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 Want To Be Happy
Harry James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to work out life's happy plan
Doing unto others as I'd like to have them doing unto me
When I find a very lonely soul
Soon be-kinda-comes my only goal
I feel so much better when I tell them my philosophy
But I won't be happy
Till I make you happy too.
Life's really worth living
When we are mirth giving
Why can't I give some to you
When skies are gray and you say you are blue
I'll send the sun smiling through
I want to be happy
But I won't be happy
Till I make you happy too.
When skies are gray and you say you are blue
I'll send the sun smiling through
I want to be happy
But I won't be happy
Till I make you happy too.
The lyrics of Harry James’s “I Want To Be Happy” reflect an individual’s simple goal in life – to be happy. Yet this is not a desire that is entirely self-centered – the singer states that he won’t truly be happy until he sees others experiencing joy as well. The message is one of kindness, empathy, and consideration, with the idea that by spreading positivity, one can achieve their own happiness too.
The singer positions himself as an “ordinary man, trying to work out life’s happy plan” without any grandiose aspirations, aside from a desire for personal fulfillment. Thus, when he encounters someone who is lonely, he makes it his goal to befriend them and make them happy, by sharing his “philosophy”. The song acknowledges that life can be difficult, with its “gray skies” and periods of sadness, but suggests that even in such moments, it is possible to find reasons for joy and optimism, and to share these with others.
Overall, the lyrics encourage listeners to focus on how they can make others happy, as a pathway to achieving happiness and meaning in their own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a very ordinary man
I'm just like everyone else, nothing special.
Trying to work out life's happy plan
I'm trying to figure out how to be happy in life.
Doing unto others as I'd like to have them doing unto me
I treat others the way I want to be treated.
When I find a very lonely soul
When I encounter someone who is feeling lonely and disconnected from others.
Soon be-kinda-comes my only goal
My main objective becomes to make them feel heard and comforted.
I feel so much better when I tell them my philosophy
Sharing my positive outlook on life makes me feel good and optimistic.
I want to be happy
I desire to be content and joyful.
But I won't be happy
I cannot feel truly happy.
Till I make you happy too.
Until I help to improve your mood and well-being.
Life's really worth living
There is much value and beauty in life.
When we are mirth giving
By making others happy, we can find satisfaction and purpose.
Why can't I give some to you
I want to share my happiness with you.
When skies are gray and you say you are blue
When you feel sad and downcast.
I'll send the sun smiling through
I'll try to bring positivity and optimism into your life, like shining sunlight.
I want to be happy
Once again, I hope to find contentment and joy in my life.
But I won't be happy
Without also bringing happiness to those around me.
Till I make you happy too.
Until I am able to improve your well-being and make you feel joyful.
When skies are gray and you say you are blue
Repeating similar worries and concerns from earlier in the song.
I'll send the sun smiling through
And still I will try to bring happiness and positivity into your life.
I want to be happy
One more time, expressing the personal desire for happiness.
But I won't be happy
Again, acknowledging that happiness only truly comes when shared with others.
Till I make you happy too.
And once more pledging to do what I can to improve your happiness.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IRVING CAESAR, VINCENT YOUMANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jan Procházka
on All or Nothing at All
trumpet boogie