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 wonder as I wander
Harry Connick Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How Jesus the savior, did come to die
To save lowly people like you and like I
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky
Sweet Mary laid Jesus, within a cow's stall
Came wise men and farmers and shepherds and all
The blessings of Christmas heaven did fall
If Jesus had wanted for any small thing
A cloud in the sky or a bird on the wing
Or all of God's angels in heaven to sing
He surely could have had it, because
He was the King
Because He was King!
The song "I Wonder as I Wander" by Harry Connick, Jr. is a contemplation of the story of Jesus and how he came to save mankind from sin. Through the lyrics, we see the singer has a deep sense of wonder and awe as they ponder the significance of how Jesus came to die to save us all. The first stanza, "I wonder as I wander, out under the sky, how Jesus the savior, did come to die, to save lowly people like you and like I," is a reflection on the immense sacrifice that Jesus made, which leaves the singer feeling a sense of humility and wonder. The singer then muses on the story of Jesus' birth, stating that Mary gave birth in a cow's stall, and wise men, shepherds, and farmers came to pay their respects. The singer suggests that the blessings of heaven were bestowed upon those present, and God's promises were fulfilled.
The singer then suggests that if Jesus had wanted anything, even the clouds in the sky, the birds on the wing, or the angels in heaven to sing, he could have had it. The last line of the song, "He surely could have had it, because He was the King," reminds the listener of the divinity of Jesus and his omnipotence. Throughout the song, the lyrics evoke a sense of reverence, reverence for the profound story of Jesus and his work to save humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky
As I wander aimlessly, I ponder how Jesus, the savior died to save common, lowly people like me.
How Jesus the savior, did come to die
Jesus, who was the savior, came to die in order to save people.
To save lowly people like you and like I
He came to save common and modest people such as you and me.
Sweet Mary laid Jesus, within a cow's stall
Mary placed Jesus in a cow's shelter.
Came wise men and farmers and shepherds and all
Wise individuals, farmers, and shepherds came to visit and pay homage to baby Jesus.
The blessings of Christmas heaven did fall
God's blessings rained down from heaven during Christmas.
And God's promise of ages, to them did recall
God reminded them of the promise he made long ago.
If Jesus had wanted for any small thing
If Jesus had wished for anything at all
A cloud in the sky or a bird on the wing
Whether it was a cloud or a bird
Or all of God's angels in heaven to sing
Or even if He desired to have all angels in heaven sing for him
He surely could have had it, because
He certainly would've had it, considering
He was the King
He was the king, and anything he wished would have been granted to him.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: DP, John Jacob Niles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind