He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a traveling circus. By the age of 10 he was taking trumpet lessons from his father, who placed him on a strict daily practice schedule. Each day, James was given one page to learn from the Arban's book and was not allowed to pursue any other pastime until he had learned that particular page.
In 1931 the family settled in Beaumont, Texas, where James began playing with local dance bands.
He joined the nationally popular Ben Pollack in 1935 but at the start of 1937, left Pollack to join Benny Goodman's orchestra, where he stayed through 1938.
In February 1939 James debuted his own big band in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His hit "You Made Me Love You" was in the Top 10 during the week of December 7, 1941. He toured with the band into the 1980s.
His was the first "name band" to employ vocalist Frank Sinatra, in 1939. He wanted to change Sinatra's name to 'Frankie Satin' but Sinatra refused. His later band included drummer Buddy Rich.
He played trumpet in the 1950 film Young Man with a Horn, dubbing Kirk Douglas. James's recording of "I'm Beginning to See the Light" appears in the motion picture My Dog Skip (2000). His music is also featured in the Woody Allen film Hannah and Her Sisters. James recorded many popular records and appeared in many Hollywood movies.
He was second only to Glenn Miller as the most successful recording artist of 1942.
James was married three times. On May 4, 1935, he married singer Louise Tobin, with whom he had two children. They divorced in 1943. That same year, he married actress Betty Grable. They had two daughters, Victoria and Jessica, before divorcing in 1965. James married a third time in 1968 to Las Vegas showgirl Joan Boyd, whom he would divorce in March 1970. Contrary to some assertions, he did not marry a fourth time. He had five children (two by Tobin, two by Grable, one by Boyd) and (as of his death) 16 grandchildren.
James owned several thoroughbred racehorses that won races such as the California Breeders' Champion Stakes (1951) and the San Vicente Stakes (1954). He was also a founding investor in the Atlantic City Race Course. His knowledge of horse racing was demonstrated during a 1958 appearance on The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour entitled "Lucy Wins A Racehorse."
In 1983, James was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer, but he continued to work, playing his last professional job on June 26, 1983, in Los Angeles, California, just nine days before his death in Las Vegas, Nevada. Frank Sinatra gave the eulogy at the Bunkers Eden Vale Memorial Park in Las Vegas.
It's Been A Long Long Time
Harry James and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing here so close to me
There's so much I feel that I should say
But words can wait until some other day
Kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
Since I can't remember when
It's been a long, long time
You'll never know how many dreams
I've dreamed about you
Or just how empty they all seemed without you
So kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
The song "It's Been A Long Long Time" by Harry James & His Orchestra expresses the joy and excitement of being reunited with a loved one after a long period of separation. The lyrics convey the singer's sense of happiness and relief to finally have their loved one back, and their eagerness to share their feelings with them. However, the singer is also aware that words may not adequately express their emotions, and that actions, such as kisses, are more appropriate in this moment.
The repetition of the phrase "kiss me once, then kiss me twice, then kiss me once again" emphasizes the feeling of longing and the desire for physical closeness. Through this repetition, the singer conveys the depth of their emotions and their need for reassurance. The lyrics also acknowledge the pain of being apart from the loved one, as evidenced by the line "you'll never know how many dreams I've dreamed about you or just how empty they all seemed without you."
Overall, the song captures the excitement, joy, and pain of a long-awaited reunion, and the power of physical touch to convey emotions that words cannot adequately express.
Line by Line Meaning
Never thought that you would be standing here so close to me
I never imagined that you would be so close to me, right here by my side.
there's so much I feel that I should say but words can wait until some other day
I have so many things I want to express to you, but I'll save them for another time.
Kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Give me your lips once and twice over and over again.
Then kiss me once again
Plant one last kiss on me, my love.
It's been a long, long time
It's been ages since I felt this way.
Haven't felt like this, my dear
I haven't felt this way before, my love.
Since I can't remember when
It's been so long that I can't even remember the last time.
You'll never know how many dreams I've dreamed about you
I've dreamt about you countless times, but you'll never know.
Or just how empty they all seemed without you
My dreams were hollow and meaningless without your presence.
So kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Give me two kisses, my love, one after the other.
Long, long time
It has been a long, long time.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DanoGfx
Never thought that you would be
standing here so close to me
there's so much I feel that I should say
but words can wait until some other day
Kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
Haven't felt like this, my dear
Since I can't remember when
It's been a long, long time
You'll never know how many dreams
I've dreamed about you
Or just how empty they all seemed without you
So kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
@Hugothester
I hope the sunset kid is happy, he brought us all here, one person can make a difference.
@dublxml
“The journey was the friends we made along the way” ah statement but dayum it hits
@1991DodgeShadow
Hahaha had to look up what he was talking about
@CastleCrusher-sn2uz
Bro, lol everytime I see that reel I come here lol
@SociaICancer
That kid hit every note and now made me listen here on YouTube again.
@zainekatsumi
Truee❤
@unclebobs90
That kid and the sunset. He nailed it.
@samuelwilson2614
True
@Bunnybuns19
Glad ain't the only one
here because of that video
@bennygoodmanisgod
Lol I know what video you’re talking about. The boy has talent