During the late 1920s and early 1930s, Miller managed to earn a living working as a freelance trombonist in several bands. His first band was formed in 1937 but failed to distinguish itself and eventually broke up.
Following the break-up of his first band, Miller realized that he needed to develop a unique sound, and decided to make the clarinet play a melodic line with a tenor saxophone on the same note, while three other saxophones harmonized. With this sound combination, the Miller band that became the most popular was born in 1938. After a shaky start, it made his new band a nationwide hit.
In 1942, Miller joined the United States Army Air Forces where he continued his musical career with the Army Air Force Band.
On December 15, 1944, Miller was to fly from the United Kingdom to Paris, France, to play for the soldiers who had recently liberated Paris. His plane departed from RAF Twinwood Farm in Clapham, Bedfordshire and disappeared while flying over the English Channel. No trace of the aircrew, passengers or plane has ever been found. Miller's status is missing in action.
His music is still iconic of the time period in which he lived and continues to draw thousands of fans of all age groups.
Glenn Miller was a popular visitor to Bedford and its American Air force bases. He is still remembered to this day by the people of Bedford with a bronze bust displayed on the front of the towns Corn Exchange, and more recently, what remains of the Twinwoods Airfield being renovated as a Glenn Miller Museum and outdoor event site
2) Glenn Miller was a Jamaican reggae and soul artist of the 1960's.
Along with other legendary artists such as Bob Marley & the Wailers and Desmond Dekker he recorded for the Trojan record label.
A Handful Of Stars
Glenn Miller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That night of love and glory
A night that left my heart romantic scars
We stood so near to heaven
That I reached clear to heaven
And gathered you a handful of stars
Sweet remembered hour
With moonlight through the trees like silver balls
And as the moon grew older
I reached across your shoulder
And gathered you a handful of stars
I placed my fingertips upon your lips
And stars fell in your eyes
Moonglow made a halo of your hair
Suddenly you looked at me and dreams began to rise
Oh, what things unspoken trembled in the air
Our hearts were madly beating
And then our lips were meeting
And Venus seemed to melt right into Mars
Then while we stood caressing
Blue heaven sent a blessing
A shower of a handful of stars...
In Glenn Miller's song "A Handful Of Stars," the lyrics describe a romantic encounter that occurred during one magical night. The singer recalls the story of that night of love and glory, which left him with romantic scars on his heart. He describes standing so near to heaven with his lover that he was able to reach up and gather a handful of stars. The night was sweet and remembered, and it was when his romance with his lover began to flower.
As the night went on, the moon grew older, and the singer reached across his lover's shoulder, and gathered her a handful of stars. The stars became a symbol of their love and the magical connection they shared. He placed his fingertips upon her lips, and stars fell in her eyes. The moonglow made a halo of her hair, and the singer was filled with the sensation that unspoken words were trembling in the air. Their hearts beat madly as they stood caressing each other, and a shower of a handful of stars seemed to rain down from blue heaven as they kissed.
The lyrics to this song poetically convey the intense emotions experienced by the singer and his lover during their romantic encounter. The stars represent the magic and wonder of their love, and the memory of that night remained with him forever. Overall, the song captures the essence of a fleeting yet unforgettable moment of romance and passion.
Line by Line Meaning
I recall the story,
I remember the tale,
That night of love and glory
About the night of passion and greatness
A night that left my heart romantic scars
That brought hurtful memories to my heart
We stood so near to heaven
We felt like we were in heaven
That I reached clear to heaven
I tried to touch the heavens
And gathered you a handful of stars
And symbolically caught you some stars
Sweet remembered hour
I remember the moment fondly
When love began to flower
When our love began to blossom
With moonlight through the trees like silver balls
Silver-colored moonlight was filtered through the trees
And as the moon grew older
As the night progressed
I reached across your shoulder
I placed my arm on your shoulder
And gathered you a handful of stars
And symbolically caught you some stars
I placed my fingertips upon your lips
I touched your lips with my fingertips
And stars fell in your eyes
You looked into my eyes with admiration
Moonglow made a halo of your hair
The moon radiated on your hair, making it look like a halo
Suddenly you looked at me and dreams began to rise
Suddenly, you looked at me, and we started to dream of possibilities together
Oh, what things unspoken trembled in the air
We both felt unspoken desires that excited us
Our hearts were madly beating
Our hearts beat quickly and loudly
And then our lips were meeting
We kissed each other
And Venus seemed to melt right into Mars
We felt like two planets came together and merged
Then while we stood caressing
While we were close, loving each other
Blue heaven sent a blessing
Heavenly blessings were bestowed upon us
A shower of a handful of stars...
Symbolically, by catching stars, we were showered with more blessings
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JACK LAWRENCE, TED SHAPIRO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ethan Hill
This type of music deserves a comeback.
Eustace
I recall the story,
That night of love and glory
A night that left my heart romantic scars
We stood so near to heaven
That I reached clear to heaven
And gathered you a handful of stars
Sweet remembered hour
When love began to flower
With moonlight through the trees like silver balls
And as the moon grew older
I reached across your shoulder
And gathered you a handful of stars
I placed my fingertips upon your lips
And stars fell in your eyes
Moonglow made a halo of your hair
Suddenly you looked at me and dreams began to rise
Oh, what things unspoken trembled in the air
Our hearts were madly beating
And then our lips were meeting
And Venus seemed to melt right into Mars
Then while we stood caressing
Blue heaven sent a blessing
A shower of a handful of stars
hellradiolives
Noone writes lyrics this gorgeous anymore. The feeling you get listening to this is why women would swoon.
fred c dobbs
One of my favorite Miller arrangements. Great vocal by Ray Eberle
Steve Sloan
This is one of my favorite songs. Thanks!
Barry I. Grauman
Also used (with different lyrics) as the theme of Tallulah Bankhead's "THE BIG SHOW" (1950-'52).
Barry I. Grauman
Recorded on August 14, 1940.
Michael Collins
A better time