He has performed in the swing, bop and cool genres, and in both large and small ensembles. His primary instrument was the tenor saxophone, which he played for many years as a member of the "Tonight Show" orchestra.
Arguably, _Quietly There_, recorded for Riverside in November 1966, is his finest album. All of the pieces were composed by Johnny Mandel.
Emily
Bill Perkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Has the murmuring sound of may
All silver bells, coral shells, carousels
And the laughter of children at play
Say Emily, Emily, Emily
And we fade to a marvelous view
Two lovers alone and out of sight
As my eyes visualize a family
They see Emily, Emily
(and we fade to a marvelous view)
Two lovers alone and out of sight
Seeing images in the firelight
As my eyes visualize a family
They see Emily, Emily
Too
The song "Emily" by Bill Perkins is a romantic tribute to a woman named Emily. The lyrics emphasize her beauty and the lovely sounds and imagery her name evokes. The opening lines, "Emily, Emily, Emily, Has the murmuring sound of may," suggest a delightful, lovely presence, much like the sound of spring. The verse continues to describe Emily using phrases such as "silver bells, coral shells, and carousels," which suggests a sense of wonder and joy associated with her name. The mention of the "laughter of children at play" adds another layer of innocence and happiness associated with this person.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the romance and wonder associated with Emily's name. When the singer says "Say Emily, Emily, Emily, And we fade to a marvelous view," it conjures up images of something fantastical and magical, like a scene from a fairytale. The line "Two lovers alone and out of sight, Seeing images in the firelight," further emphasizes this idea of love and fantastical imagery. The line "As my eyes visualize a family, They see Emily, Emily. Too" brings up a glimpse of a future, suggesting that the singer, while admiring Emily's beauty, also sees her as someone he could build a life with, someone he could start a family with. Overall, the lyrics of this song celebrate the beauty and the potential of a person named Emily and the romantic feelings she evokes.
Line by Line Meaning
Emily, Emily, Emily
The repeated use of Emily's name highlights her importance in the songwriter's life
Has the murmuring sound of may
Emily's presence is calming and reminiscent of the beautiful transition from spring to summer
All silver bells, coral shells, carousels
Emily's essence embodies whimsical objects that bring joy and happiness
And the laughter of children at play
Emily brings childlike wonder and playfulness to those around her
Say Emily, Emily, Emily
The songwriter is calling upon Emily's name as a way to evoke her essence and the feelings associated with it
And we fade to a marvelous view
Talking about Emily leads to a beautiful and positive state of mind
Two lovers alone and out of sight
The imagination drifts to a romantic setting, perhaps indicative of the emotions Emily brings out
Seeing images in the firelight
The sensations of warmth and comfort in the glow of a fire are related to Emily
As my eyes visualize a family
The songwriter sees a future with Emily, picturing them starting a family together
They see Emily, Emily
Others around the songwriter recognize and appreciate the positive effects that Emily brings to their lives as well
Too
The inclusion of this simple word emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of Emily's influence on the songwriter's life and those around them
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ricky Ross, Scott Fraser, Pete Webb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind