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
Man I Love
Jackie Gleason Lyrics
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Every night I dream a little dream
And of course Prince Charming is the theme
The he, for me.
Although I realize as well as you
It is seldom that a dream comes true,
To me it's clear
That he'll appear.
Some day he'll come along, the man I love
And he'll be big and strong, the man I love
And when he comes my way,
I'll do my best to make him stay.
He'll look at me and smile, I'll understand
And in a little while, he'll take my hand
And though it seems absurd
I know we both won't say a word.
Maybe I shall meet him Sunday,
Maybe Monday, maybe not
Still I'm sure to meet him one day
Maybe Tuesday will be my good news day.
He'll build a little home just meant for two
From which I'll never roam, who would? would you?
And so, all else above,
I'm waiting for the man I love.
The lyrics of Jackie Gleason's "Man I Love" are a reflection on the yearning for love and the feeling of longing for someone who is yet to come. The song starts with the dreamy imagery of the moon shining bright and the singer dreaming of her own fairytale where Prince Charming is the theme. Despite knowing that dreams don't always come true, she still believes that her man will come to her one day.
The singer describes her ideal man as someone who is physically strong and big in stature. She eagerly awaits his arrival and promises to make him stay when she meets him. The lyrics convey the feeling of hopefulness and confidence in the belief that the man she loves will come into her life.
The song also reflects the uncertainty of love and the unknown possibilities of when and where she might finally meet the man she is describing. The lyrics suggest that she may meet him on any day- Monday, Tuesday, or maybe not at all.
Overall, the song "Man I Love" is a romantic and optimistic portrayal of the long journey one takes while waiting for that special someone to come along and fill the void in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
When the mellow moon begins to beam
Every night, when the moon shines bright, I feel happy and hopeful.
Every night I dream a little dream
Every night, I fall asleep hoping for something special to happen to me.
And of course Prince Charming is the theme
My dreams are always about finding my perfect match, my Prince Charming.
The he, for me.
I know there's someone out there who is meant to be with me, that perfect man for me.
Although I realize as well as you
I know that not all dreams come true, just like you do.
It is seldom that a dream comes true,
Most of the time, dreams don't really happen.
To me it's clear
But to me, deep down, I know it's going to happen.
That he'll appear.
I know it's just a matter of time before my Prince Charming shows up.
Some day he'll come along, the man I love
One day, I believe I'll meet the man of my dreams.
And he'll be big and strong, the man I love
He will be the perfect mix of strength and sensitivity, everything I've been looking for.
And when he comes my way,
When we finally cross paths,
I'll do my best to make him stay.
I'll make sure I show him how much I care and how special he is to me.
He'll look at me and smile, I'll understand
I just know that when we meet, we'll have a special connection that goes beyond words.
And in a little while, he'll take my hand
And before long, he'll reach out and take my hand, cementing our connection.
And though it seems absurd
Even though it might sound silly,
I know we both won't say a word.
I'm sure that we'll both just know how we feel without having to say it out loud.
Maybe I shall meet him Sunday,
Maybe we'll cross paths on a Sunday.
Maybe Monday, maybe not
Or maybe it will happen on a Monday, but who knows.
Still I'm sure to meet him one day
Regardless of when it happens, I know deep down that we're destined to be together.
Maybe Tuesday will be my good news day.
Maybe Tuesday will be the day that will change my life and bring me my perfect match.
He'll build a little home just meant for two
When we finally settle down, we'll create a cozy little home that's just perfect for us.
From which I'll never roam, who would? would you?
I'll never want to leave that home, it will be my sanctuary, and I'm sure he'll feel the same way.
And so, all else above,
For me, finding love is the most important thing, above everything else in life.
I'm waiting for the man I love.
I know he's out there, and I'm waiting patiently for him to appear.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind