Harry Connick, Jr. was born in New Orleans to Anita and Harry Connick, Sr. His mother was Jewish and his father was Irish Catholic. Connick's musical talent was evident from a young age and he studied at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts under Ellis Marsalis and James Booker. He went on to attend Hunter College and the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he was signed by Columbia Records.
In 1989, Connick provided the soundtrack for the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally..., winning his first Grammy for Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance. He also made his screen debut in Memphis Belle and released two albums: Lofty's Roach Souffle and We Are in Love, which earned him his second consecutive Grammy. In 1991, he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his contribution to the Godfather III soundtrack and released his third consecutive multi-platinum album, Blue Light, Red Light.
In 1992, Connick was arrested for having a gun at JFK International Airport but avoided charges by making a public-service television commercial. He continued to release successful albums, including 25 and When My Heart Finds Christmas, which was the best-selling Christmas album of 1993.
Harry Connick Jr. started his career as a jazz pianist and singer. In 1994, he released an album of New Orleans funk called She and took it on a tour of the United Kingdom and People's Republic of China. In 1996, he appeared in the successful movie Independence Day. By 1997, he returned to jazz music with his album To See You and played at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo. He continued his film career, starred in Hope Floats and released his album Come By Me in 1999. Connick wrote the score for the Broadway musical Thou Shalt Not, in 2000, and starred in South Pacific and his twelfth movie Mickey. He won a Grammy Award for his album Songs I Heard, released two albums in 2001, and appeared on NBC sitcom Will & Grace from 2002 to 2006. He continued releasing albums, appeared in films such as Basic, and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction for Harry Connick Jr. — "Only You" in Concert. In 2005, he composed and produced The Happy Elf, an animated holiday special.
[edit] Personal life
On April 16, 1994, Connick, Jr. married model Jill Goodacre, originally from Texas, at the St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, Louisiana. They have three daughters: Georgia Tatom (born April 17, 1996), Sarah Kate (September 12, 1997), and Charlotte (born June 26, 2002). The family currently resides in Connecticut.
He is a founder of the Krewe of Orpheus, a music-based New Orleans krewe, taking its name from Orpheus of classical mythology. The Krewe of Orpheus parades on St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street in New Orleans on Lundi Gras (Fat Monday) — the day before Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).
I'm Gonna Be the First One
Harry Connick Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I am the last in line to see
Whatever that it is
That they're lining up to see
You see, it doesn't concern me
I don't much care
If I am the very last to know
That they know about, oh, no
Oh, no I really don't care to know
'Cause when it comes to Santa Claus
And presents 'round the tree
No one I know could ever get jump on me
I'm gonna be the first one
Up on Christmas morning
I'm gonna be the first one
Up on Christmas day
I've always heard that the
Early birdie catches all the worms
But worms ain't for me, no
They're not my cup of tea
And I am certainly not a birdie
Me, I'd rather sleep 'til three
'Cause when it comes to Santa Claus
And presents 'round the tree
No one I know could ever get jump on me
I'm gonna be the first one
Up on Christmas morning
I'm gonna be the first one
Up on Christmas day
The song "I'm Gonna Be The First One" by Harry Connick Jr. is about how the singer doesn't care about being first in line or the first to know things that others may be interested in. The singer declares that they don't care about these things because they are more concerned with being the first one up on Christmas morning. The singer contrasts themselves with the "early birdie" who catches all the worms, stating that they are not interested in waking up early like a bird, as they would rather sleep until three. The singer discusses the excitement they feel about Christmas presents and confidently states that no one they know could ever beat them to the presents under the tree.
The song can be interpreted as a fun and lighthearted way of prioritizing what's important to the singer. In today's society, being the first to experience or know something can be perceived as a status symbol, but the singer in this song shows that there are other things in life that are more important than always being first in line or first in the know. The singer's focus on enjoying the moment with their loved ones and their eagerness to open their Christmas presents shows that the simple joys of life can outweigh the need to always be first.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't much care
I am uninterested and unconcerned
If I am the last in line to see
I am indifferent to being at the end of a line for some event or attraction
Whatever that it is
I don't care about the event or attraction in question
That they're lining up to see
People are lining up to see something which I have no interest in
You see, it doesn't concern me
I am not involved nor do I have any investment towards this event or attraction
If I am the very last to know
I don't care about being the last to know about something
Whatever that it is
The subject in discussion does not matter to me
That they know about, oh, no
People may know of the subject but it does not influence my actions nor thoughts
Oh, no I really don't care to know
I do not require nor seek out knowledge about this subject
'Cause when it comes to Santa Claus
Regarding Santa Claus,
And presents 'round the tree
The act of gift-giving and receiving
No one I know could ever get jump on me
No one I know could get a head start on me regarding gifts under the Christmas tree
I'm gonna be the first one
I will be the initial person
Up on Christmas morning
I will be awake and alert in the morning of Christmas Day
I'm gonna be the first one
Once again, I will be first
Up on Christmas day
I will be up early on Christmas Day
I've always heard that the
I've been informed that
Early birdie catches all the worms
Being early to something leads to advantages and success
But worms ain't for me, no
I do not need to take advantage of everything
They're not my cup of tea
I don't need or want the benefits that come from being early
And I am certainly not a birdie
I am not the type to be early to everything
Me, I'd rather sleep 'til three
I would prefer to sleep in as late as possible
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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