It opens with a now-famous sax section theme, and is joined by trumpets and trombones after 13 counts. It has two main solo sections; a "tenor fight" solo—in the most famous recording, between Tex Beneke and Al Klink—and a 16-bar trumpet solo. It is also famous for its ending.
Origins
The song was composed by Joe Garland and Andy Razaf, and arranged by Glenn Miller. The main theme previously appeared under the title of "Tar Paper Stomp (Wingy's Stomp) (08-28-30)", credited to jazz trumpeter/bandleader Wingy Manone, who recorded it several times in 1929 and 1930. A story says that after "In the Mood" became a hit, Manone was paid by Miller and his record company not to contest the copyright.
The main theme also occurs in the Horace Henderson arrangement of "Hot and Anxious"; recorded by his brother's band - The Flecther Henderson Orchestra.
Renditions
Other notable big band artists who recorded the song include the Joe Loss orchestra, the Andrews Sisters, Xavier Cugat, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Lubo D'Orio, The Puppini Sisters and the Brian Setzer Orchestra.
Non-big band renditions were recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis, Chet Atkins, Bill Haley & His Comets, Bad Manners and Ernie Fields, whose version charted at number 4 in the U.S. in 1959. The song was charted at number 16 in 1953 with Johnny Maddox. Jonathan King scored a UK Top 50 hit with his version of the song in 1976. Bette Midler also recorded this song in 1973 (on the album Bette Midler).
A version of the song was recorded by country/novelty artist Ray Stevens in 1977. Stevens' version consisted of him performing the song in chicken clucks, and was credited to the "Henhouse Five Plus Too". The single was a Top-40 hit in both America and the UK...in America it was a hit by Stevens in three music genres: It hit the Pop chart, the Country chart, and the Adult-Contemporary chart. A new Glenn Miller Orchestra version (obviously without Miller), made the Easy Listening (later Adult Contemporary) chart on the Buddah label, after the Ray Stevens novelty version had its day. Saxophonist Al Klink specified that this version be played at his memorial service upon his passing; it was.
In 1951 a Ferranti Mark 1 computer at the University of Manchester played "In the Mood", one of the first songs ever to be played by a computer. The recording of it is was the first ever recording of a computer playing music.
In The Mood
Glenn Miller & His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a pair o' lips, I'd like to try 'em for size
I'll just tell him, "Baby, won't you swing it with me"
Hope he tells me maybe, what a wing it will be
So, I said politely "Darlin' may I intrude"
He said "Don't keep me waitin' when I'm in the mood"
First I held him lightly and we started to dance
And I said "Hey, baby, it's a quarter to three
There's a mess of moonlight, won't-cha share it with me"
"Well" he answered "Baby, don't-cha know that it's rude
To keep my two lips waitin' when they're in the mood"
In the mood, that's what he told me
In the mood, and when he told me
In the mood, my heart was skippin'
It didn't take me long to say "I'm in the mood now"
In the mood for all his kissin'
In the mood his crazy lovin'
In the mood what I was missin'
It didn't take me long to say "I'm in the mood now"
So, I said politely "Darlin' may I intrude"
He said "Don't keep me waitin' when I'm in the mood"
"Well" he answered "Baby, don't-cha know that it's rude
To keep my two lips waitin' when they're in the mood"
Who's the lovin' daddy with the beautiful eyes
What a pair o' lips, I'd like to try 'em for size
I'll just tell him, "Baby, won't you swing it with me"
Hope he tells me maybe, what a wing it will be
So, I said politely "Darlin' may I intrude"
He said "Don't keep me waitin' when I'm in the mood"
First I held him lightly and we started to dance
Then I held him tightly what a dreamy romance
And I said "Hey, baby, it's a quarter to three
It's a mess of moonlight, won't-cha share it with me"
"Well" he answered "Baby, don't-cha know that it's rude
To keep my two lips waitin' when they're in the mood"
The song "In The Mood" by Glenn Miller & His Orchestra is about a woman who is attracted to a man with beautiful eyes and lips. She asks him to dance, hoping for a romantic connection. As they dance, they both express their attraction towards each other and how much they are "in the mood" for each other. The lyrics are flirty, playful, and full of anticipation.
The song's lyrics highlight the social norms of the time, where asking someone to dance or intruding into someone's space required politeness and courtesy. The woman in the song expresses her interest and attraction towards the man, but still seeks his approval and consent. The man reciprocates her feelings and expresses them through dance.
Overall, "In The Mood" is a catchy and upbeat song with a playful tone that captures the spirit of the swing era.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's the lovin' daddy with the beautiful eyes
I noticed a man with attractive features, wondering who he is
What a pair o' lips, I'd like to try 'em for size
His lips look tantalizing, and I'm eager to kiss him
I'll just tell him, "Baby, won't you swing it with me"
I'll ask him to dance with me using seductive language
Hope he tells me maybe, what a wing it will be
I wish he agrees to dance, as it would be so much fun
So, I said politely "Darlin' may I intrude"
I asked him if I could interrupt him politely
He said "Don't keep me waitin' when I'm in the mood"
He informed me to not keep him waiting when he's ready to dance
First I held him lightly and we started to dance
We began dancing with a light touch at first
Then I held him tightly what a dreamy romance
Our dance grew more intimate and romantic with a tight embrace
And I said "Hey, baby, it's a quarter to three
I checked the time and told him that it's almost three in the morning
There's a mess of moonlight, won-cha share it with me"
I mentioned that the moonlight was beautiful, and asked him to enjoy it with me
"Well" he answered "Baby, don't-cha know that it's rude
He teased me by saying that it's impolite to keep his lips waiting when they're eager to kiss
To keep my two lips waitin' when they're in the mood"
He emphasized that it's not polite to make his lips wait when they're ready to kiss
In the mood, that's what he told me
He expressed that he's in the mood to dance and kiss
In the mood, and when he told me
When he informed me that he's in the mood, I felt a rush of excitement
In the mood, my heart was skippin'
I felt my heart race when he declared that he's in the mood
It didn't take me long to say "I'm in the mood now"
I eagerly revealed that I too was also in the mood for dancing and kissing
In the mood for all his kissin'
I'm in the mood for his passionate kisses
In the mood his crazy lovin'
I desire his intense and wild affection
In the mood what I was missin'
I realized that I was longing for his touch, and now I'm finally in the mood for it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE GARLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@notdodger1238
Glenn Miller bought a hotdog for my grandad when he was 9
@danithegreatest
well that's just wholesome :)
@notdodger1238
RandomDude ikr
@simonemastroianni1985
seriously ? ahahah nice :)
@notdodger1238
Simone Mastroianni Yh hehe, he died last week and I only found out now
@gloriacloudrock4271
lickmy socksx omg i’m so sorry for you😦💗
hope you’re ok😟
@leirex_1
bOrN iN tHe WrOnG gEnErAtIoN
NAH
I am born in the right generation because I get to enjoy this and all the other bangers from throughout history up to the present day.
@jesucristodenazaret.
Amén to you good sir
@kennarajora6532
Same with technology, and movies, and all the other stuff too.
@Skizy69
ooh, I like that! Thank you for your wise words