Charlie Spivak (17 February 1905 or 1907–1 March 1982) was an American trum… Read Full Bio ↴Charlie Spivak (17 February 1905 or 1907–1 March 1982) was an American trumpeter and bandleader, best known for his big band in the 1940s.

The details of Spivak's birth are unclear. Some sources place it in the Ukraine in 1907, and say that his family emigrated to settle in New Haven, Connecticut while he was a child. Others place his birth in New Haven two years earlier, in 1905. What is certain is that he learnt to play trumpet when he was ten years old, and played in his high school band, going on to work with local groups before joining Don Cavallaro's orchestra.

He played with Phil Sprecht's band for most of 1924 to 1930, then spent time with Ben Pollack (1931–1934), the Dorsey brothers (1934–1935), and Ray Noble (1935– 1936). He spent 1936 and 1937 mostly working as a studio musician with Gus Arnheim, Glenn Miller, Raymond Scott's radio orchestra, and others, followed by periods with Bob Crosby (1938), Tommy Dorsey (1938–1939), and Jack Teagarden (1939).

Finally, with the encouragement and financial backing of Glenn Miller, he formed his own band in November 1939. Though it failed within a year, he tried again shortly afterwards, this time taking over an existing band (Bill Downer's) and making a success of it. Spivak's band was one of the most successful in the 1940s, and survived until 1959.

Spivak's experience playing with jazz musicians had little effect on his own band's style, which was straight dance music, made up mainly of ballads and popular tunes. Spivak himself (known as "Cheery, Chubby Charlie") had always been noted and used for his tone rather than for any improvisational ability.

A number of the band's musicians were to make names for themselves, including drummer Davey Tough, bassist Jimmy Middleton, trumpeter Les Elgart, trombonist Nelson Riddle, and singers Garry Stevens, June Hutton, Tommy Mercer, Jimmy Saunders, and Irene Daye (who had sung with Gene Krupa, and whom Spivak married in 1950). Riddle was also responsible for many of the band's arrangements, together with Sonny Burke.

When the Spivak orchestra broke up, he went to live in Florida, where he continued to lead a band until illness led to his temporary retirement in 1963. On his recovery, he continued to lead large and small bands, first in Las Vegas, then in South Carolina; in Greenville, South Carolina in 1967 he led a small group featuring his wife as vocalist. She died in 1971 after years of fighting cancer. Spivak continued to play and record until his death.

It's Been A Long Long Time
Charlie Spivak Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
Haven't felt like this, my dear

Since I can't remember when
It's been a long, long time
You'll never know how many dreams

I've dreamed about you

Or just how empty they all seemed without you
So kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time

Ah, kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long time
Haven't felt like this my dear

Since I can't remember when
It's been a long, long time
You'll never know how many dreams
I dreamed about you

Or just how empty they all seemed without you
So kiss me once then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time

Long, long time

Overall Meaning

The song "It's Been A Long Long Time" by Charlie Spivak & His Orchestra is about a long-lost love who the singer has been dreaming about for a long time. The song captures the singer's longing for his former lover by portraying the intense emotions he feels when they are finally reunited. The opening lines "Kiss me once, then kiss me twice, then kiss me once again" convey the singer's desire to be with his long-lost love again. The repetition of the phrase "It's been a long, long time" furthers the idea that the singer has been waiting for this moment for a long time.

The lyrics go on to express the singer's feelings of emptiness and longing since his love left. He reflects on how many dreams he has had about her, and how empty they all seemed without her. The vulnerability and emotion conveyed in the lyrics make the song a powerful expression of love and heartbreak.

Overall, the lyrics of "It's Been A Long Long Time" capture the bittersweet feeling of reuniting with a long-lost love. The song is a poignant reminder of the power of love and the human need for connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Kiss me once, then kiss me twice
First a kiss, then another. A simple request to show affection.

Then kiss me once again
Another request for a kiss. The singer is feeling sentimental and wants to express their love.

It's been a long, long time
The singer has not experienced this level of emotional connection in a while. Perhaps they haven't felt this way since they were last with their lover.

Haven't felt like this, my dear
The singer is addressing their lover with a term of endearment, and expressing how they feel in the moment.

Since I can't remember when
The singer is saying that they haven't felt this way in so long, that they cannot even recall the last time they did.

You'll never know how many dreams
The singer has had many dreams about their lover.

I've dreamed about you
The singer has been thinking about their lover to the point of dreaming about them. They have been longing for their affection.

Or just how empty they all seemed without you
The singer's dreams were empty without their lover. They were longing for the affection and emotional connection that only their lover can provide.

So kiss me once, then kiss me twice
The singer is repeating their request for kisses. They are indicating that they want to express their love and affection as much as possible.

It's been a long, long time
The sad refrain is repeated as a reminder of how long it has been since the singer has felt this type of emotional connection.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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