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
Moon River
Jackie Gleason Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm crossin' you in style someday.
Old dream maker, you heartbreaker,
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way.
Two drifters, off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end,
Waitin' round the bend,
Moon River and me
The song Moon River by Jackie Gleason, composed by Henry Mancini and written by Johnny Mercer, was featured in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. The lyrics to the song talks about crossing the Moon River in style someday, indicating the desire for a better, brighter future. The Moon River, wider than a mile, represents the vastness of hopes and dreams that the singer wants to explore. The old dream maker is a reference to fate, who can make or break your dreams. The line 'Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way' signifies the singer's determination to chase his dreams, no matter where they lead him.
The next line talks about two drifters who are off to see the world, indicating the wanderlust of the singer. The world is a vast place, and there is so much to see and explore. The line 'We're after the same rainbow's end' is a metaphor, implying that the singer and the other drifter are pursuing the same goal or dream. The chorus ends with 'Waitin' round the bend, my huckleberry friend, Moon River and me,' which portrays a sense of optimism and eagerness to embark on this journey with a dear friend by his side.
Line by Line Meaning
Moon River, wider than a mile,
Moon River, a wide and long river,
I'm crossin' you in style someday.
I will elegantly cross over you at some point in the future.
Old dream maker, you heartbreaker,
You, the river, are an old dream maker and also a heartbreaker.
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way.
Wherever you, the river, are headed, I will follow.
Two drifters, off to see the world.
The two of us, wanderers, are off adventuring.
There's such a lot of world to see.
The world is vast and full of things to discover.
We're after the same rainbow's end,
We both seek the impossible, like chasing the end of a rainbow.
Waitin' round the bend,
Awaiting what lies just ahead.
My huckleberry friend,
You, the river, are my companion and my confidant.
Moon River and me
Together, we are traveling down Moon River.
Lyrics © Tratore
Written by: Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind