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.
Skylark
Harry James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have you anything to say to me?
Won't you tell me where my love can be?
Is there a meadow in the mist
Where someone's waiting to be kissed?
Skylark
Have you seen a valley green with spring?
Over the shadows and the rain
To a blossom covered lane
And in your lonely flight
Haven't you heard the music in the night?
Wonderful music, faint as a will o' the wisp
Crazy as a loon, sad as a gypsy serenading the moon
Oh skylark
I don't know if you can find these things
But my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?
Oh skylark
I don't know if you can find these things
But my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?
The song Skylark by Harry James is an emotional and romantic plea to a bird, the Skylark, to lead the singer to where his love can be found. The song begins with the singer asking the bird to communicate with him and let him know where his lover is. He imagines a misty meadow where someone is waiting to be kissed and a valley clothed in green where his heart can journey to a blossom-covered lane. The singer is lost without his lover and is seeking a way to find her.
Throughout the song, the singer asks the Skylark if it has heard music in the night, describing it as wonderful but faint. He likens it to a will o' the wisp, a folklore creature that leads travelers away from their path, and to a loon, the bird known for its strange and haunting calls. The music is both crazy and sad, like a gypsy serenading the moon. The singer then repeats his request to the Skylark to lead him to where his love can be found, acknowledging that he doesn't know if the bird can find these things, but his heart is riding on its wings.
Line by Line Meaning
Skylark
Beginning of the song where the singer addresses a bird named Skylark
Have you anything to say to me?
Asking Skylark if it has any messages or information for the singer
Won't you tell me where my love can be?
Requesting Skylark to disclose the whereabouts of the singer's love interest
Is there a meadow in the mist
Posing a question to Skylark if there's a foggy meadow somewhere
Where someone's waiting to be kissed?
Asking if there's someone yearning to be kissed in the mentioned meadow
Have you seen a valley green with spring?
Asking Skylark if it has spotted a green valley during spring
Where my heart can go a journeying
Referencing the desire of the heart to explore the mentioned valley with Skylark's help
Over the shadows and the rain
Conveying that the journey would have to cross difficulties and obstacles like shadows and rain
To a blossom-covered lane
Describing the ultimate destination of the journey, a lane full of blossoms
And in your lonely flight
Observing that Skylark is undertaking this quest alone
Haven't you heard the music in the night?
Asking Skylark if it has not heard the music of the night
Wonderful music, faint as a will o' the wisp
Describing the quality of the music as enchanting yet elusive
Crazy as a loon, sad as a gypsy serenading the moon
Further portraying the diverse emotions conveyed by the music
Oh skylark
Calling out to Skylark again
I don't know if you can find these things
Admitting to the unlikeliness of Skylark being able to locate the mentioned places and things
But my heart is riding on your wings
Expressing complete faith and reliance on Skylark to help find the desired places and things
So if you see them anywhere
Requesting Skylark to notify the singer if the mentioned places and things are found
Won't you lead me there?
Asking Skylark to guide the singer to the desired locations
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HOAGY CARMICHAEL, JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alfredocorreia9385
HARRY JAMES e HELEN FORREST!
UMA DAS MAIS PERFEITAS COMBINAÇÕES DA ERA DO SWING!
@borisswall6699
I agree, Alfredo. : )
@dudley5533
One of the best songs from the 40's, and so well done by Harry James and that special voice of Helen Forrest.
@sidgenocid
I grew up on Punk and never thought I'd like something like this...ended up buying this record and still have it at home.
@jrcrawford4
Joey Ramone would love it. 1, 2, 3, 4 I don't know if you can find these things...
@gabriellebarto8319
Fantastic stuff.
@ericcriteser4001
Dude...I grew up with a punk mom (b. 1950) and a swing dad ( b. 1927). My musical education was just sick. I'm honored to have been introduced to music the way I was. I think when I get old and fall into senility, I'll have an equal mix of Dead Kennedys and Harry James spinning 'round in my brain. What a world, what a world! 😂
@jodywilke4642
When singers really had talent. Excellent!😊⛪
@plunkervillerr1529
Harry re-recorded most of his hits in high-fidelity in 1955, a considerable improvement.
@jourwalis-8875
This is real High Fidelity from 1942!