Eddie grew up within a family to whom the music of his local brass band fea… Read Full Bio ↴Eddie grew up within a family to whom the music of his local brass band featured highly. He was soon able to play a variety of instruments though he was most accomplished on the trumpet. After World War II, he graduated from playing as an amateur in brass bands to professional engagements with popular dance orchestras of the day including that of Geraldo, and he soon became renowned for the virtuosity of his performances. Following his exposure on TV with the Stanley Black Orchestra, an enthusiastic announcer introduced him as the 'Man With The Golden Trumpet' - an apt description that remained with him for the remainder of his musical career.

Eddie's style was unusually individualistic, and he became a familiar musician on BBC radio and TV during the 1950s. He started to make records for the Columbia label and his popularity can be assessed from the success of his records, which included two UK number ones, 'Oh Mein Papa', followed more than a year later by 'Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White'. He was thus the first British instrumentalist to achieve two number ones. The magnificent 'Oh Mein Papa', which also sold well in the USA, topped the UK singles chart for no less than nine weeks (a British chart record}, and was successful enough to provide him with the first ever 'gold disc' awarded for an UK instrumental track.

Further chart entries were secured with 'John And Julie', taken from the soundtrack of the movie; plus 'Mandy', Eddie's last major hit. Other recordings include 'Stranger In Paradise' in 1955; 'The Man with the Golden Arm' in 1956; and 'Jealousy' in 1960.

As the music scene entered the less innocent age of the 1960s, Eddie's beautiful musical renditions became less appreciated by record buyers. By 1968 Eddie had become a little disillusioned by his dwindling fortunes and left Britain, making South Africa his home.

Eddie died in 1978 aged 56.

Love is a Many Splendoured Thing
Eddie Calvert Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Love is a many splendored thing
It's the April rose that only grows in the early Spring
Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living
The golden crown that makes a man a king
Once on a high and windy hill, In the morning mist
Two lovers kissed and the world stood still
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Yes, true love's a many splendored thing

Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Yes, true love's a many splendored thing

Overall Meaning

The song Love Is A Many Splendored Thing, originally written for the 1955 film of the same name, is a ballad that speaks about the beauty and wonder of love. The opening line "Love is a many splendored thing" sets the tone for the rest of the song. The use of the word 'splendored' suggests that love has many different facets, each of which is glorious and magnificent in its own way. The comparison to an April rose that only grows in the early Spring indicates that true love is rare and valuable, something that must be cherished and nurtured with care. Love is also described as 'nature's way of giving a reason to be living', suggesting that it is a fundamental part of human existence, something that gives life meaning and purpose. The idea of love being a 'golden crown that makes a man a king' speaks to the transformative power of love, how it can elevate and ennoble a person, making them feel like royalty.

The second verse describes a moment of pure bliss between two lovers. On a high and windy hill, in the morning mist, they kiss and the world stands still. This is a classic romantic trope that evokes a sense of timeless beauty and transcendence. The final lines describe how the touch of the beloved's fingers on the singer's heart has opened up a world of song, suggesting that true love is not just a feeling but an artistic inspiration, a wellspring of creativity and passion.

Overall, Love Is A Many Splendored Thing is a reverential hymn to the power and beauty of love. It speaks to the universal human experience of falling in love and affirms the depth and richness of that experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Love is a many splendored thing
Love is a complex and wonderful experience.

It's the April rose that only grows in the early Spring
Love is something rare and beautiful, like the rare April rose that only blooms briefly in the Spring.

Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living
Love is an essential part of human nature that makes life worth living.

The golden crown that makes a man a king
Love is the ultimate reward that can make a person feel like royalty.

Once on a high and windy hill, In the morning mist
The setting of a romantic moment is often idyllic and dreamlike, like a high and windy hill in the morning mist.

Two lovers kissed and the world stood still
When two people are in love and share an intimate moment, time seems to stop and the rest of the world fades away.

Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Love has the power to awaken dormant emotions and bring joy into someone's life, like how a touch from a loved one can make a person's heart sing.

Yes, true love's a many splendored thing
Love in its purest form is a wondrous and complex phenomenon that cannot be fully captured by words.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sammy Fain, Paul Webster

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS