Blame It on My Youth is a 1934 composition with music by Oscar Levant and lyrics by Edward Heyman. It stands as Levant's sole enduring contribution to the popular songbook, a striking outlier in a career defined more by classical piano virtuosity, Hollywood wit, and studies under Arnold Schoenberg than by songwriting. The piece is a poignant, introspective ballad whose smooth, flowing melody and romantic harmony evoke themes of regret and youthful naivety. Its singable quality and emotional depth have made it a durable vehicle for expressive interpretation by both vocalists and instrumentalists. The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, with Bob Crosby on vocals, recorded it for Decca in November 1934, and it quickly entered the repertoire of popular singers. Over the following decades, the tune attracted definitive readings from Frank Sinatra on Close to You (1956), Nat King Cole on After Midnight (1957), and Chet Baker on his Let's Get Lost sessions (1989). On the instrumental side, Keith Jarrett recorded it twice, with his trio on Standards Vol 2 (1983) and as a solo piano meditation on The Melody at Night, with You (1999), while Brad Mehldau's version on The Art of the Trio Volume One (1997) brought it renewed attention among modern jazz listeners. The song's steady presence across big band, vocal pop, and small-group jazz settings confirms its place as a genuine standard.
