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).
September Song
Jimmy Durante Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I played me a waiting game.
If a maid refused me with tossing curls,
I let the earth take a couple of whirls.
While I plied her with tears in lieu of pearls.
And as time came around, she came my way,
And as time came around, she came.
But the days grow short, when you reach September.
When the autumn weather, turns the leaves to flame,
One hasn't got time, for the waiting game.
Oh, the days dwindle down, to a precious few.
September. November.
And these few precious days, I'll spend with you.
These precious days, I'll spend with you.
Oh, the days dwindle down, to a precious few.
September. November.
And these few precious days, I'll spend with you.
These precious days, I'll spend with you.
The song September Song by Jimmy Durante speaks of the passage of time and the importance of making the most of the moments we have. The singer describes himself as a young man who used to play the waiting game when courting women, letting time pass and hoping that the object of his affection would eventually come around. However, as he has grown older, he has realized that time is fleeting and that there are only a precious few days to spend with those we love.
The chorus of the song brings home the idea of the passing of time, using the metaphor of the changing of the seasons. The singer notes that "it's a long, long while, from May to December," but that "the days grow short when you reach September." This idea of the dwindling days of our lives is brought home by the image of autumn turning the leaves to flame, marking the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The singer notes that there is no time for the waiting game anymore, and that the few precious days we have left must be spent with those we love.
The song is a powerful reminder of the importance of living in the moment and making the most of the time we have. Whether we are courting a lover or simply going about our daily lives, it is all too easy to let time slip away from us. However, if we can keep in mind the message of September Song and make the most of every moment we have, we may find that our lives are richer, fuller, and more beautiful than we ever imagined.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a young man, courting the girls,
In my youth, I pursued women and played hard to get.
I played me a waiting game.
I exercised patience in love, waiting for the women to come to me.
If a maid refused me with tossing curls,
If a woman rejected me with disdain and arrogance,
I let the earth take a couple of whirls.
I just let time pass and moved on.
While I plied her with tears in lieu of pearls.
I tried to win her over by shedding tears instead of giving her valuable gifts.
And as time came around, she came my way,
Eventually, the woman I pursued reciprocated my feelings.
And as time came around, she came.
Eventually, the woman I pursued reciprocated my feelings.
Oh it's a long, long while, from May to December
The time between youthful pursuits and old age is a long stretch.
But the days grow short, when you reach September.
As one ages, time seems to move faster and there's a sense of urgency.
When the autumn weather, turns the leaves to flame,
As the weather shifts and leaves change color, it reminds us of the fleeting nature of time.
One hasn't got time, for the waiting game.
There's no more time to waste on playing mind games or waiting around in love.
Oh, the days dwindle down, to a precious few.
As time runs out, there's an increased appreciation for the remaining days.
September. November.
The specific months of September and November represent a time of transition and anticipation.
And these few precious days, I'll spend with you.
I want to spend the remaining days with the one I love.
These precious days, I'll spend with you.
I want to spend the remaining days with the one I love.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Featureman
I did get to see him in person once at The Hollywood Bowl. He was great. Listen to the vocalists behind him on this song. That is such a wonderful blend of voices.
Beverly McCollum
sound like angels singing
Designs By Spirit
Jimmy Durante was one of the most kind and charitable entertainers of all time. He used to play benefits for children and donate all his earnings to the causes. A foundation was named after him, the motto was 'Do it for da kids'. Which is what Jimmy always said when he would donate his pay. Just a wonderful human being.
l stan
My dad was in his early 20's and in the Navy during WW2. He was fortunate enough to meet Jimmy Durante in New York City...It was one of his fondest memories and he talked about him (Durante) until he passed in 1996.......
Frances Van Siclen
He seemed genuinely sweet !!!!
Michael McNaughton
So Happy to hear to hear this...Now I luv him even more.. R.I.P.
MrManorAvenue
Back to the day when people related to human emotions in songs. I play this song on the piano for my late mother on her birthday each year (along with her other favorites). Durante put so much human emotion into his recordings.
Mike and Sandra
Many years ago when this song came on the radio I would jump on my Grandad's knee because he would gently whistle along with this song and smile at my Nana! Back then I did not understand the September song but today I find myself humming it a lot and smiling at my husband Mike because this year we are celebrating our Golden Wedding and we are now spending our precious days together.
blumobean
How very sweet.
MsSmallthings
When Jimmy Durante died somebody commented, "You could warm your hands on that man". What a magnificent obituary!