Benny Goodman led his first band in 1934. The music they played had its ro… Read Full Bio ↴Benny Goodman led his first band in 1934. The music they played had its roots in the Southern jazz forms of ragtime and Dixieland, while its structure adhered more to arranged music than its more improvisational jazz counterparts. On August 21, 1935, Benny's band played the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles. The gig was sensational and marked the beginning of the years that Benny would reign as King: the Swing Era.

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As Long as I Live
Benny Goodman and His Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'll get by
As long as I have you
Though there be rain
And darkness too
I'll not complain
I'll see it through

Poverty

May come to me, it's true
But what care I
Say, I'll get by
As long as I have you.

But what care I

Say, I'll get by
As long as I have you.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Benny Goodman and His Orchestra's "I'll Get By" speak to the enduring power of love and the resilience it can provide in times of hardship. The song begins with the assertion that the singer will be able to make it through anything, no matter how difficult, simply by having the love of someone special in their life. This sentiment is echoed in the chorus, where the singer proclaims that they will "get by" as long as they have that love, no matter what challenges they may face.

Throughout the lyrics, the singer acknowledges that there will be obstacles and struggles to overcome - rain, darkness, even poverty - but they remain steadfast in their belief that their love will sustain them. The line "I'll not complain, I'll see it through" serves as a reminder that, in the face of difficulty, it's important to stay positive and stay the course. Ultimately, the message of the song is one of hope and optimism - that no matter what happens, there is always a way forward with the support of those we love.

Line by Line Meaning

I'll get by
I'll survive and find a way to make it through tough times.

As long as I have you
I have hope and will not give up as long as I have your support and love.

Though there be rain
Even if life brings hardships and sadness,

And darkness too
And I experience dark times and difficulties,

I'll not complain
I won't complain and will remain resilient and persevere through it all.

I'll see it through
I'll stay committed and determined until I overcome challenges and come out successful on the other side.

Poverty
Financial struggles and hardships

May come to me, it's true
It's possible that I may face poverty at some point in my life.

But what care I
But I won't worry or let it bring me down.

Say, I'll get by
I'll get through it and move forward despite any difficulties.

As long as I have you.
Because as long as I have you by my side, I have the love and support I need to weather any storm.