Gleason could not read or write music in a conventional sense; he was said to have conceived melodies in his head and described them vocally to staff help. He did likewise with the well-remembered themes of both The Jackie Gleason Show ("Melancholy Serenade") and The Honeymooners ("You're My Greatest Love"). There has been some controversy over the years as to how much credit Gleason should have received for the finished products; it has been written that beyond the possible conceptualizing of many of the songs, Gleason had no direct involvement such as conducting in the making of these recordings. However, his main musical companion, cornetist and trumpeter Bobby Hackett once said: "Jackie knows a lot more about music than people give him credit for. I have seen him conduct a sixty-piece orchestra and detect one discordant note in the brass section. He would immediately stop the music and locate the wrong note. It always amazed the professional musicians how a guy who technically did not know one note from another could do that. And he was never wrong."
Born February 26, 1916 in Brooklyn, New York, United States. He died on June 24, 1987
I Apologize
Jackie Gleason Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I said goodbye, I'm sorry
From the bottom of my heart, dear
I apologize
If I caused you pain, I know I'm to blame
Must have been insane, believe me
From the bottom of my heart, dear
I realize I've been unfair to you
Please let me make amends
Don't say that you forgot the love we knew
After all, we were more than friends
If I made you blue, I've had heartaches too
Now I beg of you, forgive me
From the bottom of my heart, dear
I apologize
Give me back your glance, give me back romance
Give me one more chance, forgive me
From the bottom of my heart, dear
I apologize
The lyrics to Jackie Gleason's song "I Apologize" are about asking for forgiveness after causing pain to a loved one. The singer is admitting fault and expressing deep remorse for causing hurt. The opening lyrics set the tone for the song by acknowledging the possibility of telling a lie or causing someone to cry, and immediately apologizing from the bottom of their heart. The singer then goes a step further by admitting to causing pain and accepting full responsibility for their actions. The admission of insanity suggests that the singer recognizes the gravity of their offense and is not trying to downplay it.
In the following lines, the singer attempts to explain their behavior and seek forgiveness. They ask for a chance to make amends and not forget the love they once shared. The singer acknowledges that they have also had heartaches, suggesting that they can sympathize with the pain they have caused. The plea for forgiveness is repeated several times, emphasizing the sincerity of the apology.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Apologize" embody the concept of remorse and the desire for redemption. The singer is willing to accept responsibility for their actions and seeks to make things right with the person they have hurt.
Line by Line Meaning
If I told a lie, if I made you cry
I am sorry if I ever told you a lie and hurt you to the extent that it made you cry
When I said goodbye, I'm sorry
I am sorry for hurting you when I said goodbye
From the bottom of my heart, dear
I am truly sorry from the depths of my heart
I apologize
I am apologizing for my mistakes
If I caused you pain, I know I'm to blame
I know I am the one responsible for causing you pain
Must have been insane, believe me
I must have been out of my mind to behave like that, please believe me
I realize I've been unfair to you
I understand I haven't been fair to you
Please let me make amends
Please let me make up for my mistakes
Don't say that you forgot the love we knew
Please don't tell me you have forgotten the love we shared
After all, we were more than friends
We shared more than just a friendship
If I made you blue, I've had heartaches too
If I caused you any sadness, it's because I have experienced it myself
Now I beg of you, forgive me
I am begging you to forgive me
Give me back your glance, give me back romance
Please give me a chance to restore the romance in our relationship
Give me one more chance, forgive me
Please give me one more chance and forgive me
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JUD JOSEPH FRIEDMAN, MATT NOBLE, RANDALL KEITH BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind