How Long Has This Been Going On?

George Gershwin composed this romantic ballad in 1927 with lyrics by his brother Ira, crafting a song of intimate wonder and sensual discovery built on falling chromatic lines and adventurous harmonic progressions in the bridge that were remarkably advanced for the era. The song follows a standard AABA form, with its two choruses depicting the thrill of a first kiss and a wistful sense of regret for time lost before love arrived. Originally written as a duet for Adele Astaire and Jack Buchanan in the Broadway musical Smarty (later retitled Funny Face), it was dropped after a lukewarm reception at the Philadelphia preview, partly because a cast change created vocal range problems. The Gershwins quickly repurposed it for the 1928 musical Rosalie, starring Marilyn Miller, where it became the show's standout number during a run of 335 performances. Ira Gershwin later acknowledged that the lyrics carried erotic undertones considered bold for the period, which may have contributed to the song's slower path to widespread popularity. It did not gain broad recognition until well after its Broadway origins, helped along by recordings from Peggy Lee with Benny Goodman, Lee Wiley, and Ella Fitzgerald, whose version featured a playfully risque altered introductory verse. Audrey Hepburn sang it in the 1957 film Funny Face. The song's lush, reflective character and sophisticated harmony have made it a lasting favorite among jazz vocalists and instrumentalists.