"Shoot the Moon" is one of five songs composed by Jesse Harris for Norah Jones's debut album Come Away with Me, released in 2002 on Blue Note Records. Harris, a New York-based guitarist, singer, and songwriter, contributed a set of compositions to that landmark album that blended jazz, folk, and pop sensibilities, and "Shoot the Moon" exemplifies his gift for intricate melodies paired with sophisticated harmonies. The song carries a lyrical, intimate quality, with a yearning emotional undertone that fits naturally alongside Harris's other contributions to the album, including the Grammy-winning "Don't Know Why." As a composition, it demonstrates Harris's characteristic approach of weaving melodic sophistication with accessible songcraft, drawing on jazz harmonic language without abandoning pop-oriented structure. Harris played guitar on the original recording sessions, and the arrangement features the spare, warm instrumentation that defined the album's sound. While Come Away with Me went on to sell over 20 million copies worldwide, "Shoot the Moon" remains more of a deep cut than a widely covered standard, primarily associated with the original album rather than entering the broader jazz or pop repertoire as an independently performed piece.
