Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was a popular United State… Read Full Bio ↴Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was a popular United States musician and band leader, and a well known trumpet virtuoso.

Harry James was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a traveling circus. By age 10 he was taking trumpet lessons from his father. His father had him on a very strict practicing schedule every day. He was given one page to learn out of the Arban's book (a trumpet drill book) every day and could not do anything until he learned that page.

In 1931 the family settled in Beaumont, Texas and James began playing with local dance bands. James joined the nationally popular Ben Pollack in 1935. At the start of 1937 he left Pollack to join Benny Goodman's orchestra, where he stayed through 1938.

In February of 1939 Harry James debuted his own big band in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He continued touring with the band into the 1980s. His was the first "name band" to employ vocalist Frank Sinatra, in 1939. In 1943 he married actress Betty Grable.
His first wife was ex B.Goodman singer.,Louise Tobin.

You can hear his trumpet playing in the 1950 film Young Man with a Horn, dubbing Kirk Douglas. His recording of "I'm Beginning to See the Light" appears in the motion picture My Dog Skip (2000). James recorded many popular records and appeared in many Hollywood movies.

In 1983, James was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer, but he continued to work, playing his last professional job on 26 June 1983 in Los Angeles just nine days before his death in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Body and Soul
Harry James Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My heart is sad and lonely
For you I sigh, for you dear only
Why haven't you seen it
I'm all for you body and soul

I spend my days in longing
And wondering why it's me you're wronging
I tell you I mean it

I'm all for you body and soul

I can't believe it
It's hard to conceive it
That you'd turn away romance
Are you pretending
It looks like the ending
Unless I could have just one more chance to prove, dear

My life a wreck you're making
You know I'm yours for just the taking
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul

My life a wreck you're making

You know I'm yours for the very taking
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Harry James's "Body and Soul" express deep feelings of love, longing, and desperation. The singer laments the fact that his love interest has not reciprocated his feelings, and he spends his days wondering why he is being "wronged" and ignored. He declares his love and devotion, stating that he is "all for you body and soul" and would gladly surrender himself to the object of his affections.

The tone of the lyrics is melancholic, with a sense of resignation and sadness. The singer seems to be aware that his love may not be returned and is willing to accept his fate, but he still longs for one more chance to prove his worth. The lyrics suggest a complex emotional landscape, with the singer being torn between hope and despair, love and heartbreak, and desire and resignation.

Overall, "Body and Soul" is a timeless ballad that captures the essence of unrequited love and the pain of longing. Its poignant lyrics and soulful melody have made it a classic that has been covered by many artists over the years.

Line by Line Meaning

My heart is sad and lonely
I'm feeling sorrowful and melancholy

For you I sigh, for you dear only
I yearn and long for you exclusively

Why haven't you seen it
I'm perplexed that you haven't noticed my feelings

I'm all for you body and soul
I'm completely devoted to you in every way

I spend my days in longing
I pass my time pining and craving for you

And wondering why it's me you're wronging
I'm contemplating why you're causing me pain

I tell you I mean it
I'm sincerely expressing my feelings

I'm all for you body and soul
I'm completely devoted to you in every way

I can't believe it
I find it hard to accept

It's hard to conceive it
It's difficult to understand

That you'd turn away romance
I'm surprised that you would reject love