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.
Ive Heard That Song Before
Harry James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's from an old familiar score
I know it well, that melody
It's funny how a theme recalls a favorite dream
A dream that brought you so close to me
I know each word because I've heard that song before
Forever more's a memory
Please have them play it again
And I'll remember just when I've heard that lovely song before
The song "I've Heard That Song Before" by Harry James is a nostalgic tune that evokes memories of a time gone by. The lyrics speak to the power of music to transport us back to a moment in our past. The opening lines, "It seems to me I've heard that song before, It's from an old familiar score, I know it well, that melody" immediately draw the listener in and create a sense of familiarity.
The theme of the song seems to revolve around the memories that certain pieces of music evoke. The lines "It's funny how a theme recalls a favorite dream, A dream that brought you so close to me" cement the idea that music can take us back to a place in time when we felt loved, happy, and safe. The nostalgia that the song evokes is further emphasized in the lines "Forever more's a memory, Please have them play it again, And I'll remember just when, I've heard that lovely song before" which seem to be an appeal to hold onto the memory a little while longer.
The song's melody is both soothing and melancholic, evoking feelings of nostalgia and longing. The nostalgia is further bolstered by the lyrics which seem to reference the end of a love story. Overall, the song is a bittersweet tribute to the memories that music can evoke.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems to me I've heard that song before
This song sounds familiar to me
It's from an old familiar score
It's from a source that I'm familiar with
I know it well, that melody
I am very familiar with that tune
It's funny how a theme recalls a favorite dream
It's interesting how a tune can remind you of a pleasant dream
A dream that brought you so close to me
A dream that made me feel very close to you
I know each word because I've heard that song before
I remember all the lyrics because I've heard this song before
The lyrics said "forever more"
The song includes the lyrics "forever more"
Forever more's a memory
The phrase 'forever more' brings back a memory
Please have them play it again
Can you please play the song again?
And I'll remember just when I've heard that lovely song before
I'll recall the moment when I heard this beautiful song before
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@janayclark3748
Lyrics
It seems to me I've heard that song before
It's from an old familiar score I know it well, that melody
It's funny how a theme recalls a favorite dream
Dream that brought you so close to me
I know each word because I've heard that song before
The lyrics said, "Forevermore" Forevermore's a memory
Please have them play it again
And I'll remember just when I heard that lovely song before
It's funny how a theme recalls a favorite dream
Dream that brought you so close to me
Please have them play it again
And I'll remember just when I heard that lovely song before
@m.f.828
I was REALLY young when I heard this song and I had only heard the beginning of it, and I asked my mom what this song was called and she said the name and I thought she was teasing me and about the fifth time I asked her and she said "I've heard that song before " I yelled "I'm HAPPY FOR YOU " she looked at me and started cracking up and said that's the name, we both had a good laugh over that!!! I miss you mom 🤗
@m.f.828
@galahad all the best to you and yours as well! This was the music my mom grew up listening to, by the time I was starting school she was in her 40's, but music was the thing we could bond over! Prayers for your dad and my mom, 💝🙏
@m.f.828
@galahad I have always been a fan of big band music, Benny Goodman's sing! Was my ringtone for a long time, and I wore my moms clothes from the 40's to school in the 80's, I thought they were cool!👍
@lauriemccullough222
Oh, that's funny, the miscommunication that happened between you and your mom. Priceless! :)
@m.f.828
@@lauriemccullough222 thanks, you made me smile ❣️
@glenmcgregor3366
Helen recorded this song 4 years before I was born and it's been a favorite of mine since I was just a kid. Carol and I play it every so often and dance to it.
@voicegirl555
March 16th marked the 102 birthday of Harry James, one of the greatest horn men on the planet! You are missed Harry!
@DonDraperism
Just got done watching Hannah And Her Sisters. Terrific film.
@jacksquat2878
Keep the movie references to yourself please.
@jacksquat2878
@Waxing Wampeter Because the music stands on its own and not because some bubble gummer heard it in a movie. So annoying.