Born in Columbus, Ohio, Edison spent his early childhood in Louisville, Kentucky, where he was introduced to music by an uncle. After moving back to Columbus at the age of 12, the young Edison began playing the trumpet with local bands.
In 1933, he became a member of the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra in Cleveland. Afterwards he played with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band and Lucky Millinder. In 1937 he moved to New York and joined the Count Basie Orchestra. His colleagues included Buck Clayton, Lester Young (who named him "Sweets"), Buddy Tate, Freddie Green, Jo Jones, and other original members of that famous band.
"Sweets" Edison came to prominence as a soloist with the Basie Band and as an occasional composer/arranger for the band. He also appeared in the 1944 film Jammin' The Blues.
Having joined the Basie Band in 1937, Edison spent 13 years with Basie until the band was temporarily disbanded in 1950. Edison thereafter pursued a varied career as leader of his own groups, traveling with Jazz at the Philharmonic and freelancing with other orchestras. In the early 1950s, he settled on the West Coast and became a highly sought-after studio musician, making important contributions to recordings by such artists as Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald. In 1956 he recorded the first of three albums with tenor great Ben Webster.
According to the Encyclopedia of Jazz in the Seventies, Edison in the 1960s and 1970s continued to work in many orchestras on TV shows, including Hollywood Palace and The Leslie Uggams Show, specials with Frank Sinatra; prominently featured on the sound track and in the sound track album of the film, Lady Sings the Blues. From 1973 Edison acted as Musical Director for Redd Foxx on theatre dates, at concerts, and in Las Vegas. For the past two decades he appeared frequently in Europe and Japan until shortly before his death. As the Los Angeles Jazz Institute's (LAJI) first Tribute Honoree, "Sweets" will always have a special place in the hearts of jazz fans.
Sweets Edison was twice the Los Angeles Jazz Society's Tribute Honoree - in 1983 and in 1992.
Love Is Here To Stay
Harry Edison Lyrics
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Not for a year but ever and a day
The radio and the telephone and the movies that we know
May just be passing fancies and in time may go
But oh, my dear, our love is here to stay
Together we're going a long, long way
In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble
But our love is here to stay
In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble
They're only made of clay
But our love is here to stay
The song "Love Is Here to Stay" by Harry Edison is a beautiful expression of love that transcends time and age. The lyrics suggest that true love is eternal and will withstand all the obstacles that life throws its way. The imagery of the Rockies crumbling and Gibraltar tumbling is a metaphor for the fragility of the physical world. In contrast, the love shared between the two people is permanent and will survive forever. The use of the words "not for a year but ever and a day" also emphasizes the everlasting nature of love.
The song also suggests that while technology and popular culture may come and go, true love remains a constant. The reference to "the radio and the telephone and the movies that we know" being "passing fancies" underscores the fact that these things are transient, while love is enduring. The phrase "together we're going a long, long way" also hints at the adventure of life that the couple will share, with all its ups and downs.
Overall, the song is a lyrical ode to love that stands the test of time. It offers hope and comfort to those who have found their soulmates, reassuring them that their love will never fade away.
Line by Line Meaning
It's very clear, our love is here to stay
There's no doubt that our love is going to last forever
Not for a year but ever and a day
Our love is not just a temporary thing, it will last for as long as time itself
The radio and the telephone and the movies that we know
All of the media we consume might be just temporary trends
May just be passing fancies and in time may go
The media is fleeting, and it's popularity could fade
But oh, my dear, our love is here to stay
Despite everything else, we know our love will always endure
Together we're going a long, long way
We're in this together for the long haul
In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble
Everything in the world is susceptible to change, even the most solid structures we know of
They're only made of clay
Everything in the world, including these formidable structures, could be reduced to nothing
But our love is here to stay
Our love is as strong and enduring as ever
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind