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.
Don't Get Around Much Any More
Harry James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heard they crowded the floor
Couldn't bear it without you
Don't get around much anymore
Though I'd visit the club
Got as far as the door
They'd have asked me about you
Darling, I guess my mind's more at ease
But nevertheless why stir up memories?
Been invited on dates
Might have gone but what for?
Awf'lly diff'rent without you
Don't get around much anymore
The song "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" by Harry James and His Orchestra is a nostalgic tune that laments lost love and lost opportunities. The lyrics express the singer's regret for missing the Saturday dance and feeling left out when hearing about how crowded the floor was. The overarching theme of the song is the singer's attempt to move on from the love he once had, but he cannot escape the memories of being with his lover.
The first line of the song, "Missed the Saturday dance," signifies a moment of regret and longing for the past. The singer missed a significant event, and it seems that he missed it because he was not comfortable going without his former lover. The phrase "Couldn't bear it without you" emphasizes the level of dependency the singer had on his lover.
As the song progresses, the singer talks about how he attempted to visit the club again but couldn't go through with it, imagining that people would ask him about his lover. The line "Darling, I guess my mind's more at ease, But nevertheless why stir up memories?" suggests that the singer is trying to move on from his lover but is still haunted by the memories. Lastly, the line "Awf'lly diff'rent without you" embodies the singer's feeling of emptiness and loneliness.
Overall, "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" is a moving song that captures the pain and longing associated with lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
Missed the Saturday dance
I didn't go to the dance on Saturday
Heard they crowded the floor
I heard that the dance was popular and a lot of people attended
Couldn't bear it without you
I didn't want to go to the dance without you
Don't get around much anymore
I don't go out as much as I used to
Though I'd visit the club
I thought about going to the club
Got as far as the door
I only made it to the entrance
They'd have asked me about you
People would have asked me where you were
Darling, I guess my mind's more at ease
Sweetheart, I'm feeling more relaxed now
But nevertheless why stir up memories?
But why bring up old memories?
Been invited on dates
I've been asked out on dates
Might have gone but what for?
I could have gone, but what's the point?
Awf'lly diff'rent without you
It's very different without you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Duke Ellington, Bob Russell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
raimo rytsy
Great live performance !
Marvin Muoneké
Harry, Buddy and the band are on top form as always! But the arrangement by the great Ray Conniff is a real treat. Very different to the shuffle/swing easy listening arrangements he would cook up for Columbia. It's fantastic!
John Healy
Great to hear this live ! The audio not the greatest,but the great sounding trumpet of Harry James comes thru!