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).
Look Ahead Little Girl
Jimmy Durante Lyrics
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As you lie there in your crib, you peacefully ignore
The world that is awaiting you
And all that is in store
Look ahead, little girl, look ahead
Life is waiting until you crawl out of bed
There's Santa Clause, a painting set
And your first date is yet for you to know
Look ahead little girl, look ahead
There are oh so many books that must be read
There are rainy days, vacation lands
The senior prom, and college bands
And one great love to set your heart aglow
An anniversary or ten
A nursery and then
Who knows what's written in the stars
You'll raise a family
And just you wait and see
Perhaps someday you'll weekend trip to mars
Look ahead little girl, look ahead
You have given your grandson his first red sweater
There's a smile beneath your wrinkled brow
Your heart is full, but look here now
I better stop and straighten your bedspread
While you're sleeping, it's so hard to look ahead
Look ahead, look ahead
While you're sleeping, it's so hard to look ahead
The song "Look Ahead Little Girl" by Jimmy Durante is a poignant and hopeful message to young girls. The lyrics describe a sleeping baby, unaware of the world around her and all the possibilities that it holds. Durante encourages the little girl to "look ahead," to embrace everything that life has to offer. From learning the alphabet and riding a bike to senior prom and college bands, there are countless experiences waiting for her. Durante acknowledges that there will be challenges along the way, such as rainy days, but he reminds her to keep looking forward with a positive attitude. Ultimately, Durante predicts that the little girl will grow up to have a family and even travel to Mars someday.
The lyrics of "Look Ahead Little Girl" are especially meaningful given the time period in which the song was written. Released in 1964, it was a tumultuous period in American history, marked by civil rights protests, the Vietnam War, and the growing feminist movement. In this context, Durante's message of hope and optimism for young girls was both radical and empowering. The song encourages girls to dream big and look beyond the limitations society may try to impose on them.
Overall, "Look Ahead Little Girl" is a touching and powerful song that continues to inspire generations of young girls to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
As you lie there in your crib, you peacefully ignore
Although you are currently unaware of the world, you are at peace.
The world that is awaiting you
There is a world waiting for you with a lot of opportunities.
And all that is in store
In that world, there are many things waiting for you.
Life is waiting until you crawl out of bed
Life is waiting for you to start living.
There's a bicycle, the alphabet
There are many simple things in life that will bring you joy.
There's Santa Clause, a painting set
There are many things to look forward to, such as holidays and hobbies.
And your first date is yet for you to know
There are many events in your future that are still unknown and exciting.
There are oh so many books that must be read
There is a wealth of knowledge and stories waiting for you to discover.
There are rainy days, vacation lands
There are good and bad moments in life, but even the bad can turn into good memories.
The senior prom, and college bands
There are milestones in life that will define who you are and shape who you will become.
And one great love to set your heart aglow
Love is a powerful feeling that will be part of your journey.
An anniversary or ten
Love can last a lifetime.
A nursery and then
Love can also bring new life into the world.
Who knows what's written in the stars
The future is uncertain, but full of possibilities.
You'll raise a family
One day, you may become a parent and experience the joys and challenges of raising children.
And just you wait and see
The future is full of surprises that you cannot predict.
Perhaps someday you'll weekend trip to mars
The possibilities in life are endless and you can decide your own path.
You have given your grandson his first red sweater
Your life has been full of moments of giving and sharing with others.
There's a smile beneath your wrinkled brow
Even though you have aged, you still have joy and happiness in your life.
Your heart is full, but look here now
You may have come far, but there is still much to look forward to.
I better stop and straighten your bedspread
While you are sleeping, I will make sure you are comfortable and cared for.
While you're sleeping, it's so hard to look ahead
It's hard to imagine what the future holds when you are asleep and unaware.
Look ahead, look ahead
But you should always try to look towards the future with hope and optimism.
Writer(s): Sammy Fain, Jack (usa Barnett
Contributed by Madelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.