I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)

"I Get Along Without You Very Well" is a popular song composed by Hoagy Carmichael in 1939, with lyrics based on a poem written by Jane Brown Thompson, and the main melodic theme on the Fantaisie-Impromptu in C sharp minor, Op 66, by Frédéric Chopin.[1]

Thompson's identity as the author of the poem was for many years unknown, even to Carmichael; he had been handed the poem anonymously at an event at Indiana University, and the poem only noted the author as "J.B.". Carmichael noted J.B.'s name in the song's sheet music as the author of the poem that inspired the lyrics, and asked for help to identify "J.B.". However, it wasn't until the mid-1950s that a positive identification was made. Jane Brown Thompson died the night before the song was introduced on radio by Dick Powell.[1]

The biggest-selling version was a 1939 recording by Red Norvo and his orchestra (vocal by Terry Allen).[2]

Carmichael and Jane Russell performed the song in the 1952 film noir The Las Vegas Story.[1]

The story of the song was told in a 1957 episode of Telephone Time on ABC television. Carmichael and Walter Winchell, who helped to locate "J. B.", appeared on the program.[3]