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.
It Might As Well Be Spring
Harry James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string
I'd say that I had Spring fever
But I know it isn't Spring
I am starry-eyed and vaguely discontented
Like a nightingale without a song to sing
Oh, why should I have Spring fever
I keep wishing I were somewhere else
Walking down a strange new street
Hearing words that I have never heard
From a girl I've yet to meet
I'm as busy as a spider spinning daydreams
I'm as giddy as a baby on a swing
I haven't seen a crocus or a rosebud or a robin on the wing
But I feel so gay in a melancholy way
That it might as well be Spring
It might as well be Spring
The lyrics to Harry James's song "It Might As Well Be Spring" convey a sense of restlessness and longing for change. The singer compares themselves to a willow in a windstorm, emphasizing their uneasiness and lack of stability. They feel like a puppet on a string, controlled and unable to find their own direction. The mention of Spring fever suggests a desire for renewal and new beginnings, but the singer acknowledges that it isn't actually Spring.
The second verse continues to describe the singer's discontentment. They feel starry-eyed and unsatisfied, comparing themselves to a nightingale without a song. This highlights their longing for purpose and fulfillment. They question why they have Spring fever when it's not even Spring, suggesting that their desire for change and growth is not bound by the seasons.
The third verse adds another layer to the singer's longing for something different. They express a wish to be somewhere else, walking down unfamiliar streets and hearing new words from a girl they have yet to meet. This further emphasizes their desire for novelty and excitement in their life.
The final lines of the song reveal a contradictory mix of emotions. The singer states that they feel gay (meaning happy) in a melancholy way, suggesting a bittersweet feeling of contentment tinged with sadness. The phrase "it might as well be Spring" implies that even though the season isn't actually Spring, the singer's longing and restlessness make it feel as if it is.
Overall, the lyrics of "It Might As Well Be Spring" capture the universal experience of feeling restless and yearning for change, even when the external circumstances may not align with those desires.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm
I feel unsettled and unable to find peace, like a willow tree being tossed around in a strong wind
I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string
I am easily startled and anxious, like a puppet being controlled by someone else
I'd say that I had Spring fever
I would describe my current state as experiencing a restless and excited energy associated with the arrival of Spring
But I know it isn't Spring
However, I am aware that it is not actually Spring
I am starry-eyed and vaguely discontented
I have a dreamy and romantic outlook, but I also feel somewhat unsatisfied without a clear purpose
Like a nightingale without a song to sing
Similar to a nightingale, I feel incomplete and without a fulfilling outlet for my emotions
Oh, why should I have Spring fever
Why do I experience this restlessness and excitement associated with Spring?
When it isn't even Spring?
Especially when it is not the actual season of Spring?
I keep wishing I were somewhere else
I constantly desire to be in a different location or situation
Walking down a strange new street
Specifically, I imagine strolling along an unfamiliar and exciting street
Hearing words that I have never heard
I long to listen to conversations or expressions that are completely new to me
From a girl I've yet to meet
These words would ideally come from a girl whom I haven't encountered yet
I'm as busy as a spider spinning daydreams
I am preoccupied with creating elaborate fantasies and imaginary scenarios, just like a spider diligently spins its web
I'm as giddy as a baby on a swing
I feel excited and lighthearted, comparable to the joyous sensation of a baby swinging back and forth
I haven't seen a crocus or a rosebud or a robin on the wing
Although I haven't witnessed the blooming of flowers or the sight of a robin bird flying,
But I feel so gay in a melancholy way
I still experience a sense of happiness, albeit tinged with a touch of sadness
That it might as well be Spring
This feeling is so strong that it seems akin to the vibrant and lively season of Spring
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maria Candelaria Núñez Herrera
👏👏👏👏👏♥️