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
It's All Right By Me
Jackie Gleason Lyrics
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Though your face is charming, it's the wrong face
It's not her face, but such a charming face
That it's all right with me
It's the wrong song, in the wrong style
Though your smile is lovely, it's the wrong smile
It's not her smile, but such a lovely smile
You can't know how happy I am that we met
I'm strangely attracted to you
There's someone I'm trying so hard to forget
Don't you want to forget someone, too?
It's the wrong game, with the wrong chips
Though your lips are tempting, they're the wrong lips
They're not her lips, but they're such tempting lips
That, if some night, you are free
Then it's all right, yes, it's all right with me
The song It's All Right By Me by Jackie Gleason is a classic example of a man trying to move on from a past love interest. The lyrics talk about how the woman he is currently with is not the one he is trying to forget, however, he doesn't seem to mind because he is oddly attracted to her. He says that her face and smile are charming and lovely, even though they are not the ones he is looking for, and he is fine with that. The song goes on to talk about how her lips are tempting, but not the right ones, yet he still thinks it's all right.
The lyrics convey the message of someone who is trying to move on but is still caught up in the past. The man seems to be in a dilemma between forgetting someone and holding onto that memory. He is telling himself that it's alright to be with someone now, even if it's not the right time, place or person. It's a reminder that even though we may not be with the one we truly want, we can still find happiness in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the wrong time, and the wrong place
Although this may not be the best timing and location
Though your face is charming, it's the wrong face
You have an enchanting appearance, but it's not the one I'm looking for
It's not her face, but such a charming face
Your face isn't the face I thought I'd see, but it's so delightful anyway
That it's all right with me
It's not a problem for me because it still makes me happy
It's the wrong song, in the wrong style
The tune and style of the song do not gel well with my preferences
Though your smile is lovely, it's the wrong smile
You have an admirable smile, but it's not the one I expect
It's not her smile, but such a lovely smile
Although it's not her smile, it's still lovely
That it's all right with me
It doesn't bother me in the slightest
You can't know how happy I am that we met
I'm thrilled that we have made an acquaintance
I'm strangely attracted to you
I'm finding myself pulled towards you in a peculiar way
There's someone I'm trying so hard to forget
I'm making a significant effort to erase someone from my memory
Don't you want to forget someone, too?
Aren't you also trying to get rid of someone?
It's the wrong game, with the wrong chips
This isn't the gambling game I was expecting, and the chips are incorrect
Though your lips are tempting, they're the wrong lips
Your lips are desirable, but they aren't who I had in mind
They're not her lips, but they're such tempting lips
Although it's not hers, your lips are so alluring
That, if some night, you are free
If you happen to be free one evening
Then it's all right, yes, it's all right with me
It's okay with me to engage in flirtation or romantic involvement.
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind