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 Got It Bad
Harry James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me to save my tears
Well I'm so mad about him
I can't live without him
Never treats me sweet and gentle
The way he should
I've got it bad
My poor heart is so sentimental
Not made of wood
I've got it so bad
And that ain't good
But when the fish are jumpin'
And Friday rolls around
My man an' I, we gin some
We pray some, and sin some
He don't love me like I love him
The way he should
I've got it bad
And that ain't good
Yes I've got it bad
And that ain't good
The lyrics of Harry James's song "I Got It Bad" express the extent of the singer's love and devotion for a man who treats her poorly. Despite advice from well-meaning people to save her tears and move on from him, the singer is unable to do so because she is deeply in love with him: "I'm so mad about him I can't live without him." The man in question does not treat her kindly, failing to be the sweet and gentle partner she deserves. However, the singer's heart is too sentimental to let go of him. She acknowledges that she "has it bad," and that this "ain't good."
The second verse of the song depicts a scenario where the man and the singer spend time together fishing and praying, but also sinning. The singer recognizes that the man's feelings for her are not equated to the depth of feeling she has for him. Nevertheless, she continues to hold onto hope and cannot help but love him even though she knows that it "ain't good."
The song is an expression of the pain of loving someone who does not return that love in full measure. The lyrics convey the singer's sense of desperation, heartbreak, and longing. The song is a poignant reflection of the human condition, where many of us find ourselves in the throes of love that is unrequited or unequal in terms of depth.
Line by Line Meaning
Though folks with good intentions
Despite people's well-meaning advice
Tell me to save my tears
Advising me not to cry
Well I'm so mad about him
But I'm still very angry with him
I can't live without him
And I can't imagine my life without him
Never treats me sweet and gentle
He never treats me kindly as he should
The way he should
In the way that he ought to
I've got it bad
I'm in a serious predicament
And that ain't good
And it's definitely not good
My poor heart is so sentimental
My heart is very emotional
Not made of wood
It's not just an object but has feelings
I've got it so bad
I'm really in a tough spot
And that ain't good
And it's not a good place to be
But when the fish are jumpin'
But in moments of joy
And Friday rolls around
During weekends
My man an' I, we gin some
We enjoy alcoholic drinks together
We pray some, and sin some
We pray and sometimes indulge in wrongdoing
He don't love me like I love him
He doesn't have the same level of affection towards me
The way he should
In the way that I want him to
Yes I've got it bad
I'm really struggling
And that ain't good
And it's a very bad thing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jan Procházka
on All or Nothing at All
trumpet boogie