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
Tangerine
Jackie Gleason Lyrics
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With her eyes of night and lips as bright as flame
Tangerine, when she dances by
Senoritas stare and caballeros sigh
And I've seen toasts to Tangerine
Raised in every bar across the Argentine
Yes, she has them all on the run
But her heart belongs to just one
Tangerine, she is all they say
With mascara'd eyes, and chapeaux by Dache
Tangerine with her lips of flame
If the color keeps, Louis Philippe's to blame
And I've seen clothes on Tangerine
Where the label says from Macy's Mezzanine
Yes, she's got the guys in a whirl
But she's only fooling one girl
She's only fooling Tangerine
The song Tangerine by Jackie Gleason is a tribute to a woman who is the center of attention everywhere she goes. She is described as having mesmerizing eyes that are as dark as night and lips that shine as bright as flames. Her beauty is so captivating that men and women alike cannot help but stop and stare when she passes by. The lyrics suggest that Tangerine is a woman who can have anyone she wants, but she only has eyes for one person. She is a woman who has all the men on the run but her heart only belongs to one man, and that man is her.
The song also refers to the clothing and accessories that Tangerine wears. The lyrics suggest that she wears designer hats from Dache and clothes from the Macy’s Mezzanine. The color of her lips is so mesmerizing that it is said that if it does not last, Louis Philippe (a French king) would be to blame. Though many may see her as the object of desire, Tangerine is actually in love with another woman. The lyrics suggest that she is “only fooling Tangerine” which gives the impression that she is the subject of her own deception.
Line by Line Meaning
Tangerine, she is all they claim
Tangerine is exactly what everyone says she is.
With her eyes of night and lips as bright as flame
Her eyes are dark and mysterious and her lips are very red.
Tangerine, when she dances by
When Tangerine dances by, everyone stops to stare.
Senoritas stare and caballeros sigh
Even other women and men cannot resist looking at her when she is dancing.
And I've seen toasts to Tangerine
People raise their glasses and drink to Tangerine's beauty and charm.
Raised in every bar across the Argentine
In all of the bars in Argentina, people are praising Tangerine.
Yes, she has them all on the run
Tangerine has captivated the minds of many people and made them fall for her.
But her heart belongs to just one
Despite her many admirers, Tangerine only loves one person.
Her heart belongs to Tangerine
Tangerine loves herself and puts herself first above all other people.
Tangerine, she is all they say
People are saying exactly who Tangerine is and what she is like.
With mascara'd eyes, and chapeaux by Dache
Tangerine loves to glam herself up with makeup and stylish hats by designer Dache.
Tangerine with her lips of flame
Tangerine's lips are very red and bright, like fire.
If the color keeps, Louis Philippe's to blame
If Tangerine's lipstick color stays bright for a long time, it is due to Louis Philippe's lipstick brand.
And I've seen clothes on Tangerine
Tangerine wears very fashionable and stylish clothes.
Where the label says from Macy's Mezzanine
Tangerine's clothes come from Macy's Mezzanine, a high-end shopping destination.
Yes, she's got the guys in a whirl
Tangerine has many men falling for her and going crazy over her.
But she's only fooling one girl
Despite all of these men, Tangerine is only tricking one girl into thinking she loves her.
She's only fooling Tangerine
In the end, Tangerine is only deceiving herself by thinking she loves this other girl.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind