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.
Everything But You
Harry James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I may be wrong but I think you're swell
I like your style say, I think it's marvellous
I'm always wrong so how can I tell
Deuces to me are all aces
Life is to me just a bore
Faces are all open spaces
You might be John Barrymore
I think you're grand but I may be wrong
I may be wrong but I think you're wonderful
I may be wrong but I think you're swell
I like your style say, I really think it's marvellous
I'm always wrong so how can I tell
Deuces to me are all aces
Life is to me just a bore
Faces are all open spaces
You might be John Barrymore
You came along say I think you're wonderful
I think you're grand but I may be wrong
You said that Edison would never make that light
You laughed at Mr. Franklin with his key and kite
The point of the song is I'm always wrong
But with you baby I'm oh so right.
The chorus of the song, "I may be wrong but I think you're wonderful," emphasizes that the singer may have been wrong before, but they are not when it comes to their appreciation for the person they are addressing. The lyrics explain that the singer likes this person's style, thinks they are marvelous and grand, but always doubts their judgment due to their history of being wrong. The line "Deuces to me are all aces" means that even when the singer thinks they have lost in a game of cards, they end up winning, which adds to their uncertainty. The mention of John Barrymore implies that the person the singer is talking to could be a successful actor like Barrymore, but more broadly means that they could be anyone who is accomplished and impressive.
The second half of the song uses historical examples to reinforce the point that the singer has been wrong before, but not with this person who makes them feel oh so right. The examples of Thomas Edison and Benjamin Franklin show how people can be wrong about something that later turns out to be significant. The singer then concludes that the main point of the song is that, despite their history of being wrong, they are not wrong about their attraction to this person.
Line by Line Meaning
I may be wrong but I think you're wonderful
I may not always be right, but in this case I believe you are amazing
I may be wrong but I think you're swell
I know I could be mistaken, but I believe you're fantastic
I like your style say, I really think it's marvellous
Your way of doing things is impressive and I'm fond of it
I'm always wrong so how can I tell
I am often incorrect, so it's tough for me to be certain
Deuces to me are all aces
Things that are bad to others seem good to me
Life is to me just a bore
I find life dull and uninteresting
Faces are all open spaces
People's expressions don't reveal much to me
You might be John Barrymore
You could be a famous and talented actor like John Barrymore
You came along say I think you're wonderful
Since you came into my life, I've believed that you're remarkable
I think you're grand but I may be wrong
I think you're excellent, but I acknowledge that I might be mistaken
You said that Edison would never make that light
You thought that Edison wouldn't be successful in inventing the lightbulb
You laughed at Mr. Franklin with his key and kite
You found it amusing that Mr. Franklin tried to conduct electricity using a kite
The point of the song is I'm always wrong
The theme of the song is that I'm often mistaken
But with you baby I'm oh so right.
But when it comes to you, I know I'm absolutely correct.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RUSKIN HARRY, HENRY SULLIVAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@syafiqismail2161
In a dream the strangest and the oddest things appear
And what insane and silly things we do
Here is what I see before me, vividly and clear
As I recall it, you were in it, too
I had the craziest dream last night, yes I did
I never dreamt it could be
Yet there you were, in love with me
I found your lips close to mine so I kissed you
And you didn't mind it at all
When I'm awake such abreak never happens
How long can a gal go on dreaming?
If there's a chance that you care
Then, please, say you do, Baby
Say it and make my craziest dream come true
@glenmcgregor3366
I had that "crazy" dream 57 years ago and it's been a dream come true ever since. Carol and I have been "one" since 1965 and Like the song "wishes are dreams that come true".
@opaulamorgan4265
Helen Forrest had a beautiful voice and Harry James could really blow that trumpet! There are no songs like this today.
@raymondcox4983
Harry James blew his trumpet to sound like a saxophone, and Helen Forest sang such rich tones with depth, making this a beautiful song to pass with flying colors the test of time
@robinarden8877
Harry was Simply the Best... (I have many of his CD's)
@DAN-lo5db
Harry James has imitators to this day, but they don't hold a candle to his talent
@andymckane7271
Superb! Back from the days when "music" was truly "Music"! Thank you for putting this online!
@jonathonspiers8397
How I wish that I was born in this beautifully nostalgic era of big bands, moonlight gardens like in this video….gliding across the dance floor with Mary Nash in my arms….
@christinegruenberg3120
This was my dad's favorite song by his favorite singer. He just passed away and it will be played at his funeral. He was 96. RIP Dad.
@taubangkok
Even as a child I was interested in music decades before I was born. I still love the music from 20s, 30s, 40s. I love the big orchestras. There were so many of them while these days, big popular music orchestras are hard to find. I am from the Netherlands, and we only have one or two and they are struggeling.
@donnalayton6876
When I was a kid in the 40s my mum played her records from 20 & 30s, I heard those songs as well as the 40s.