Call Me Irresponsible: Sammy Cahn

Abstract This new chapter of The Poets of Tin Pan Alley celebrates the works of lyricist Sammy Cahn. Perhaps one of the songs Cahn is best known for is “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen” (frequently thought to be “My Beer, Mister Shane”). Cahn wrote the better-known English lyrics for this song, which was originally written in Yiddish, with Saul Chaplin. Working with Jule Styne, Cahn had such hits as “I’ve Heard That Song Before,” “I’ll Walk Alone,” and “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” Cahn and Styne because Sinatra’s “house” songwriters, writing many of the songs for his movies.