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.
So Tired
Harry James Lyrics
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Don't you know each cloud contains pennies from heaven?
You'll find your fortune's fallin' all over the town
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love, you must have showers
So, when you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree
Every time, every time it rains, it's gonna rain pennies from heaven
Don't you know every cloud contains lots of pennies from heaven
You'll find your fortune's fallin', baby, all over the town
Be sure, be sure that your umbrella is upside down
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love, you've got to have showers
So, when you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me
In Harry James's song "So Tired," the chorus repeats the lyrics "Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven," which is a metaphorical statement about the positivity and abundance that comes with facing difficult times. The idea of the rain representing good fortune is significant, as it contrasts with the typical association of rain with negative events. The song suggests that sometimes, things must get worse before they can get better. The line "Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers" emphasizes the importance of recognizing the good that can come out of tough situations. It encourages listeners to have hope and optimism, even when things seem bleak.
The use of the phrase "pennies from heaven" is also interesting in this context, as it refers to an old belief that when someone passes away, pennies will appear in random places as a symbol of comfort from the deceased. The song takes this concept and uses it in a more figurative sense, to suggest that good luck and positivity can come from unexpected sources. The line "Be sure that your umbrella is upside down" reinforces the idea of being open to receiving good things, even from unlikely sources.
The lyrics also provide a warning not to seek refuge in situations where we may not find true safety or comfort. Running under a tree during a thunderstorm, for example, may protect us from being rained on but can be dangerous since trees are lightning conductors. The song seems to be saying that while it's important to protect ourselves from negative events, we shouldn't do so in a way that will ultimately harm us. "So Tired" is a song about finding hope and joy in difficult times and trusting that good things will come our way.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven
Whenever it pours, small yet significant blessings will come your way
Don't you know each cloud contains pennies from heaven?
Even the darkest moments in life have a silver lining
You'll find your fortune's fallin' all over the town
Good luck will come in abundance
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down
Be open and receptive to the blessings that come your way
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
Take advantage of the good times to improve your life
If you want the things you love, you must have showers
In order to get what you want, you must endure the bad times
So, when you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree
Don't take unnecessary risks when times are tough
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me
We'll both experience the blessings that come when we're open to them
Every time, every time it rains, it's gonna rain pennies from heaven
Blessings will come repeatedly
Don't you know every cloud contains lots of pennies from heaven
There's always something positive to gain from a negative situation
Be sure, be sure that your umbrella is upside down
Remain open to the possibilities of positive outcomes
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
Take advantage of opportunities to improve your life
If you want the things you love, you've got to have showers
Endure difficult times to reach your desired outcome
So, when you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree
Avoid taking unnecessary risks during tough times
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me
We'll experience blessings together when we remain open to them
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARTHUR JOHNSTON, JOHNNY BURKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jan Procházka
on All or Nothing at All
trumpet boogie