Softly, as I Leave You (song)

"Softly, as I Leave You" is a popular song composed by Antonio DeVita with original Italian lyrics by Giorgio Calabrese.

It was originally an Italian success in 1960 by Mina, at the San Remo Music Festival, entitled "Piano" ("Softly"). Mina published a recording of the song first time as a single in 1960, and later as well on an EP and on three LPs.

The English songwriter Hal Shaper, noticed the song and in November 1961 wrote English lyrics to the melody, calling it "Softly, as I Leave You". It is best known in versions by Matt Monro (#10 on the British charts in 1962, Monro had US "Bubbling Under the Top 100" entries in Billboard in 1962 and 1964,) and Frank Sinatra (#27 on Billboard Hot 100 in 1964). Other recordings have been made by artists as Bobby Darin, Andy Williams, Robert Goulet,Doris Day (1964), Elvis Presley (1973), Cliff Richard (l983)and later Shirley Bassey.

The Lettermen also recorded it, including it as a track on their 1964 album "She Cried". We Five also recorded it, including it as a track eleven on their 1965 album "You Were On My Mind". The song also haunted jazz legend Shirley Horn, who recorded a very intimate version on her 1987 album "Softly". "Softly, as I Leave You" was reprised by Michael Bublé as a B-side on his 2004 EP "Feeling Good".

The song features an unusual structure:

It is in the key of B Maj - in the Sinatra version at least - The general form of the chord progressions is: I, IV, V. In other words; first chord: B, second chord: E (the fourth of B) third chord: F# The same structure is repeated, but this time in the key of D (D, G, A) before falling back to B.