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).
One Of Those Songs
Jimmy Durante Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't know just where and you don't know just when.
It's one of those songs that are over and then,
It's one of those songs that start playin' again.
Yes, it's just one of those songs that you hear for awhile.
That comes into fashion then goes out of style.
It's one of those songs that you think you forgot,
Hey!
Because it's one of those songs that can make you recall
A ride in the spring time, a walk in the fall,
A day in the country, a night on the town,
The sun coming up, or the rain coming down,
Or else the evening you parted, the morning you met,
The love of your life you can never forget.
The reason is simple.
The memory belongs
To one of those wonderful songs!
Because it's one of those songs that's so easy to hear.
You listen just once then you play it by ear.
It's hummed on veranda's, it's strummed on guitars.
It's all you remember is 'la da da da',
But later on you recall it in some other year.
You may start to smile.
You may shed a tear.
You find that one part of your life time belongs
To one of those wonderful songs.
To one of those wonderful songs.
To one of those wonderful songs!
Jimmy Durante’s song One of Those Songs is a reflection on the power of music to transport us back in time and evoke strong emotions. The song begins by acknowledging the strange phenomenon where we hear a song “now and then” and cannot quite place where or when we heard it. The lyrics then expand on the idea that some songs are timeless because they have the capacity to bring back cherished memories. They can recall “a ride in the springtime, a walk in the fall, a day in the country, a night on the town”. The song points out that these memories can be so significant that we will never forget them because, “the memory belongs to one of those wonderful songs”.
The second verse, continues to emphasise this message by adding that some songs are easy to remember because they have such a catchy tune. The references to humming it on verandas and strumming it on guitars imply that music is something that people enjoy together, it unites people and creates memories. One of Those Songs reminds us that certain songs remind us of particular moments, people or emotions that are worth treasuring.
One of Those Songs is a song that has been covered by a vast number of artists including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Tony Bennett. These are just a few of the song’s many renditions.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, this is one of those songs that you hear now and then,
This is a song that you come across occasionally and unexpectedly.
You don't know just where and you don't know just when.
You may not be able to pinpoint exactly where or when you first heard it.
It's one of those songs that are over and then,
The song may have ended, but it still lingers in your memory.
It's one of those songs that start playin' again.
Whether you want it to or not, the song has a way of coming back to you.
Yes, it's just one of those songs that you hear for awhile.
This is a song that has a fleeting popularity – in and out of fashion.
That comes into fashion then goes out of style.
The song becomes popular, but quickly loses its appeal.
It's one of those songs that you think you forgot,
At times, the song may slip your mind.
But it's one of those songs you cannot.
However, the song is unforgettable and finds a way back to you.
Because it's one of those songs that can make you recall
This song is connected to memories of times and places.
A ride in the spring time, a walk in the fall,
It can bring to mind seasons of the year and the events that went with them.
A day in the country, a night on the town,
The song may elicit memories of city nightlife or a day spent in nature.
The sun coming up, or the rain coming down,
The song can conjure up memories of weather, both good and bad.
Or else the evening you parted, the morning you met,
The song may be connected to a significant moment in your personal life.
The love of your life you can never forget.
The song may spark memories of a past love that sticks with you.
Because it's one of those songs that's so easy to hear.
The song is simple, easy to listen to, and comprehend.
You listen just once then you play it by ear.
The melody is so catchy that you are able to effortlessly sing along to it.
It's hummed on veranda's, it's strummed on guitars.
People can sing or play the song anywhere, from a porch to a concert stage.
It's all you remember is 'la da da da',
The tune is so recognizable that you can hum or recall just a few words.
But later on you recall it in some other year.
The song may reemerge in your life years later.
You may start to smile.
The memory of the song can bring a positive emotion.
You may shed a tear.
It can also bring tears of nostalgia or sadness.
You find that one part of your life time belongs
The song is connected to some aspect of your personal history.
To one of those wonderful songs.
This is just one of the many amazing songs that manages to become a part of our memories.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAIN ALBERT BOUBLIL, ROBERT FOURREY, GERARD CALVI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arjun Upadhya
________________________
Well, this is one of those songs that you hear now and then,
You dont know just where and you dont know just when.
Its one of those songs that are over and then,
Its one of those songs that start playin again.
Yes, its just one of those songs that you hear for awhile.
That comes into fashion then goes out of style.
Its one of those songs that you think you forgot,
But its one of those songs you cannot.
Hey!!!!!!!!!
Because its one of those songs that can make you recall
A ride in the spring time, a walk in the fall,
A day in the country, a night on the town,
The sun coming up, or the rain coming down,
Or else the evening you parted, the morning you met,
the love of your life you can never forget.
The reason is simple. The memory belongs
To one of those wonderful songs!
Because its one of those songs thats so easy to hear.
You listen just once then you play it by ear.
Its hummed on verandas, its strummed on guitars.
Its all you remember is la da da da,
But later on you recall it in some other year.
You may start to smile. You may shed a tear.
You find that one part of your life time belongs
To one of those wonderful songs.
To one of those wonderful songs.
To one of those wonderful songs!
===============================
Jim Southern
I have the 45 of this song, just love it. A major thrill of my younger DJ days was going to a reception for Jimmy in 1967. He walked in the room and you could just feel the love. He insisted that we gather around the piano and sing along while he played. I managed to shake his hand and thank him later on. What joy he brought with him, I met a lot of show biz folks back in the day, but Jimmy remains my favorite.
wikidteacher
RIP Jimmy! You were one of a kind and there'll never be another like you! A truly great performer!
Wayne Zeidenstein
I loved Jimmy . a great talented comedian and singer. who is sadly missed. there are no good comedians like him anymore.
Jeffrey Lipinski
Wonderful song by Jimmy.. Jimmy was outstanding and so was his songs and arrangements.. Wonderful singer.. Entertainer.. Piano player.. Actor.. Jimmy had it all and he was all.. The lyric in this song is so true........ God Bless you Jimmy and Mrs..CALABASH also wherever you are !!!!
wagbelt
Jimmy Durante was a true star and a great performer,love his music.
jasmin
This is what you call beautiful music
CarlDuke
Thanks for posting. Love this song, especially with Jimmy doing it. Also on youtube is Max Bygraves singing this. Sadly Max just passed on at 89. He was one of England's greatest performers.
mark prescott
One of those you can't get out of your head. Just great. Goodnight Dear Jimmy there'll never be another like you. God Bless, darlin', Cheers.
Steve Burstein
Originally a French song with three different titles, including "Dans la Maison des Chansons", a hit for Mireille Matthieu.
Pokyangelfish
Listen to this everyday! Puts me in a good mood