God Bless the Child (Billie Holiday song)

"God Bless the Child" is a song written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr. in 1939. It was first recorded on May 9, 1941, by Billie Holiday and released by the Okeh Records in 1942.

Holiday's version of the song was honored with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1976. It was also included in the list of Songs of the Century, by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Billie Holiday recording sessions
Billie Holiday recorded the song three times.

First recording (Session #44, Columbia/Okeh): Columbia Studio A, 799 Seventh Avenue, New York City, May 9, 1941, Eddie Heywood and his Orchestra with Roy Eldridge (trumpet), Jimmy Powell and Lester Boone (alto saxophone), Ernie Powell (trumpet), Eddie Heywood (piano), Johan Robins (guitar), Paul Chapman (guitar), Grachan Moncur II (bass), Herbert Cowans (drums), Billie Holiday (vocal).

Origin and interpretation
In her autobiography Lady Sings the Blues Holiday indicated that an argument with her mother over money led to the song. She stated that during the argument she said "God bless the child that's got his own." The anger over the incident led her to use that line as the starting point for a song, which she worked out in conjunction with Herzog.

In his 1990 book Jazz Singing, Will Friedwald describes the song as "sacred and profane," as it references the Bible while indicating that religion seems to have no effect in making people treat each other better.

Notable cover versions

 * 1959 – Trombonist J. J. Johnson recorded an emotion-filled instrumental ballad for his Really Livin' album, several weeks before Holiday's death in March 1959.
 * 1961 – Saxophonist Eddie Harris recorded the song for his album Mighty Like a Rose; Harris's version received radio airplay.
 * 1962 – Saxophonist Sonny Rollins recorded a sparse version for his album The Bridge; guitarist Jim Hall backed him.
 * 1968 – The blues rock–jazz fusion band Blood, Sweat & Tears interpreted the song on their double Platinum album Blood, Sweat & Tears, with vocals by David Clayton-Thomas.