Durante was born in New York City, the third of four children born to Mitch Durante (1855 –1929) and Margaret Durante (1858–1936). A product of working-class New York, Durante dropped out of school in the eighth grade to become a full-time ragtime pianist, working the city circuit and earning the nickname "Ragtime Jimmy," before he joined one of the first recognizable jazz bands in New York, the Original New Orleans Jazz Band. Durante was the only member of the group who didn't hail from New Orleans. His routine of breaking into a song to deliver a joke, with band or orchestra chord punctuation after each line became a Durante trademark. In 1920, the group was renamed Jimmy Durante's Jazz Band.
Durante became a vaudeville star and radio attraction by the mid-1920s, with a music and comedy trio called Clayton, Jackson and Durante. (Lou Clayton and Eddie Jackson, probably Durante's closest friends, often reunited with Durante professionally.) By 1934, he had a major record hit, his own novelty composition "Inka Dinka Doo," and it became his signature song for practically the rest of his life. A year later, Durante starred in the Billy Rose stage musical, Jumbo, in which a police officer stopped him while leading a live elephant and asked him, "What are you doing with that elephant?" Durante's reply, "What elephant?", was a regular show-stopper.
He began appearing in motion pictures at about the same time, beginning with a comedy series pairing him with silent film legend Buster Keaton and continuing with such offerings as The Wet Parade (1932), The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942, playing Banjo, a character based on Harpo Marx), Ziegfeld Follies (1946), Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962, based on the 1935 musical) and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).
As Time Goes By
Jimmy Durante Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A kiss is still a kiss,
A sigh is just a sigh,
The fundamental things apply,
As time goes by.
And when two lovers woo,
They still say 'I love you,'
No matter what the future brings,
As time goes by.
Moonlight and love songs,
Never out of date,
Hearts full of passion,
Jealousy and hate,
Woman needs man, and man must have his mate,
There's no one can deny.
It's still the same old story,
A fight for love and glory,
A case of do or die,
The world will always welcome lovers,
As time goes by.
This iconic song by Jimmy Durante, titled "As Time Goes By," is a masterpiece that showcases the essence of timelessness in human life, especially as it relates to love. The lyrics of the song point out how some things never change, regardless of the era, generation, or time period. These things are the fundamental things, and they apply always to everyone, as time goes by. The singer talks about love, and how even after several years or centuries, certain acts, like a kiss or a sigh, hold the same meaning as they did ages ago.
Furthermore, the song also reflects on how true love and romance will never fade or lose its relevance in the world. It will always be there, fueling the passions of the human heart, and rekindling that deep-seated emotion of love, no matter how much time goes by. The song paints a picture of passion, jealousy, and love, all rolled into one, making it a timeless song with themes that appeal to all ages.
Line by Line Meaning
You must remember this,
It's important to remember what happened in the past
A kiss is still a kiss,
No matter how much time passes, a kiss will always be a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh,
A sigh is a simple expression of emotion that doesn't change over time
The fundamental things apply,
Some things never change and will always be important
As time goes by.
Even as time passes and the world changes, some things remain the same
And when two lovers woo,
When two people are in love and act romantically towards each other
They still say 'I love you,'
The declaration of love is still a common thing in romantic relationships
On that you can rely,
You can always count on people in love to express their love
No matter what the future brings,
Regardless of what happens in the future
As time goes by.
Things will always stay the same in some ways
Moonlight and love songs,
Traditional romantic symbolism
Never out of date,
Romance doesn't go out of style
Hearts full of passion,
People in love feel deeply and passionately
Jealousy and hate,
Negative emotions can exist alongside positive emotions in relationships
Woman needs man, and man must have his mate,
Heteronormative ideals of romantic relationships
There's no one can deny.
This is an undeniable truth
It's still the same old story,
The basic plot of romantic relationships hasn't changed much over time
A fight for love and glory,
Romantic relationships can be seen as a competition and struggle
A case of do or die,
Romantic relationships can be make or break for people
The world will always welcome lovers,
Society recognizes and celebrates those in romantic relationships
As time goes by.
Even as time passes and the world changes, some things remain the same
Lyrics © CONSALAD CO., Ltd., BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Sentric Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Herman Hupfeld
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@matthewgeeblountjr8992
As a black child of the '60's, my parents raised us on Jimmy Durante, Nat King Cole, Flip Wilson, Ed Sullivan, Red Skelton, Laugh-in, Gentle Ben, Wide world of Disney...etc. Things have surely changed since then... as time goes by.
@michaelinelegant1289
That's beautiful!
@terryhaddon63
For the better I hope Matthew .Terry from England.
@KillrMillr7
We of that generation are so fortunate to have experienced live, these old time greats. Great memories
@monamorrow9819
May God Bless your Mother and Father🙏🏻
We need them today to counter this well designed Hate and division agenda by our States Federal, Government, Schools, Courts, Media and tragically now our churches. All for the purpose of the surrender and dismantling of our constitution and ultimately The former “United” States of America.
Unification and freedoms will only be restored by the Grace of Gods Devine intervention and those like your mother and father🙏🏻
@tvdmusic
Amen to that, Mona! God Bless you and all above.
@marianamiranda1194
I’m 19 year old and this song is compelling beautiful. Thank you for this music.
@jenniferkay4038
Wow, there is hope for the world yet - it is in good hands, all power to you Mariana!
@jaytomson7052
Frosty the Snowman... will never die. Irreplaceable recording . Thanks Jimmy.
@jenniferkay4038
What a gift this man had - funny, sentimental or sad he could change our mood at a whim. His songs so beautifully intonated to grab every bit of emotion and he did it so well - I never get tired of listening. Memories from my childhood, on our radio with my family - ever more priceless in later years... Thank you so much Anthony.