Song by Song is a great introduction to some of the top lyricists whose songs have become jazz standards. The authors provide some analysis of the lyrics and look at the life and work of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Ira Gershwin, Lorenz Hart, Oscar Hammerstein II, Dorothy Fields, Howard Dietz, Yip Harburg, Johnny Mercer, Frank Loesser, Alan Jay Lerner, Stephen Sondheim, Noel Coward, and Sheldon Harnick. Only the latter two would not be considered contributors to at least a few of the jazz standards.

The Index includes lyric writers and composers but no song titles. The Appendix, compiled by Rex Burnett, lists the principal lyrics, shows and films for each lyric writer.

Writer, author, and BBC broadcaster Ned Sherrin is the editor of The Oxford Dictionary of Humorous Quotations. Director, screenwriter, author, playwright, songwriter Caryl Brahms collaborated with him on books and musicals, including Cindy-Ella or I Gotta Shoe, Envoy on Excursion, Benbow Was His Name, The Mitford Girls, After You Mr. Feydeau, Too Dirty for the Windmill, Sing a Rude Song and Ooh! La! La!