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.

Help Me Make It Through The Night
Harry James Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Take the ribbon from your hair
Shake it loose and let it fall
Layin' soft upon my skin
Like the shadows on the wall

Come and lay down by my side
Till the early mornin' light
All I'm takin' is your time

Help me make it through the night

I don't care who's right or wrong
I don't try to understand
Let the devil take tomorrow
Lord tonight I need a friend

Yesterday is dead and gone

And tomorrow's out of sight
And it's sad to be alone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Harry James & His Big Band's "Help Me Make It Through The Night" are a plea from someone who is feeling lonely and seeking comfort from another person. The singer is asking their partner to let their hair down and lay by their side until the morning light. They are not concerned with who is right or wrong or trying to understand the complexities of their situation. Instead, they are focused on the present moment and finding solace in the company of someone they care about.

The lyrics also convey a sense of desperation and longing. The singer does not want to face tomorrow alone and is willing to do whatever it takes to get through the night. They are willing to put aside their pride and ask for help from a friend. The song's softly sung melody and slow tempo amplify the emotions of the lyrics, creating a somber and reflective mood.

Overall, "Help Me Make It Through The Night" is a haunting and beautiful song that speaks to the universal human need for connection and comfort in times of loneliness.

Line by Line Meaning

Take the ribbon from your hair
Remove any barriers or adornments and be yourself

Shake it loose and let it fall
Let go of any inhibitions and embrace the moment

Layin' soft upon my skin
Physical intimacy and tenderness is greatly appreciated

Like the shadows on the wall
The soft light and shadows of the room set the perfect tone

Come and lay down by my side
Join me in this intimate moment and be fully present

Till the early mornin' light
Stay throughout the night, as long as possible

All I'm takin' is your time
Time is precious and valuable

Help me make it through the night
Stay with me and provide me with comfort to overcome my struggles

I don't care who's right or wrong
The situation is not about being right or wrong, it's about being there for each other

I don't try to understand
There are some things that cannot be explained and that is okay

Let the devil take tomorrow
Don't worry about the future, let it take care of itself