Prez, who had wrecked his body with alcohol, was in such ill health he couldn't stand for the duration of the six-minute song. Holiday launched into the song and each sax man took a turn. Gerry Mulligan was first and played a solo in double-time. Webster was next, blowing a beautiful, breathy chorus. And then it was time for Prez. When it was Young's turn he wearily stood up, and locked eyes with Holiday as she sang a song with lines like "Love is like a faucet / It turns off and on". As Lady Day sang, Prez hit every note exactly in time with her and they took off like two eagles riding an air current as they rose higher and higher, way out of that studio and those television sets, circling around each other, Prez blowing the notes that sustained her as if he was the body to her soul, and then they came together in mid-air, as mating eagles will, and plummeted hundreds of feet earthward together, before breaking off and flying their separate ways. People in the control booth had tears in their eyes. It was the swan song of a bittersweet affection. After the show, the two had some brief backstage conversation and then they bid goodbye. They each had less than two years to live. Prez would die alone in a New York hotel, his body finally calling it quits. Not long after that, Holiday would be arrested on her deathbed for heroin possession.
Very Thought of You
Billie Holiday & Lester Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I forget to do
Those little ordinary things
That everyone ought to do
I'm livin' in a kind of a daydream
I'm happy as a queen
And foolish though it may seem
The mere idea of you
The longing here for you
You'll never know
How slow the moments go
Till I'm near to you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love
The song "The Very Thought of You" by Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra is a tender and romantic ballad that speaks about the transformative power that being in love can have on a person. The opening line, "The very thought of you, and I forget to do those little ordinary things that everyone ought to do," captures the essence of the song's message. When we are in love, everything else takes a backseat to that person who has captured our hearts. The singer is living in a daydream where she is happy, and everything seems perfect.
The second verse emphasizes how powerful this feeling is, "The mere idea of you, the longing here for you, you'll never know, how slow the moments go, till I'm near to you." The singer experiences time differently when she is in love. The anticipation of being with her beloved is palpable; she sees him in every flower and star, and the very thought of him fills her with joy.
Overall, "The Very Thought of You" is a beautifully written song that speaks to the heart of what it means to fall in love.
Line by Line Meaning
The very thought of you
Thinking of you consumes my every thought
And I forget to do
My mind becomes so preoccupied with thoughts of you that I lose track of time and neglect daily responsibilities
Those little ordinary things
Mundane tasks and responsibilities of daily life
That everyone ought to do
Tasks that are necessary and expected of everyone
I'm livin' in a kind of a daydream
I am lost in thoughts of you, creating a surreal, dream-like state of mind
I'm happy as a queen
The feeling of love and fondness for you brings me extreme happiness and joy
And foolish though it may seem
Although it may appear silly or frivolous to others, my love for you is genuine and all-consuming
To me, that's everything
My love and thoughts of you are more important and valuable to me than anything else
The mere idea of you
The very thought or concept of you is enough to fill me with emotions and longing
The longing here for you
My strong desire and yearning for you is ever-present and all-encompassing
You'll never know
You cannot comprehend or understand the full extent of my feelings towards you
How slow the moments go
Without you, time seems to drag and pass by slowly
Till I'm near to you
Only when I am with you does time feel right and pass quickly
I see your face in every flower
Your presence and memory is so strong that even the sight of a flower triggers thoughts of your face
Your eyes in stars above
The stars in the sky create an image of your eyes in my mind
It's just the thought of you
The mere thought of you can elicit strong emotions and feelings
The very thought of you, my love
Just the idea of you is enough to fill me with love and longing
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, CONSALAD CO., Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ray Noble
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nik Millington
An effortless rendition by Billie. This style of music takes me to times gone by, never to be repeated.
John Flack
amazingly wonderful combination - lifts the spirit - fab
LeeLee Me
I am so glad I appreciate music like this. This makes top 40 look like a mess.
Elizabeth Klein
Thanx lots,wonderful combination,tonight I"m falling asleep with Billie's top tracks.
Jasmine Tipene
the thought of you billie, makes me smile ;)
The_Vril
I'm only 37 and I love this, I truly believe I'm from the 1920s and 30s era
Rahmaiya lewis
ZACHARY FEILBACH I'm 14 and I love these songs age doesn't matter this music is timeless! I love this type of music but like I LOVE Eartha kitt songs from 50s 60s. and Billie's and other oldies.
John London
Lovely comment - lets thank You Tube that we are able to listen to such great music
karpopper
clarinet solo 1:51
Chris Ronan
thank u u tube