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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FULL MOON
Benny Goodman and His Orchestra Lyrics

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I've been living with a shadow overhead
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on

I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need 'em again some day
I've been setting aside time

To clear a little space in the corners of my mind

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love, oh oh oh

I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I've been searching but I just don't see the signs

I know that it's out there
There's got to be something for my soul, somewhere

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Benny Goodman and His Orchestra's "Full Moon" speak to the feelings of loneliness and being trapped in the past that can affect us all at some point in our lives. The use of metaphors such as a "shadow overhead" and a "cloud above my bed" create a vivid image of the weight that the singer is struggling to escape. The repetition of "I've been" in the first two lines emphasizes the length of time that the singer has been feeling this way, while the desire to "find a way back into love" reflects a longing for a brighter future.

The second verse of the song suggests that the singer has been holding onto their hopes and dreams, perhaps as a way to give themselves hope for the future. However, the line "Just in case I ever need 'em again someday" could also suggest a lack of confidence in their ability to achieve those dreams. The line "To clear a little space in the corners of my mind" further reinforces the idea that the singer is trying to break free from the burdens of their past and move forward.

Overall, "Full Moon" is a song that speaks to the human experience of feeling lost, alone, and trapped. Through its vivid imagery and honest lyrics, it encourages the listener to keep searching for a way back into love and the possibility of a brighter future.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been living with a shadow overhead
I have been weighed down by a negative feeling; there's a problem that's been bugging me.

I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I have been deeply troubled; I'm unable to find peace or comfort even in my bed.

I've been lonely for so long
I've been alone for a prolonged period; I've lost touch with people who care for me.

Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on
I find it challenging to break free from my painful history that's preventing me from moving forward.

I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
I've kept my aspirations and desires buried away, in case I need them later in life.

Just in case I ever need 'em again some day
I've done this as a precautionary measure; I hope to achieve my aspirations in the future.

I've been setting aside time
I've been spending some time regularly on something essential.

To clear a little space in the corners of my mind
I've been taking time out to declutter my ideas, my thoughts, and create a space for new ideas.

All I want to do is find a way back into love
All I long for is to return to a loving state, to find love again.

I can't make it through without a way back into love, oh oh oh
I find it challenging to navigate life, I’m struggling without love, and I need to find it back to move forward.

I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I’ve been looking for a way out, for a path, but I've been unable to find it. It seems the path is dark and that there is no light to be found.

I've been searching but I just don't see the signs
Despite my efforts, I don't see signs of hope or direction; everything seems unclear and vague.

I know that it's out there
I'm convinced that what I'm looking for exists somewhere.

There's got to be something for my soul, somewhere
I believe something exists that can heal my soul or fill the void in my life.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHICK COREA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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