Harry Belafonte - Try To Remember Apr 2026

The song was originally written by Harvey Schmidt (music) and Tom Jones (lyrics) for the 1960 Off-Broadway musical, The Fantasticks. In the play, it serves as an introductory piece, asking the audience to use their imagination to look past the "sparse set" and enter a world of memory and nostalgia. Lyrical Meaning and Themes

: It uses the warmth of "September"—a time when life was slow, green, and "mellow"—to contrast with the cold reality of "December".

: It encourages listeners to "follow" their memories to find hope and inspiration even when life becomes difficult. Legacy and Impact Harry Belafonte - Try To Remember

The lyrics are a poetic meditation on the passage of time and the loss of innocence:

: A key line, "Without a hurt the heart is hollow," suggests that the "December" of life brings a necessary depth that the "callow fellow" of September lacked. The song was originally written by Harvey Schmidt

Watch Harry Belafonte deliver a poignant live performance of this nostalgic classic: Harry Belafonte - Try to Remember (Live) Harry Belafonte Television and Video Archive YouTube• Jul 13, 2021 Musical Origins

Belafonte's version is celebrated for its tender, waltz-like quality and his signature smooth baritone. He performed it many times throughout his career, including a notable 1962 performance for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Dwight D. Eisenhower at an event for the National Cultural Center. Harry Belafonte - Try to Remember (Live) : It encourages listeners to "follow" their memories

Harry Belafonte ’s rendition of is one of the most enduring versions of this classic song, first released on his 1962 studio album, The Many Moods of Belafonte . While Belafonte is famously the "King of Calypso," this track showcases his immense range as a vocal stylist, moving away from rhythmic Caribbean beats into the territory of soulful folk and American standards.