In 1937 Walt Disney presented his first feature-length, animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The score, written by Leigh Harline, Frank Churchill, and Paul J. Smith, was nominated for an Oscar in 1938. Disney received an honorary award for significant screen innovation, but that was the only award given the film at the time. However, the movie has become a revered classic and is considered among the best of Disney’s work. It has received many awards over the years and is included in the National Film Registry. Its soundtrack holds the distinction of being the first ever issued since prior to then film music was re-recorded for release to the public.

The eight songs introduced in the film were written by composer Churchill and lyricist Larry Morey who was also a sequencer for the film. The songs included “Whistle While You Work,” “Heigh Ho,” “With a Smile and a Song,” “I’m Wishing,” and the song that was to become a jazz standard, “Someday My Prince Will Come.” Eighteen-year-old Adriana Caselotti, the voice of Snow White, sang the song which was also used as background music. Although Adriana recorded the song, which can be heard in several collections, Disney owned her voice and refused to allow her to make public appearances or accept roles in other films (although she had a small part in The Wizard of Oz.) However, she did sing opera, invested wisely, and lived a full life.

The film was based on a tale by the brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm. Snow White, a beautiful young princess, is pursued by her evil stepmother who is jealous of the fact that Snow White is considered the fairest in the land. The evil queen orders a hunter to kill Snow White, but he is struck by her sweet nature and allows her to escape into the woods where she meets the seven dwarfs who take her in and protect her. The song expresses her longing to be saved by her Prince Charming, who does, indeed, come for her and revive her with his kiss.

Pianist Bill Evan recorded “Someday My Prince Will Come” several times. The Dave Brubeck Quartet, famous for its odd time signatures, gave a twist to the song in 1958 and 1962 recordings. Trumpeter Donald Byrd and pianist and Oscar Peterson recorded it, and Miles Davis’ 1961 recording, Someday My Prince Will Come, featured a memorable solo by John Coltrane. Everyone from Julie Andrews to Chet Atkins to avant gardist Eugene Chadbourne and the Sun Ra Arkestra has recorded the song. Since 2000 it has been featured by drummer Cindy Blackman, the duo of drummer Steve Davis & guitarist Jeanfrancois Prins, violinist Didier Lockwood, vocalist Tierney Sutton, the Great Jazz Trio, Martin Taylor on solo guitar, and Lena Horne in her new 2007 release.