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
Prelude to a Kiss
Jackie Gleason Lyrics
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A song in blue
Like a flower crying
For the dew
That was my heart serenading you
My prelude to a kiss
If you hear a song that grows
That was my heart trying to compose
A prelude to a kiss
Though it's just a simple melody
With nothing fancy
Nothing much
You could turn it to a symphony
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch
Oh how my love song gently cries
For the tenderness within your eyes
My love is a prelude that never dies
A prelude to a kiss
Though it's just a simple melody
With nothing fancy
Nothing much
You could turn it to a symphony
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch
Oh how my love song so gently cries
For the tenderness within your eyes
My love is a prelude that never dies
A prelude to a kiss
The song "Prelude to a Kiss" by Jackie Gleason is a romantic ballad about a person's unrequited love for someone else. The lyrics speak of the writer's heart serenading the object of their affection with a simple, yet poignant melody that they hope will capture their attention. The song begins by comparing the melody to a flower crying for dew, a metaphor that highlights the beauty and vulnerability of the relationship between the two individuals. The writer hopes that the melody will touch the heart of their love interest, and serve as a prelude to the ultimate romantic gesture - a kiss.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more introspective, and reveal more about the writer's feelings towards their love interest. They admit that the melody is a product of their own emotional turmoil, a way for them to express the tender sentimental woes that have been plaguing their heart. Although the melody is simple, the writer believes it has the potential to be something much grander - a symphony that rivals the great works of Schubert and Gershwin.
The song's refrain repeats the sentiment that the writer's love is a prelude that will never die, a testament to the enduring nature of the emotions they feel. Throughout the song, the melody is described as gentle and haunting, adding to the sense of melancholic longing that pervades the lyrics. Overall, "Prelude to a Kiss" is a beautiful and soulful exploration of unrequited love, and the power of music to express those feelings when words fail.
Line by Line Meaning
If you hear
If you listen carefully
A song in blue
A melancholy tune
Like a flower crying
Like a flower shedding tears
For the dew
In search of moisture
That was my heart serenading you
That was my heart singing to you
My prelude to a kiss
My introduction to a kiss
If you hear a song that grows
If you hear a tune that evolves
From my tender sentimental woes
Born from my sensitive emotional troubles
That was my heart trying to compose
That was my heart attempting to create
A prelude to a kiss
A preliminary step to a kiss
Though it's just a simple melody
Even though it's a basic tune
With nothing fancy
Without any embellishments
Nothing much
Not much to offer
You could turn it to a symphony
You could transform it into a grand composition
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch
A Franz Schubert-like melody with a George Gershwin-style
Oh how my love song gently cries
Oh, how softly my love song weeps
For the tenderness within your eyes
For the affection felt in your gaze
My love is a prelude that never dies
My love is an introduction that lives eternally
A prelude to a kiss
A preliminary to a kiss
Though it's just a simple melody
Even though it's a basic tune
With nothing fancy
Without any embellishments
Nothing much
Not much to offer
You could turn it to a symphony
You could transform it into a grand composition
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch
A Franz Schubert-like melody with a George Gershwin-style
Oh how my love song so gently cries
Oh, how softly my love song weeps
For the tenderness within your eyes
For the affection felt in your gaze
My love is a prelude that never dies
My love is an introduction that lives eternally
A prelude to a kiss
A preliminary to a kiss
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, IRVING MILLS, IRVING GORDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind