Ponder started playing guitar at age 14, and was heavily influenced by Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell. He began playing with Charles Earland at 17, and in the following years played with Lou Donaldson, Houston Person, Donald Byrd, Stanley Turrentine, and Jimmy McGriff. He moved to Philadelphia and later New York City in the 1970s, and recorded extensively as a leader for a number of jazz labels. Since the late 1980s Jimmy has frequently returned to his hometown to perform with his popular trio alongside two of Pittsburgh's other Jazz greats; Roger Humphries and Gene Ludwig. Ponder's most commercially successful releases were his 1978 Muse Records set All Things Beautiful (U.S. Billboard Jazz Albums #38) and 2000's Ain't Misbehavin', for HighNote (U.S. Jazz #16).
As leader
Soul Crib (Choice Records, 1969) with Charles Earland
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Cadet Records, 1973)
Illusions (Impulse! Records, 1976)
White Room (Impulse, 1978)
All Things Beautiful (LRC, 1978)
So Many Stars (Milestone Records, 1983)
Mean Streets:No Bridges (Muse Records, 1987)
Jump (Muse, 1988)
Come On Down (Muse, 1990)
Soul Eyes (Muse, 1991)
To Reach a Dream (Muse, 1991)
Something to Ponder (Muse, 1994)
James Street (HighNote Records, 1997)
Steel City Soul (32 Jazz, 1998)
Guitar Christmas (HighNote, 1998)
Ain't Misbehavin' (HighNote, 2000)
Thumbs Up (HighNote, 2001)
Alone (HighNote, 2003)
What's New (HighNote, 2005)
Live at the Other End (Explore Records, 2007)
Jimmy Ponder: Sonny Lester Collection (LRC, 2007)
As sideman
With Rusty Bryant
Wild Fire (Prestige, 1971)
With Donald Byrd
Fancy Free, (Blue Note, 1970)
With Andrew Hill
Grass Roots (Blue Note, 1968 [2000])
With Willis Jackson
In the Alley (Muse, 1976)
With Jack McDuff
The Fourth Dimension (Cadet, 1974)
With John Patton
That Certain Feeling (Blue Note, 1968)
With Shirley Scott
Superstition (Cadet, 1973)
With Stanley Turrentine
Common Touch (Blue Note, 1968) - with Shirley Scott
My Romance
Jimmy Ponder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beware my foolish heart
How white the ever constant moon
Take care my foolish heart
There's a line between love and fascination
That's hard to see, how many names such as this
For they both have the very same sensation
Her lips are much too close to mine
Beware my foolish heart
But should our eager lips combine
Then let the fire start
For this time it isn't fascination
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
It's love, this time it's love
My foolish heart
The song "My Romance" by Jimmy Ponder is a beautiful love song that speaks to the challenges of falling in love. The opening lines of the song set the tone, showcasing the beauty of the night and the ever-present moon. However, the singer is aware of the danger of falling in love, hence the warning to "beware my foolish heart" and "take care my foolish heart."
The song speaks to the struggle of balancing the intense feelings of love and fascination. The line "there's a line between love and fascination" serves as a reminder that it's difficult to differentiate between the two, as they both have the same intense sensation. The singer acknowledges the magic of a kiss and the allure of being locked in that moment.
Despite the warning, the singer is drawn to the woman's lips, and the possibilities that lie there. The song then delves into the power of love and how it can consume a person. The singer knows that if their "eager lips combine", then the "fire will start". However, this time it's different; it's not just fascination or a fleeting dream, it's love. Thus, the singer's foolish heart is worth the risk of getting burned in order to experience the power and beauty of true love.
Line by Line Meaning
The night is like a lovely tune
The night is beautiful and serene, just like a melodious tune
Beware my foolish heart
Be careful not to be foolish in love
How white the ever constant moon
The moon is glowing white and will always remain that way
Take care my foolish heart
Be cautious in love and don't do anything regrettable
There's a line between love and fascination
The boundary between love and fascination is vague and difficult to recognize
That's hard to see, how many names such as this
It's challenging to tell how many other similar terms exist
For they both have the very same sensation
Both love and fascination generate similar feelings and emotions
When you're locked in the magic of a kiss
When you're drawn into the enchanting sensation of a kiss
Her lips are much too close to mine
Her lips are in close proximity to mine
But should our eager lips combine
But if we kiss one another with enthusiasm
Then let the fire start
We can kindle the spark of love and passion
For this time it isn't fascination
This time it's not just fascination
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
Or a fantasy that will dwindle with time
It's love, this time it's love
This time it is undoubtedly love
My foolish heart
This heart, which has made foolish mistakes in the past, is now in love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., PATTI WASHINGTON MUSIC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: NED WASHINGTON, VICTOR YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind