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.
Mr. Five by Five
Harry James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here comes Mister Five by Five
He's one of those big, fat, bouncin' boys
Solid avoirdupois
Mister Five by Five
He's five feet tall and he's five feet wide
He don't measure no more from head to toe
Mister Five by Five
Got fifteen chins and a line of jive
He's a mellow old cat, a real hep fat
He be Mister Five by Five
That man can really jump it for a fat man
The only trouble is there's no way of knowin'
Whether he's comin' or goin'
Mister Five by Five
He's slightly plump on the solid side
He don't shake it no more from head to toe
Than he do from side to side
Mister Five, Five by Five
He's five feet tall and he's five feet wide
Slightly plump and he can jump
'Cause he's a mellow old fat and a real hep cat
Mister Five by Five
He's five feet tall and he's five feet wide
He doesn't measure no more from his head to his toe
Than he do from side to side
Mister Five by Five-feet-five
He's slightly plump on the solid side
He doesn't measure no more from head to toe
Than'll he do from side to side
Mister Five, Mister Five, Mister Five
He be just little Mister Five by Five
The song "Mister Five By Five" portrays an overweight, yet charismatic man who takes pride in his appearance and his ability to dance despite his size. The lyrics describe him as being "solid avoirdupois," which means he is heavily built with a large waist, and "solid on the plump side," indicating his weight. The man is only five feet tall and five feet wide, and doesn't measure any differently from head to toe than he does from side to side. He is a "real hep cat," which means he is stylish and cool.
The song is a playful, upbeat tune with a jazzy swing beat that fits perfectly with the lyrics. The singer describes the man as having "fifteen chins and a line of jive," implying that he is chatty, confident, and perhaps a bit flirtatious. The lyrics mention that he "can really jump it for a fat man," indicating that he is a skilled dancer and can move well despite his weight. However, the singer notes that "there's no way of knowin' whether he's comin' or goin'," perhaps meaning that the man is a little unpredictable or hard to keep up with.
Line by Line Meaning
Well twirl my turban, man alive
An expression of surprise or delight upon seeing Mister Five by Five
Here comes Mister Five by Five
Mister Five by Five is approaching
He's one of those big, fat, bouncin' boys
Mister Five by Five is a heavyset, jolly fellow
Solid avoirdupois
A reference to Mister Five by Five's weight in pounds
Mister Five by Five
Reference to Mister Five by Five, the subject of the song
He's five feet tall and he's five feet wide
Mister Five by Five is very wide as well as tall
He don't measure no more from head to toe
Mister Five by Five is so wide that he doesn't measure any more vertically than horizontally
Than he do from side to side
Mister Five by Five is perfectly proportionate in width and height
Got fifteen chins and a line of jive
Mister Five by Five has many chins and is good at talking nonsense
He's a mellow old cat, a real hep fat
Mister Five by Five is easy-going and cool, despite his weight
That man can really jump it for a fat man
Surprisingly, Mister Five by Five is able to jump despite his weight
The only trouble is there's no way of knowin'
It's difficult to tell which way Mister Five by Five is jumping
Whether he's comin' or goin'
Whether Mister Five by Five is jumping toward you or away from you
He's slightly plump on the solid side
Mister Five by Five is a bit heavy but still solid and strong
Mister Five, Five by Five
Repetition of Mister Five's name
He doesn't measure no more from his head to his toe
Mister Five by Five's vertical measurement is the same as his horizontal measurement
Than he do from side to side
Mister Five by Five's proportions are equal in both directions
He be just little Mister Five by Five
Despite his size, Mister Five by Five is still referred to as 'little'
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON RAYE, GENE DE PAUL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dudley5533
Magnificent Helen......she could sing anything, even this novelty song.....great performance.
@erikcarmichael3300
I think they just might have a song for each minute of the clock written from the 40's I bet.Its 11:60pm just came on awhile ago an it was right on the clock.
@cattycorner8
Was searching for this1 Thank you!
@the78prof72
You're most welcome...glad that you found it.
@waynejones205
Today I set my cell phone screen up for a 5x5 grid for favorite widgets. What song do you think I started to sing to see FIVE BY FIVE? ❤❤😂 And I'm only 58, got bit by the swing bug around 12!!