Lyrics by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers

Lyrics published on The Complete Lyrics of Lorenz Hart

Blue moon,
you saw me standing alone
without a dream in my heart
without a love on my own.

Blue moon,
you knew just what I was there for
you heard me saying a prayer for
somebody I really could care for.

And then there suddenly appeared before me,
the only one my arms will ever hold
I heard somebody whisper, "Please adore me."
and when I looked,
the moon had turned to gold.
Blue moon,
now I'm lo longer alone
without a dream in my heart
without a love on my own.

In its first version the melody that became Blue Moon was intended for Jean Harlow to sing in Hollywood Party. It was called Prayer. Neither Miss Harlow nor Prayer appeared in Hollywood Party.

In its second life the "Prayer/Blue Moon" tune was given a new lyrics and became the title song of the 1934 M.G.M film Manhattan Melodrama, which starred Clark Gable , William Powell and Myrna Loy, and was the movie that John Dillinger had been watching when he was gunned down outside the Biograph Theatre In Chicago.
The song was also know as "It's Just That Kind Of Play", but was cut from the film before it was ready for release.

Manhattan Melodrama Was also reasonable of the third setting of the "Prayer/ Blue Moon" tune. Under its new title "The Bad In Every Man" It was sung by Shirley Ross in the film.

The fourth lyric setting of the melody came about when Jack Robbins, Head of the M.G.M.'s publishing company, liked the tune and said he would promote it if Hart would write a more commercial lyrics. The result was Blue Moon.