For some reason this is the first song just about anyone learns to play on the piano who can't play the piano. The lyrics are by Frank Loesser, music by Hoagy Carmichael. Various pop versions have been recorded and charted throughout the 20th century, first in 1939 by Larry Clinton (#1), Eddy Duchin (#12), and Al Donohue (#16), next in 1952 by The Four Aces (#11), in 1956 by Larry Maddox (#57), and most recently in 1961 The Cleftones (#18), and Jan and Dean (#25).

Heart and soul, I fell in love with you
Heart and soul, the way a fool would do, madly
Because you held me tight
And stole a kiss in the night

Heart and soul, I begged to be adored
Lost control, and tumbled overboard, gladly
That magic night we kissed
There in the moon mist

Oh! but your lips were thrilling, much too thrilling
Never before were mine so strangely willing

But now I see, what one embrace can do
Look at me, it's got me loving you madly
That little kiss you stole
Held all my heart and soul

The Heart and Soul blaaf speaks of was the first piano piece I ever learned, too.

It is called the piece every piano student loves, and every piano teacher hates. Why? It can go on, and on, and on, over the same simple ground, without end--like a zombie.

This, however, is a testament to the musical genius of Hoagy Carmichael, one of my favorite pop composers.

The version I learned, which I sometimes, with the feeling of walking by a graveyard at night, teach, is a duet.