If You Were the Only Girl in the World

If You Were the Only Girl In the World is a popular song written by Nat D. Ayer with lyrics by Clifford Grey. It was written for the musical revue The Bing Boys Are Here, which premiered in 1916 in London. The song was originally performed as a duet. It has become a standard, recorded by many artists including Doris Day. Barbra Streisand, and Perry Como. It has also been performed in movies and on television:

• The 1929 movie The Vagabond Lover, where it is sung by actor-singer Rudy Vallee

• The 1957 movie The Bridge on the River Kwai, set during World War I

• The television drama series Downton Abbey (Series 2, Episode 4, in 2011), in which the song was sung for wounded British soldiers

Nat D. Ayer (1887-1952) was an American composer, pianist, singer, and actor. He made most of his career composing and performing in England in Edwardian musical comedy and revue. He also contributed songs to Broadway shows, including some of the Ziegfeld Follies. Ayer's most successful shows were the World War I hits The Bing Boys Are Here (1916) and Yes, Uncle (1917). His best-known Broadway song was Oh, You Beautiful Doll (1911). Of his many songs composed for London shows, his most famous is probably If You Were the Only Girl In the World (1916).

Clifford Grey (1887-1941) was an English songwriter, lyricist, and actor. He was lyricist for composers such as Jerome Kern and George Gershwin. Among the songs he lyricized are