McShann was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and began working as a professional musician in 1931, performing around Tulsa, Oklahoma and neighboring Arkansas. He moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1936, and set up his own big band, which featured Charlie Parker (from 1937 to 1942), Bernard Anderson, Ben Webster and Walter Brown. Although its book included both swing and blues numbers, the band played blues on most of its records; its most popular recording was "Confessin' the Blues." The group disbanded when McShann was drafted into the Army in 1944, and he was unable to successfully restart it when he got out.
After the war McShann began to lead small groups featuring blues shouter Jimmy Witherspoon. Witherspoon started recording with McShann in 1945, and fronting McShann's band, had a hit in 1949 with "Ain't Nobody's Business." McShann then played in obscurity until 1969, when he became popular as a singer as well as a pianist, often performing with Claude Williams. He continued recording and touring through the 1990s. Well into his 80s McShann still performed occasionally, particularly in the Kansas City area and Toronto Ontario.
Crime-fiction writer Elmore Leonard featured McShann as a character in his 2005 novel, The Hot Kid.
On December 7, 2006, McShann died at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City.
Once Upon A Time
Jay McShann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put her hand in mine and said she loved me so
But that was once upon a time, very long ago
Once upon a time, we sat beneath the willow tree
Counting all the stars and waiting for the dawn
But that was once upon a time – now the tree has gone
How we always laughed as though tomorrow wasn′t there
We were young and didn't have a care
Where did it go?
Once upon a time, the world was sweeter than we knew
Everything was ours – how happy we were then
But, somehow, once upon a time never comes again
The song 'Once Upon A Time' by Jay McShann is a beautiful and poignant ballad that speaks about the past and how things have changed. The lyrics are about a time in the past when the singer was in love with a girl who he describes as having 'moonlight in her eyes'. They sat beneath a willow tree counting stars and enjoying each other's company, feeling young and carefree. The lyrics suggest that this moment in time was unique and couldn't be replicated or relived. The singer looks back on that time with nostalgia, wishing that things could have stayed the way they were.
The lyrics evoke a sense of melancholy, as the singer reflects on how things have changed and how he can never go back to that specific moment in time. The song is a reminder that life is fleeting and that moments of happiness and contentment are often temporary. The use of the phrase 'once upon a time' is a nod to traditional fairy tales where happy endings are common, but in reality, life is much more complicated than that.
In summary, 'Once Upon a Time' is a heartfelt ballad that speaks about love, loss and the fleeting nature of happiness. It is a reminder to cherish the moments that make us happy because they may only come around once in a lifetime.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time, a girl with moonlight in her eyes
In the past, there was a girl with bright, shining eyes who caught my attention
Put her hand in mine and said she loved me so
She held my hand and confessed that she loved me deeply
But that was once upon a time, very long ago
However, that moment is long gone and is now just a memory
Once upon a time, we sat beneath the willow tree
There was a time when we would sit under the willow tree together
Counting all the stars and waiting for the dawn
We would spend our time gazing at the stars while anticipating the glorious sunrise
But that was once upon a time – now the tree has gone
That period has ended, and the willow tree is no longer there
How the breeze ruffled through her hair
I remember the gentle breeze that would blow through her hair in our past encounters
How we always laughed as though tomorrow wasn't there
We would share such intense moments filled with laughter and happiness as though tomorrow was not important
We were young and didn't have a care
We were young and free from burdens that plague adults
Where did it go?
What happened to those moments we once shared?
Once upon a time, the world was sweeter than we knew
The world seemed to be more delightful than we had ever imagined in the past
Everything was ours – how happy we were then
We had everything we needed, and we were so joyous because of it
But, somehow, once upon a time never comes again
Despite our longing, we cannot experience those moments again as they cannot be replicated
Writer(s): Charles Strouse, Lee Adams
Contributed by Kayla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
N. Rohof
So pure, perfect imperfection... To me much deeper than anything Tony Bennett or Bobby Darin could deliver. Hats off to Mr McShann
Jane Bishop
Bobby Darin can't be topped. And honestly the emotion is mostly off in this rendition but it was interesting to hear once but never again.
Richard Zavaglia
I can not listen to this song by Jay Mcshann and not go back to my first love.Not go back in time. I am 77 years old, and I always feel like I am 16 years old when I hear it.
GREAT RENDITION.
Richard Zavaglia
Crooner1901
Richard Zavaglia Thank you for sharing that. I truly envy you sir. I wish I grew up around the time you did. I'm currently 24 years old and it seems to me that music today has lost it's heart.
Richard Zavaglia
Glad you enjoyed it Michael. Blessings. Richard Zavaglia
Crooner1901
Richard Zavaglia May god bless you! Thank you.
Joshua Klein
Richard Zavaglia holy cow, you think of 16 when hearing this?!:) I'm 42.
Dar
Happy and sad at the very same time. This song and Jay crawl into your heart and stay there forever.
Fab50radioshow
Sax ( soprano and baritone ) brilliantly played by Jim Galloway. This is one of my ' desert island tracks ' and it makes me cry every time I hear it, Not because it's sad, just that certain combination of notes and chords and The Hooties voice and phrasing.
joanlagoy
This one just gives me chills! I can't stop listening to it. wanted to share it on Facebook but nobody even looked...they just don't know what they're missing...Diane always has the best songs in the movies she's in. I heard it on "Hanging Up" and haven't stopped listening since. thank you for posting such a great song....joanie