He was born as William Thomas Murray in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of immigrants from Ireland. He became fascinated with the theater and joined a traveling vaudeville troupe in 1893. He also performed in minstrel shows early in his career. He made his first recordings for a local phonograph cylinder company in San Francisco, California in 1897. He started recording regularly in the New York City and New Jersey area in 1903, when the nation's major record companies as well as the Tin Pan Alley music industry were concentrated there.
In 1906 he waxed the first of his popular duets with Ada Jones. He also performed with Aileen Stanley, the Haydn Quartet, the Premier Quartet, and the American Quartet (the latter two actually being the same group), in addition to his solo work.
He had a strong tenor voice with excellent enunciation and a more conversational delivery than common with bel canto singers of the era. On comic songs he often deliberately sang slightly flat, which he felt helped the comic effect.
While he often performed romantic numbers and ballads which sold well at the time, his comedy and novelty song recordings continue to be popular with later generations of record collectors.
Murray's popularity faded with changes in public taste and recording technology; the rise of the electric microphone in the mid 1920s coincided with the rise of the crooners. His "hammering" style, as he called it, essentially yelling the song into the recording horn, did not work in the electronic era, and it took him some time to learn how to soften his voice. While he continued to work, his singing style was considered "dated" and less in demand. In the late 1920s and early 1930s he also did voices for animated cartoons, especially the "follow the bouncing ball" type which incorporated songs from his salad days. He also did radio work.
Murray made his last recordings in 1943 and retired to Freeport, Long Island, New York in 1944. He died in nearby Jones Beach.
That Old Gang of Mine
Billy Murray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For that old gang that has drifted apart
They were the best pals that I ever had
I never thought that I'd want them so bad
Gee but I'd give the world to see
That old gang of mine
I can't forget that old quartette that sang "Sweet Adeline"
Goodbye forever, old fellows and gals
(God bless them)
Gee but I'd give the world to see
That old gang of mine
Gee but I'd give the world to see
That old gang of mine
I can't forget that old quartette that sang "Sweet Adeline"
Goodbye forever, old fellows and gals
Goodbye forever, old sweethearts and pals
(God bless them)
Gee but I'd give the world to see
That old gang of mine
Last night I strolled to that old neighborhood
There on that corner I silently stood
I felt so blue as the crowds hurried by
Nobody knew how I wanted to cry
Gee but I'd give the world to see
That old gang of mine
I can't forget that old quartette that sang "Sweet Adeline"
Goodbye forever, old fellows and gals
Goodbye forever, old sweethearts and pals
(God bless them)
Gee but I'd give the world to see
That old gang of mine
Recitation:
Last night 'neath a street lamp I silently stood
On the same corner back in that old neighborhood
As I gazed at the houses, unchanged by the years
In my throat came a lump and my eyes filled with tears
I looked at the lamppost, the pump and the stoop
And again I could picture us kids in a group
There was Shorty, and Yeller and Skinny and Mike
And the rich kid who had ball bearing skates and a bike
And down near the school I could see the brick wall
Where we used to go for a game of handball
And the crabby old janitor who chased us away
Say, what I wouldn't give to just see him today!
And then came the parties and dances-- that's why
We didn't notice the years going by
And the first thing we knew we were all twenty-one
But the Gang stuck together in a fight or in fun
-And then came the War- the crowds in the street
-The blast of the Bugle- the tramp of the feet
And the gang, that old gang of mine
Was the first gang that hit the Von Hindenburg line.
But the war is all over and last night as I stood
On the same corner back in that old neighborhood
I couldn't help brushing a tear from my eye
For I knew not a face in the crowds that went by
Gone forever are the pals that I love
There isn't a trace or a sign
Of that regular honest to goodness old bunch
That I call that old gang of mine
The song "That Old Gang of Mine" by Billy Murray is a nostalgic tribute to a group of friends who were once inseparable but have since drifted apart. The singer expresses a deep longing to see this group of "fellows and gals" again, and laments that they have all moved on with their lives. The lyrics are thoughtful and contemplative, speaking to the universal experience of looking back on one's youth and feeling a sense of loss for the things that once were.
The song's haunting melody and melancholy lyrics trace the singer's journey through his old neighborhood: the streetlamp, the corner, the old houses, the lamppost, and the stoop. As he remembers the old days, his eyes fill with tears and his throat tightens with emotion. He recalls his childhood friends, each with their unique personality traits: Shorty, Yeller, Skinny, Mike, and the rich kid with the ball bearing skates and a bike. The singer takes us through their shared experiences: games of handball at the brick wall near the school, parties and dances, and the gang's bravery in the war.
The song resonates with anyone who has ever experienced a sense of nostalgia or longing for a group of old friends. It is a poignant reminder that life is constantly changing and that nothing lasts forever. The singer's love for his old gang is palpable, and his desire to see them once again is palpable. The song's message is ultimately one of hope, however- despite the fact that the gang is gone, their memories live on and they will always be a part of the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a longing way down in my heart
I feel a deep yearning in my heart.
For that old gang that has drifted apart
I miss my old group of friends who have gone separate ways.
They were the best pals that I ever had
They were my closest and dearest friends.
I never thought that I'd want them so bad
I once never believed that I would ever be so nostalgic for them.
Gee but I'd give the world to see
Oh, how I would love to see them again.
That old gang of mine
My beloved group of friends of the past.
I can't forget that old quartette that sang "Sweet Adeline"
I still have vivid memories of that group of four who sang that song.
Goodbye forever, old fellows and gals
My dear old friends and beloved acquaintances left me.
Goodbye forever, old sweethearts and pals
Those sweet, lovely individuals who were once part of my life are gone.
(God bless them)
I pray that they are doing well and continue to lead happy lives.
Last night I strolled to that old neighborhood
Just last night, I walked down that same neighborhood of my youth.
There on that corner I silently stood
I stood there, quietly recalling all the old memories.
I felt so blue as the crowds hurried by
I couldn't help but feel sad as I watched the busy crowd pass by me.
Nobody knew how I wanted to cry
I kept my emotions hidden from the people around me.
Last night 'neath a street lamp I silently stood
I stood alone, beneath the dim street lamp.
On the same corner back in that old neighborhood
The same corner where we used to hang out together.
As I gazed at the houses, unchanged by the years
I looked at the houses, still the same as when we used to live there.
In my throat came a lump and my eyes filled with tears
I became emotional and started to cry.
And again I could picture us kids in a group
I remembered us young kids who used to play together.
There was Shorty, and Yeller and Skinny and Mike
I remembered the names of my old friends and how we used to call them.
And the rich kid who had ball bearing skates and a bike
I can still remember the privileged kid who had the coolest toys.
And down near the school I could see the brick wall
The brick wall near the school was still there in my mind.
Where we used to go for a game of handball
That's where we used to hang out and play handball.
And the crabby old janitor who chased us away
I remembered that crusty old janitor who always shouted at us.
Say, what I wouldn't give to just see him today!
I would do anything just to see him again after all these years.
-And then came the parties and dances-- that's why
That's when we started going to social events and having fun.
We didn't notice the years going by
We had no idea how quickly the time went by.
And the first thing we knew we were all twenty-one
Suddenly, we all turned twenty-one and became adults without realizing it.
But the Gang stuck together in a fight or in fun
However, our group stayed close and always came together when it mattered.
-And then came the War- the crowds in the street
And then the war, with people marching in the streets.
-The blast of the Bugle- the tramp of the feet
There were loud blasts from bugles and the sound of marching feet.
And the gang, that old gang of mine
My beloved group, the old gang of mine.
Was the first gang that hit the Von Hindenburg line.
We were the first group to break through at the Von Hindenburg line.
But the war is all over and last night as I stood
Now the war is over and I was back where I stood last night.
I couldn't help brushing a tear from my eye
I couldn't help suppressing a tear from rolling down my cheek.
For I knew not a face in the crowds that went by
I realized that I don't know anyone in the current crowds passing me by.
Gone forever are the pals that I love
I'm painfully aware that my beloved friends are gone forever.
There isn't a trace or a sign
There isn't any indication of their presence in this current time and place.
Of that regular honest to goodness old bunch
I miss the good, honest, and faithful old bunch of friends.
That I call that old gang of mine
That lovely group of my old friends, my dear old gang of mine.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bily Rose, Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-wd4zw1hk3h
Legendary song
@fourlightsorchestra
This song is a gut wrencher. The subtext being that he’s the only one of the gang that survived the war, and now he’s this old man standing alone on the corner, remembering when he had friends and a life. He can still recognize the buildings, but no one he used to know. Just an invisible old man watching strangers living in his old home. After surviving the horrors of war, he’s just alone now.
It’s bitter sweet though. The melody has a nostalgic quality to it, a sort of joy in remembering when life was good. But it’s all gone now.
@loganroark3916
If I ever find myself all alone and abandoned in a town on Mars I’ll play this song.
@camilo23rm
I see a man of culture
@defrozendonut8715
I’m sorry if I sound ignorant but what are you talking about is really love to know
@loganroark3916
@@defrozendonut8715 It's mentioned in a Ray Bradbury novel called The Martian Chronicles.
@defrozendonut8715
@@loganroark3916 thank you
@rubenjacobo3919
Or get unstuck in time.
@Richie_roo
Today, (June 5th, 2023) this song is exactly 100 years old. Rest in peace that old forgotten gang of mine, I'd give the world to see them, good bye forever, God bless them
@onlinejokester
🙏🏻