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.
I Cried for You
Harry James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over things you said to me; I couldn't even sleep
You forgot your promises, every single vow
All you did was laugh at me, but things are different now
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
Every road has a turning
That's one thing you're learning
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
I found a heart just a little bit truer
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
How can I forget the hours that I worried through
Wondering the live long day just what next thing to do?
In those days you never thought anything of me
But the slave that was all yours and now at last is free
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
Every road has a turning
That's one thing you're learning
I cried for you; what a fool I used to be
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
I found a heart just a little bit truer
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
The lyrics of Harry James's song, 'I Cried for You', are about a past relationship and how the singer has moved on. The song starts with the singer remembering how they used to weep over things their partner said to them and how they couldn't even sleep. The partner forgot their promises and every vow they made, and all they did was laugh at the singer. But now things are different, and the singer is the one who has moved on and found someone else. The chorus is about the singer's current situation and how they cried for their past partner, but now it's their turn to cry over the singer because they've found someone better.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember other days how I used to weep
In the past, I used to cry over the things you said to me.
Over things you said to me; I couldn't even sleep
Your hurtful words kept me up at night, preventing me from sleeping.
You forgot your promises, every single vow
You didn't keep your promises or vows, showing a lack of commitment.
All you did was laugh at me, but things are different now
You used to ridicule me, but now the situation has changed.
I cried for you; now it's your turn to cry over me
I once felt sad for you, but now it's your turn to feel the same way.
Every road has a turning
Every life path has its ups and downs, and things can change.
That's one thing you're learning
You're beginning to realize that things don't always go your way.
I cried for you; what a fool I used to be
I was foolish to feel sad for someone who didn't care about me.
Now I found two eyes just a little bit bluer
I found someone with eyes that shine a little brighter than yours.
I found a heart just a little bit truer
My new love has a heart that is more genuine and faithful.
How can I forget the hours that I worried through
I remember how much I worried about you in the past.
Wondering the live long day just what next thing to do?
I spent countless days wondering what my next move should be.
In those days you never thought anything of me
You didn't value me or think I was important at that time.
But the slave that was all yours and now at last is free
I was once devoted to you, but now I've moved on and am no longer under your control.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gus Arnheim, Arthur Freed, Abe Lyman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stevesanzari7294
I was Born 1950 ! My Mom Listened to all these Great Performers ! I’ll never forget These Great Artists !
These Great Artists Fueled our Country to be Great ! Our Grandchildren will never Know What it was Like to be a Proud American !
@Darrigrande
Impossible to imagine the Big Band Era without the wonderful voice of Helen Forrest!
@kennethcramb7133
I was born in 1944 - this music was 1939. Tonight I woke up with Harry JAMES and his orchestra in my head. Got up and went to U Tube. Watched Helen Forest sing You Made Me Love You. ( now where did this come from)?? Lovely. You can hear the words not overpowered by the noise of today. Such great lyrics. We have lost so much in the transition to the next Century. It is now Quantity and no longer Quality. Ken 5th May 2022.Campbell River Canada.
@sandaglad
Hi Ken: This movie, "Bathing Beauty," was made in 1944. Harry James' record of the number with Helen Forrest came out in 1942.
@robgrune3284
beyond musicality, these artists had soul. a lost era. nothing today comes close. such a pity the recording tech back then was so primitive.
@josephpaul4548
Once there was Helen Forrest. Now we have Lizzo. God help this country.
@njlillycline
What a beautiful woman with a magnificent voice, the world was rich with beauty and talent then
@ABC-rh7zc
Yes, civilization peaked decades ago
@finchrothgar5720
Esther Williams didn't look too bad either!
@robgrune3284
back in the days when the world had real women. no surgeries, no plastic, no injections. and when chique was upheld.