Gene Harris (September 1, 1933, Benton Harbor, Michigan – January 16, 2000)… Read Full Bio ↴Gene Harris (September 1, 1933, Benton Harbor, Michigan – January 16, 2000) was an American jazz pianist known for his warm sound and blues and gospel infused style. From 1956 to 1970, he played in The Three Sounds trio with bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Bill Dowdy. He was mostly retired to Boise, Idaho when Ray Brown convinced him to go back on tour in the early 1980s. He played with the Ray Brown Trio and then led his own groups, recording mostly on Concord Records, until his death from kidney failure in 2000. Gene's Ode to Billy Joe is known as a jazz classic.

(2) One of the most accessible of all jazz pianists, Gene Harris' soulful style (influenced by Oscar Peterson and containing the blues-iness of a Junior Mance) was immediately likable and predictably excellent. After playing in an Army band (1951-1954), he formed a trio with bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Bill Dowdy which was, by 1956, known as the Three Sounds. The group was quite popular, and recorded regularly during 1956-1970 for Blue Note and Verve. Although the personnel changed and the music became more R&B-oriented in the early '70s, Harris retained the Three Sounds name for his later Blue Note sets. He retired to Boise, ID, in 1977, and was largely forgotten when Ray Brown persuaded him to return to the spotlight in the early '80s. Harris worked for a time with the Ray Brown Trio and led his own quartets in the years to follow, recording regularly for Concord and heading the Phillip Morris Superband on a few tours; 1998's Tribute to Count Basie even earned a Grammy nomination. While awaiting a kidney transplant, he died on January 16, 2000, at the age of 66. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi

Until The Real Thing Comes Along
Gene Harris Lyrics

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I'd wait for you
I'd slave for you
I'd be a beggar or a knave for you
If that isn't love, it will have to do
Until the real thing comes along

I'd gladly move
The earth for you

To prove my love, dear
And its worth for you
If that isn't love, it will have to do
Until the real thing comes along.

With all the words, dear, at my command
I just can't make you understand
I'll always love you darling
Come what may
My heart is yours
What more can I say?

I'd lie for you
I'd sigh for you
I'd tear the stars down from the sky for you
If that isn't love, it will have to do
Until the real thing comes along

With all the words, dear, at my command
I just can't make you understand
I'll always love you baby
Come what may
My heart is yours
What more can I say?

I'd lie for you
I'd cry for you
I'd lay my body down and die tor you

If that isn't love, it will have to do
Until the real thing comes along

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gene Harris's song Until The Real Thing Comes Along express the depth of love and devotion that the singer feels towards their significant other. They state that they are willing to wait for them, be a slave or beggar or even move the earth to prove their love's worth. Even though this might not be the "real thing", it has to do until true love arrives. The singer seems to be at a loss for words to fully express their love, and they state that they will always love their partner no matter what happens. They end by saying that they would lie, cry, and even die for their love until the "real thing" comes along.

The lyrics of this song are not only beautiful and evocative but also deep and universal. They express the kind of love that many people feel but find hard to put into words. The song is a reminder to cherish the love that we have and to wait for the best, without settling for less.

Line by Line Meaning

I'd wait for you
I am willing to patiently wait for you

I'd slave for you
I am willing to work hard and do anything for you

I'd be a beggar or a knave for you
I am willing to lower myself and give up everything for you

If that isn't love, it will have to do
My dedication to you may not be perfect, but it is the best I can do for now

I'd gladly move
I would be happy to make sacrifices for you

The earth for you
I am willing to do something incredibly difficult and significant for you

To prove my love, dear
To show you how much I truly love you

And its worth for you
To demonstrate the value of my love for you

With all the words, dear, at my command
Even though I have a way with words, I cannot fully express my feelings for you

I just can't make you understand
I struggle to make you comprehend the depth of my emotions

I'll always love you darling
My love for you will never wane

Come what may
No matter what happens

My heart is yours
I have given my heart to you

What more can I say?
There are no other words that can express my love for you adequately

I'd lie for you
I would bend the truth or deceive others to protect you

I'd sigh for you
I would express my deep longing and desire for you

I'd tear the stars down from the sky for you
I would do the impossible for you, even if it meant defying nature

I'd cry for you
I would shed tears for you, whether in sadness or joy

I'd lay my body down and die for you
I would sacrifice myself for you, without any hesitation

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., IMAGEM MUSIC INC
Written by: ALBERTA NICHOLS, L.E. FREEMAN, MANN HOLINER, SAMMY CAHN, SAUL CHAPLIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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