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
If I Had You
Jackie Gleason Lyrics
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I could be glad all of the while
I could change the grey skies to blues
If I had you
I could leave the old days behind
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I could start my life all a new
If I had you
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I could cross the burning desert
If I had you by my side
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
There is nothing I couldn't do
If I had you
I could show the world how to smile
I could be glad all of the while
I could change the grey skies to blues
If I had you
I could leave the old days behind
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I could start my life all a new
If I had you
I could climb the snow capped mountains
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I could cross the burning desert
If I had you by my side
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
There is nothing I couldn't do
The song "If I Had You" by Jackie Gleason is about the transformative power of love. The lyrics express a desire to change one's life and the world around them for the better if only they had the love of another person. The song is sung in a dreamy, romantic style, with the music serving to underscore the yearning tone of the lyrics.
The song opens with the idea that the singer could show the world how to smile and be glad if only they had the love of the person they desire. They go on to say that they could change the weather, alluding to the transformative power of love on their emotional state. The lyrics also suggest that the singer would be willing to leave their old life behind and start anew with their love interest, even if that means leaving their friends behind.
The second verse continues with the theme of the transformative power of love, with the singer expressing a desire for adventure and an openness to the world around them. They suggest that with their love by their side, they could climb mountains, sail the ocean, and cross deserts. The lyrics also suggest that with their love, the singer would have the confidence to be anyone they wanted, from a humble pauper to a rich and famous person.
Overall, the lyrics of "If I Had You" express a powerful longing for love and the transformative power that it can have on one's life. The song has a wistful, romantic quality that is enhanced by its dreamy instrumentation and Jackie Gleason's gentle vocal delivery.
Line by Line Meaning
I could show the world how to smile
I believe that if I had you, my life would be so joyful that others could learn from my example.
I could be glad all of the while
If I were with you, I would be happy all the time.
I could change the grey skies to blues
With you, life's difficult or uninteresting moments would be much more colorful and exciting.
If I had you
I'm longing to be with you, as I believe this would make my life much happier and fulfilling.
I could leave the old days behind
My past, with all of its struggles and rough times, would soon become irrelevant and unimportant if I had you in my life.
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
Being with you would make me forget about anyone else or anything other than our happiness together.
I could start my life all anew
With you in my life, I would feel like I could start again and have a new beginning.
I could climb the snow capped mountains
Together, we could challenge ourselves and accomplish things we otherwise wouldn't be able to do alone.
Sail the mighty ocean wide
If we were together, we could explore and take on adventures beyond what I'd otherwise be comfortable doing.
I could cross the burning desert
You and I could handle even the most difficult or daunting situations, including harsh environments like a desert.
If I had you by my side
I believe that with you as my partner, we would be unbeatable together.
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
With the happiness and success we could achieve together, I feel as though I could achieve any possible future, even if it's not as prestigious as becoming royalty.
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
It wouldn't matter what our status would be if we were together, as long as we had each other.
There is nothing I couldn't do
My love for you gives me confidence and motivation to tackle anything I may face in the future, no matter how hard it may be.
If I had you
I want nothing more than to be with you and share my journey with you, as I believe this will make both of us happier and more fulfilled.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GORDON MILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind