Wilson studied piano and violin at Tuskegee Institute. After working in the Speed Webb and Louis Armstrong bands, he joined Benny Carter's Chocolate Dandies in 1933. In 1935 he joined the Benny Goodman Trio (which consisted of Goodman, Wilson and drummer Gene Krupa, later expanded to the Benny Goodman Quartet with the addition of Lionel Hampton). The trio performed during the big band's intermissions. By joining the Trio, Wilson became the first black musician to perform in public with a previously all-white jazz group.
In the 1930s and 1940s he recorded fifty hit records with various singers such as Lena Horne and Helen Ward, including many of Billie Holiday's most successful records. During these years he also recorded many highly regarded sessions with a wide range of important swing musicians, such as Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo, Buck Clayton and Ben Webster.
Wilson formed his own short-lived big band in 1939, then led a sextet at Cafe Society from 1940 to 1944. In the 1950s he taught at the Juilliard School. Wilson performed as a soloist and with pick-up groups up until the final years of his life.
Them There Eyes
Lester Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life was a beautiful song
Didn't have a care nor worry
Then you had to come along
I fell in love with you first time
I looked into them there eyes
You've got a certain lil' cute way of flirtin'
With them there eyes
They make me feel happy, they make me blue
No stallin'
I'm fallin'
Going in a big way for sweet little you
My heart is jumpin'
You sure started somethin'
With them there eyes
You'd better watch them if you're wise
They sparkle, they bubble
They're gonna get you in a whole lot of trouble
You're overworkin' 'em
There's danger lurkin' in
Them there eyes
Maybe you think I'm just flirtin'
Maybe you think I'm all lies
Just because I get romantic when I gaze in
Them there eyes
I fell in love with you first time
I looked into them there eyes
You've got a certain lil' cute way of flirtin'
With them there eyes
They make me feel happy, they make me blue
No stallin'
I'm fallin'
Going in a big way for sweet little you
My heart is jumpin'
You sure started somethin'
With them there eyes
You'd better watch them if you're wise
They sparkle
They bubble
They're gonna get you in a whole lot of trouble
You're overworkin' 'em
There's danger lurkin' in
Them there eyes
"When you think you're all good and have no worries, love can just sneak up on you and turn your world upside down," is the message conveyed in Lester Young's song "Them There Eyes." The singer reminisces about his carefree days where everything was great until he met someone who he fell in love with at first sight. The singer speaks to his beloved’s cuteness, particularly her aptitude at flirting, and how it has affected him.
The lyrics utilize the metaphor of "them there eyes" to describe how the singer's beloved manages to ensnare him with her captivating gaze. These eyes have the power to make him both happy and sad, and subsequently, the singer feels like he's jumping into a bottomless pit because of those beautiful eyes. The phrase "you better watch them if you're wise" signifies that the singer is aware that love can be dangerous, and he warns them to handle it with care since the power of 'them there eyes' can sway anyone, making one vulnerable to heartbreak or trouble.
Line by Line Meaning
I was just minding my business
I was content and not looking for anything new in my life
Life was a beautiful song
I was happy and everything in my life was going well
Didn't have a care nor worry
I was stress-free and enjoying life
Then you had to come along
You appeared and disrupted my peaceful state of mind
I fell in love with you first time
I was smitten with you from the moment I laid eyes on you
I looked into them there eyes
I was drawn to your mesmerizing eyes
You've got a certain lil' cute way of flirtin'
You have a unique and charming way of flirting that I find endearing
With them there eyes
You use your eyes to flirt and convey your emotions
They make me feel happy, they make me blue
Your eyes can evoke both positive and negative emotions in me
No stallin'
I am not hesitating or holding back my love for you
I'm fallin'
I am deeply and rapidly falling in love with you
Going in a big way for sweet little you
I am pursuing you with great passion and intensity
My heart is jumpin'
My heart is fluttering and pounding with excitement and anticipation
You sure started somethin'
You have triggered a powerful and irresistible attraction in me
You'd better watch them if you're wise
You should be careful and aware of the effect your flirting has on me
They sparkle, they bubble
Your eyes are vibrant, lively and full of energy
They're gonna get you in a whole lot of trouble
Your eyes will lead you to situations that you may not be prepared for
You're overworkin' 'em
You're using your eyes too much to seduce and manipulate people
There's danger lurkin' in
There are risks and pitfalls associated with using your eyes to play games
Maybe you think I'm just flirtin'
You may believe that I am not serious about my feelings for you
Maybe you think I'm all lies
You may doubt the authenticity of my words and actions
Just because I get romantic when I gaze in
My romantic feelings for you are intensified when I gaze into your eyes
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Maceo Pinkard, Doris Tauber, William Tracy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind