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.
When I Grow Too Old to Dream
Jay McShann Lyrics
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Life has been beautiful, we have been young
After you've gone, life will go on
Like an old song we have sung
When I grow too old to dream
I'll have you to remember
When I grow too old to dream
So, kiss me my sweet
And so let us part
And when I grow too old to dream
That kiss will live in my heart
And when I grow too old to dream
That kiss will live in my heart
So, kiss me my sweet
And so let us part
And when I grow too old to dream
That kiss will live in my heart
The lyrics to Jay McShann's song "When I Grow Too Old to Dream" describe the bittersweet feeling of growing old but cherishing memories of a past love. The first stanza reminisces about the joy of youth and love shared between the singer and their partner. However, the singer acknowledges that life will go on and they will age. The chorus reveals that the singer will always remember their past love, even when they are too old to dream. The final stanza is a farewell to their loved one, with a plea for one last kiss to hold onto forever.
The song is a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of youth and the importance of cherishing memories of love. The lyrics effectively convey the message of holding onto the memories of a past love and how that love can remain alive in the heart even as we grow old.
Line by Line Meaning
We have been gay, going our way
We have been happy and carefree, going about our lives
Life has been beautiful, we have been young
Life has been wonderful because we were young and had energy and freedom on our side
After you've gone, life will go on
Once you leave, time will continue to move forward and life will go on without you
Like an old song we have sung
Your memory will linger with me like an old song that was once familiar and dear to us both
When I grow too old to dream
When I become too old and unable to have high hopes and aspirations
I'll have you to remember
I'll be able to hold on to the memory of you and what we shared
Your love will live in my heart
The love you gave me will remain etched in my heart always
So, kiss me my sweet
Before we part, give me a loving kiss
And so let us part
We must say goodbye now, but the love we shared will forever be a part of us
That kiss will live in my heart
The tender kiss you gave me when we parted will always remain in my heart
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Oscar Hammerstein Ii, Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind