They Can't Take That Away from Me
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They Can't Take That Away From Me is a 1937 song (see 1937 in music) written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and first performed by Fred Astaire in the movie Shall We Dance (1937).
The song is performed by Astaire on the foggy deck of the ferry from New Jersey to Manhattan and sung to Ginger Rogers, who remains silent listening throughout. No dance sequence follows, which was unusual for the Astaire-Rogers numbers (Astaire and Rogers did dance to it later in their last movie The Barkleys of Broadway). The song, in the context of the film, notes some of the things that Peter (Astaire) will miss about Linda (Rogers). The lyrics include "the way you wear your hat, the way you sip your tea", and "the way you hold your knife, the way we danced 'til three", each verse followed by the line "no no, they can't take that away from me." The basic meaning of the song is that even if the lovers part, though physically separated the memories cannot be forced from them. Thus it is a song of mixed joy and sadness.
Many artists have recorded the song since, and it has become a standard, as with so many of Gershwin's songs performed by Astaire. It was famously recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1962, appearing on the album "Sinatra and Swingin' Brass". Sinatra's version injected his trademark swing feel, giving the song a new lighthearted boost. Other artists who have recorded the song include Ella Fitzgerald, on her epic 1959 album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook, Billie Holiday, and more recently Lisa Stansfield, Rod Stewart, Tuck & Patti and Robbie Williams.
