Lang was born Salvatore Massaro, the son of an Italian-American instrument maker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At first, he took violin lessons for 11 years. In school he became friends with Joe Venuti, with whom he would work for much of his career. He was playing professionally by about 1918, playing violin, banjo, and guitar. He worked with various bands in the USA's north-east, worked in London (late 1924 to early 1925), then settled in New York City.
He played with the bands of Venuti, Adrian Rollini, Roger Wolfe Kahn and Jean Goldkette in addition to doing a large amount of freelance radio and recording work.
In 1929 he joined Paul Whiteman's Orchestra, and can be seen and heard in the movie The King of Jazz.
When Bing Crosby left Whiteman, Lang went with Bing as his accompanist and can be seen with him in the 1932 movie Big Broadcast.
Lang also played under the pseudonym Blind Willie Dunn on a number of blues records with Lonnie Johnson.
Eddie Lang died from a sudden hemorrhage following a tonsillectomy in New York City.
After You've Gone
Eddie Lang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Don't say that we must part,
Don't break your baby's heart
You know I've loved you for these many years,
Loved you night and day,
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
After you've gone and left me cryin'
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
Someday, when you grow lonely
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
After you've gone, after you've gone away
After you've gone and left me cryin'
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
You're gonna feel bad
And you'll miss, and you'll miss,
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
But baby, think what you're doin'
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
It's gonna drive you to ruin
After you've gone, after you've gone away.
The song "After You've Gone," written by turn-of-the-century Tin Pan Alley songwriting team Turner Layton and Henry Creamer, tells the story of a man who is heartbroken after his lover leaves him. The singer begs his partner not to leave him, insisting that they shouldn't part ways because he loves her so much. The man predicts that once she leaves, she'll realize her mistake and regret it in the future. The chorus is a warning to his lover that she will face regret and heartbreak once she leaves him.
The lyrics of the song are emotional and poignant, capturing the profound feelings of a lover left behind. The chorus adds an element of foreshadowing, creating a dramatic tension throughout the song. Lang's guitar playing is a soulful and mournful accompaniment to the lyrics, adding to the overall melancholic mood of the piece. The song captures a moment in time when jazz and blues were emerging as the dominant musical forms, and the creativity of musicians like Lang were pushing these genres into new realms of expression.
Line by Line Meaning
Now won't you listen honey, while I say,
Pay attention to me, dear
How could you tell me that you're goin' away?
Why did you say you're leaving me?
Don't say that we must part,
Please don't break up with me
Don't break your baby's heart
You'll hurt me so much
You know I've loved you for these many years,
I've been in love with you for so long
Loved you night and day,
I've been loving you all day and all night
Oh! honey baby, can't you see my tears?
I'm crying, can't you see?
Listen while I say
Please hear me out
After you've gone and left me cryin'
When you leave me and I cry
After you've gone there's no denyin'
You can't deny that you're gone
You'll feel blue, you'll feel sad
You'll be sad and blue
You'll miss the dearest pal you've ever had
You'll miss the closest friend you ever had
There'll come a time, now don't forget it
There will be a moment, remember this
There'll come a time when you'll regret it
You'll regret what you've done
Someday, when you grow lonely
One day when you are alone
Your heart will break like mine and you'll want me only
Your heart will also break and you'll want me back
You're gonna feel blue, and you're gonna feel sad
You'll feel sad and blue
You're gonna feel bad
You'll feel terrible
And you'll miss the bestest pal you ever had
You'll miss your best friend
Baby, think what you're doin'
Please consider what you're doing
I'm gonna haunt you so, I'm gonna taunt you so
I'll haunt and taunt you
It's gonna drive you to ruin
It will lead you to destruction
After you've gone, after you've gone away.
When you're not here anymore
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Henry Creamer, Turner Layton, Ray Sherman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@steveheywood9428
All band members in their 20s and playing with such youth... what an awesome recording.
@evanwall7589
One of my favorite songs, it’s incredible how good it sounds for being recorded in 1931
@garytee5129
Definitely some magic that day in 1931 in the studio. I believe Charie T was only 18 at the time. Fantastic playing and swing.
@johnferguson4089
What a combination of great and fabulous players and all playing with such enthusiasm. If only there was some of this music around today.
@charlynigga
Trying to keep this forgotten music alive. Amazing musicians of their times. Theyre all missed🤘
@SheridanJazz
Terrific recording. Early Goodman/Teagarden at their best.
@Jynxxxycat
What a lineup!
@hestheMaster
This is the best early jazz men line up that ever was!
@msjazzmeblues
Outstanding!
@yopascualin
I love it.