Throughout the 1950s and early-1960s, Jackie Gleason enjoyed a secondary mu… Read Full Bio ↴Throughout the 1950s and early-1960s, Jackie Gleason enjoyed a secondary music career, lending his name to a series of best-selling mood music albums with jazz overtones for Capitol. Gleason felt there was a ready market for romantic instrumentals. He recalled seeing Clark Gable play love scenes in movies, and the romance was, in his words, "magnified a thousand percent" by background music. Gleason reasoned, "If Gable needs music, a guy in Brooklyn must be desperate!"

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

My Funny Valentine
Jackie Gleason Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Behold the way our fine feathered friend
His virtue doth parade
Thou knowest not, my dim-witted friend
The picture thou hast made
Thy vacant brow, and thy tousled hair
Conceal thy good intent
Thou noble upright truthful sincere
And slightly dopey gent, you are

My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable, un-photographable
Yet, you're my favorite work of art

Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

But, don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day

Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

But, don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me

Stay little valentine, stay
Each day is Valentine's Day

Overall Meaning

The song "My Funny Valentine" by Jackie Gleason is a tribute to an unconventional lover. The lyrics describe a person who is not conventionally attractive or smart, but has a profound impact on the artist. The song starts with an observation about this person’s appearance, describing their unkempt hair and vacant expression. However, the song then praises the person’s sincerity, honesty, and profound love. The chorus of the song is a testament to the lover’s influence on the artist’s life. It is said that despite the lover's imperfections and unconventional appearance, they are a work of art to the artist. The final lines of the song assure the lover that they should not change for anyone and that every day is Valentine's Day.

The lyrics of "My Funny Valentine" have been interpreted as an ode to the beauty of imperfection and the unconventional beauty in the world. The song became an anthem for lovers who don't fit society's mold of what love should look like. The song's simple melody and smooth rhythms have made it a timeless classic, popular with jazz musicians and performers alike.

Line by Line Meaning

Behold the way our fine feathered friend
Look at the way this bird is flaunting its good qualities

His virtue doth parade
It's showing off its virtue

Thou knowest not, my dim-witted friend
You may not realize, my not-so-bright friend

The picture thou hast made
The image you're projecting

Thy vacant brow, and thy tousled hair
Your absent-minded look and messy hair

Conceal thy good intent
Hide your true intentions

Thou noble upright truthful sincere
You are an honest and truthful person

And slightly dopey gent, you are
But you're also a little foolish

My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine
You're my amusing and dear valentine

You make me smile with my heart
You fill my heart with joy

Your looks are laughable, un-photographable
You're not conventionally attractive, but that doesn't matter to me