Was an American compo… Read Full Bio ↴Harold Arlen (February 15, 1905 – April 23, 1986)
Was an American composer of popular music. Having written over 400 songs, a number of which have become known the world over, Arlen is a highly regarded contributor to the Great American Songbook. His 1938 song "Over the Rainbow” was voted the twentieth century's No. 1 song by the Recording Industry Association of America
Biography
Arlen was born Hyman Arluck, in Buffalo, New York, the child of a Jewish cantor. His twin brother died the next day. He learned the piano as a youth and formed a band as a young man. He achieved some local success as a pianist and singer and moved to New York City in his early 20s. He worked as an accompanist in vaudeville.[1] At this point, he changed his name to Harold Arlen. He performed on record with the "Buffalodians" orchestra, as well as those of Red Nichols, Henny Hendrickson and Arnold Johnson.
Between 1926 and about 1934, Arlen appeared occasionally as band vocalist on records by The Buffalodians, Red Nichols, Joe Venuti, Leo Reisman and Eddie Duchin, usually singing his own compositions.
In 1929, Arlen composed his first well-known song: "Get Happy" (with lyrics by Ted Koehler). Throughout the early and mid-1930s, Arlen and Koehler wrote shows for the Cotton Club, a popular Harlem night club, as well as Broadway musicals and Hollywood films. Arlen also continued to perform with some success, most notably on records with Leo Reisman's society dance orchestra.
Arlen's compositions have always been popular with jazz musicians because of his facility at incorporating a blues feeling into conventional American popular songs.
Arlen and Koehler wrote several hit songs during the early and mid-1930s.
In the mid-1930s, Arlen married, and spent increasingly more time in California, writing for movie musicals. It was at this time that he began working with lyricist E.Y. "Yip" Harburg. In 1938, the team was hired by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to compose songs for The Wizard of Oz. The most famous of these is the song "Over the Rainbow" for which they won the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song. They also wrote "Down with Love", a song later featured in the 2003 movie Down with Love.
Arlen was a longtime friend and former roommate of actor Ray Bolger who would star in The Wizard of Oz, the film for which "Over the Rainbow" was written.
In the 1940s, Arlen teamed up with lyricist Johnny Mercer, and continued to write hit songs like "Blues in the Night" ("My Mama Done Tol' Me") and "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive".
My Shining Hour
Harold Arlen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And each second in it
Will leave a glow upon the sky
And as time goes by, it will never die
This will be my shining hour
Calm and happy and bright
In my dreams your face will flower
Like the lights of home before me
Or an angel watching over me
This will be my shining hour
'Til I'm with you again
Like the lights of home before me
Or an angel watching over me
This will be my shining hour
'Til I'm with you again
In the song "My Shining Hour", the singer expresses how a particular moment in their life is so special and memorable that it will always leave an impact on them. The use of imagery is evident as the singer describes this moment as leaving a "glow upon the sky" that will never die. The lyrics suggest that this moment is their "shining hour", where everything in life seems calm, happy and bright. Even in the darkness of night, their dream carries a vision of their loved one's face, which serves as a guiding light.
Furthermore, the song displays a sense of longing and yearning for the person they miss, and the singer likens the feeling of that person's presence to the "lights of home before" them or "an angel watching over" them. The use of these symbols creates a sense of comfort, warmth and safety in the singer's life, making the moment even more special. Overall, the lyrics convey the powerful emotions of love, longing, and the belief that there are moments in one's life that are truly unforgettable.
Line by Line Meaning
This moment, this minute
The current time frame, right now, at the present moment.
And each second in it
Even the smallest increments of time during this moment are valuable and impactful.
Will leave a glow upon the sky
This moment, along with every second that passes, will create something beautiful and lasting in the world around us.
And as time goes by, it will never die
The beauty and impact created by this moment will endure, even as time passes and moments fade away.
This will be my shining hour
This particular moment will stand out as one of happiness and success for me.
Calm and happy and bright
This moment will evoke feelings of peace, joy, and positivity within me.
In my dreams your face will flower
Even in my subconscious thoughts and dreams, this moment will be associated with something or someone significant.
Through the darkness of the night
This moment will provide light, hope, and strength during difficult or trying times.
Like the lights of home before me
This moment will be reminiscent of the comforting and familiar feeling of being at home.
Or an angel watching over me
This moment will bring a sense of divine guidance, protection, or support.
Til I'm with you again
This moment will continue to shine brightly until the time when I am reunited with someone or something important to me.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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