Opera House. The crowd went nuts. Said Willie:

“There was a kind of stunned silence in the crowd for a moment, and then they exploded with cheering and whistling and applauding. The kids in the crowd thought ‘Stardust’ was a new song I had written. The older folks remembered the song well and loved it as much as I did.”

The song begins with such poetic tenderness, that you’re immediately hooked:

“And now the purple dusk of twilight time

Steals across the meadows of my heart.”

What comes next? It’s such a great set up, and Parish delivers:

“High up in the sky, the little stars climb,

Always reminding me that we’re apart.”

If you’ve ever fallen in love and been separated from your sweetheart, this song is speaking to you.

If you’ve ever been stationed abroad, or fought in a war, you know the ache of separation.

When I met my future wife, we engaged in a long distance courtship for a year. Stardust spoke to our situation, as well as to lovers of all ages … down through the ages.

The best version

The best version belongs to Nat King Cole, not Willie Nelson. Nat sings the entire song, including the poignant verses which set up the chorus and give it meaning. I don’t know why in the world Willie left them off. Seriously.

The verses explain that the lovers are apart, but their song binds them together, setting the stage for this lovely refrain, rich with internal rhymes and metaphor:

“Sometimes I wonder why I spend

The lonely night dreaming of a song,

The melody haunts my reverie,

And I am once again with you,

When our love was new,

And each kiss an inspiration.

But that was long ago.

Now my consolation,

Is in the stardust of a song.”

Some younger listeners may want to dismiss “Stardust” as sentimental mush. Some like the cynical, profane, repetitive lyrics of today, which are often overwhelmed by the same computer-generated rhythm tracks used on hundreds of other mindless songs churned out by AI-dependent talentless hacks.

To each their own. Those songs are disposable. Only a handful will ever become standards. Stardust will last as long as men court women on the path to marriage.

AI could not write a song like “Stardust,” because “Stardust” has soul. And a soulless machine can’t manufacture a song with soul.

I’ve talked about sentiment in previous entries to this series of the 52 Greatest Love Songs Ever. Nat King Cole conveys the essential sentimentality of the song in his recording without being syrupy.

Willie Nelson does the same. (Dig the use of a Hammond B-3 organ and harmonica!)

Willie Nelson sings “Stardust”

To those who disparage ‘old’ songs, it’s interesting to note that Nelson’s 1978 “Stardust” album was his most successful album ever, spending a full decade on Billboard’s country charts. Every track was a standard, including his recording of Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me.”

Most of the songs on my list are standards (but not all). These are timeless songs written by artists who were craftsmen at polishing their songs until they were perfect.

We’re now counting down the top ten love songs ever (according to me). Next week’s song is fun, driven by a powerful song title and incredible vocal performances by a number of great artists.

Until then, remember that love is the antidote to abortion. Spread the love by simply sharing the songs. And don’t forget to donate to Pulse. Thank-you!