"Maybe" was composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin for the Broadway stage. The song was first performed by Oscar Shaw and Gertrude Lawrence, placing it within the Gershwins' prolific run of theatrical works during the 1920s. The composition is a wistful, melodically graceful song that reflects the brothers' ability to craft sophisticated yet emotionally direct material for the popular stage. Its melody unfolds with a conversational quality typical of the best Gershwin theater songs, balancing romantic sentiment with harmonic subtlety. The tune occupies a quieter corner of the Gershwin catalog compared to widely performed standards like "Someone to Watch Over Me" or "Embraceable You," but it demonstrates the same craftsmanship in its voice-leading and lyrical phrasing. The song has circulated primarily through vocal and piano arrangements rather than becoming a fixture of the jazz jam session repertoire. Ella Fitzgerald brought renewed attention to the composition in 1950 when she recorded it for her album with pianist Ellis Larkins, a collection focused exclusively on Gershwin songs. That intimate duo recording, stripped to just voice and piano, showcased the melody's inherent beauty and the understated sophistication of its construction, offering a definitive reading that remains closely associated with the tune.
