Mancini was born Enrico Nicola Mancini in the Little Italy neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the steel town of West Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. His parents emigrated from the Abruzzo region of Italy. Mancini's father, Quinto, was a steelworker, who made his only child begin flute lessons at the age of eight. When Mancini was 12 years old, he began piano lessons. Quinto and Henry played flute together in the Aliquippa Italian immigrant band, "Sons of Italy". After high school, Mancini attended the renowned Juilliard School of Music in New York. In 1943, after roughly one year at Juilliard, his studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the army. In 1945, he participated in the liberation of a South German concentration camp.
Mancini recorded over 90 albums, in styles ranging from big band to classical to pop. Eight of these albums were certified gold by The Recording Industry Association of America. He had a 20 year contract with RCA Records, resulting in 60 commercial record albums that made him a household name composer of easy listening music.
Mancini's range also extended to orchestral and ethnic scores (Lifeforce, The Great Mouse Detective, Sunflower, "Tom and Jerry: The Movie", Molly Maguires, The Hawaiians), and darker themes ("Experiment In Terror," "The White Dawn," "Wait Until Dark," "The Night Visitor").
Mancini was also a concert performer, conducting over fifty engagements per year, resulting in over 600 symphony performances during his lifetime. Among the symphony orchestras he conducted are the London Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He appeared in 1966, 1980 and 1984 in command performances for the British Royal Family. He also toured several times with Johnny Mathis and with Andy Williams, who had sung many of Mancini's songs.[citation needed]
Mancini had experience with acting and voice roles. In 1994 he made a one-off cameo appearance in the first season of the sitcom series Frasier, as a call-in patient to Dr. Frasier Crane's radio show. Mancini voiced the character Al, who speaks with a melancholy drawl and hates the sound of his own voice, in the episode "Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast?" Mancini also had an uncredited performance as a pianist in the 1967 movie Gunn, the movie version of the series Peter Gunn, the score of which was originally composed by Mancini himself.
Mancini was nominated for an unprecedented 72 Grammys, winning 20 Additionally he was nominated for 18 Academy Awards, winning four. He also won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for two Emmys.
Mancini won a total of four Oscars for his music in the course of his career.
Mancini died at the age of 70 in Beverly Hills/Los Angeles, California of pancreatic cancer. He was working at the time on the Broadway stage version of Victor/Victoria. At the time of his death, Mancini was married to singer Virginia "Ginny" O´Connor, with whom he had three children. Ginny Mancini went on to found the Society of Singers a non profit organization which benefits the health and welfare of professional singers worldwide. Additionally the Society awards scholarships to students pursuing an education in the vocal arts and holds the annual Ella Awards.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers(ASCAP) Foundation "Henry Mancini Music Scholarship" has been awarded annually since 2001.
End Title / Goodbye So Soon
Henry Mancini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now did you really miss me?
I guess you did by the look in your eye
(Look in your eye, look in your eye)
Well lay back and relax
While I put away the dishes (put away the dishes)
Then you and me can rock a bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
The night is young
And full of possibilities
Well, come on and let yourself be free, yeah
My love for you (love for you, love for you)
So long I've been savin'
Tonight was made for me and you
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
(Ring my bell, ding-dong-ding)
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
(Ring my bell, ring-a-ring-a-ring)
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
(Ring my bell, ding-dong-ding)
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
(Ring my bell, ring-a-ring-a-ring)
You can ring my bell
You can ring my bell
(Ding, dong, ding, ah-ah, ring it)
You can ring my bell, anytime, anywhere
(Ring it, ring it, ring it, ring it, ow)
You can ring my bell, you can ring my bell
(Ding, dong, ding, ah-ah, ring it)
You can ring my bell, anytime, anywhere
(Ring it, ring it, ring it, ring it, ow)
Bell, ring my bell
(Ring my bell, ding-dong-ding)
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
(Ring my bell, ring-a-ring-a-ring)
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
(Ring my bell, ding-dong-ding)
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
These lyrics belong to the disco hit "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward, and not Henry Mancini's "End Title / Goodbye So Soon". Nonetheless, I can still provide an interpretation of the lyrics.
"Ring My Bell" is a classic disco track symbolizing the joy and freedom one feels while dancing on the dance floor. The singer welcomes her partner home, and asks if he missed her while away. By the look in his eyes, she knows that he did. She then requests him to lay back and relax while she tidies up the house. Once done, they can both hit the dance floor and dance the night away.
The chorus of the song encourages her partner to "ring her bell," a metaphorical suggestion to initiate physical intimacy. The lyricist cleverly utilizes the pun associated with the term "bell" and signals the partner to initiate physical intimacy at any time and anywhere they want. The night is young, and the possibilities are endless. The line "Tonight was made for me and you" indicates that the singer wants to enjoy this special moment with her partner, and they should seize the opportunity to celebrate their love and get lost in themselves.
Overall, the song is an ode to dancing, living in the moment, and feeling free. The singer encourages her partner to let loose and embrace the music and dance. The lyrics may be interpreted as an invitation to physical intimacy, but within the larger context of the song, it is more about celebrating the moment and having fun with a partner.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm glad you're home
I am happy that you have returned home.
Now did you really miss me?
I am curious if you truly missed me while you were gone.
I guess you did by the look in your eye
I assume you did miss me based on the expression in your eyes.
Well lay back and relax
Please make yourself comfortable and unwind.
While I put away the dishes (put away the dishes)
I will take care of the task of cleaning up after dinner.
Then you and me can rock a bell
After I am finished with the dishes, we can have some fun together.
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You are able to get my attention whenever you please.
The night is young
It is early in the evening.
And full of possibilities
There are many opportunities for us to enjoy ourselves tonight.
Well, come on and let yourself be free, yeah
Please let go of any inhibitions and be open to having a good time.
My love for you (love for you, love for you)
I love you very much.
So long I've been savin'
I have been waiting for this moment for quite some time.
Tonight was made for me and you
This evening is perfect for us to spend together.
You can ring my bell
Feel free to call out to me.
You can ring my bell, anytime, anywhere
You are welcome to contact me at any time and any place.
Bell, ring my bell
I am hoping to hear from you soon.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FREDERICK DOUGLAS KNIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind