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
Ruby
Jimmy Ponder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not always what you seem
And though my heart may break when I awake
Let it be so
I only know, Ruby, it's you
They say, Ruby you're like a song
You don't know right from wrong
But from the start, who stole my heart?
Ruby, it's you
I hear your voice and I must come to you
I have no choice what else can I do?
They say, Ruby you're like a flame
Into my life you came
And though I should beware
Still I don't care you thrill me so
In the song "Ruby," Jimmy Ponder sings about a woman who is often described as a dream, a song, and a flame. Ruby is not always what she seems, and her actions can leave the singer's heart broken. However, despite this, Ponder can't help but feel drawn to her. He recognizes that she doesn't always make the right choices, but he can't help but be drawn in by her. The singer admits to being powerless when it comes to Ruby, feeling as though he must come to her and that he doesn't care about the potential danger of their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
They say, Ruby you're like a dream
People talk about how you, Ruby, are like a dream.
Not always what you seem
Although you may not be exactly what you appear to be.
And though my heart may break when I awake
Even if my heart is broken when I finally wake up from this dream.
Let it be so
I accept this risk and want to continue dreaming about you, Ruby.
I only know, Ruby, it's you
I am certain that this dream is about you, Ruby.
They say, Ruby you're like a song
Some say that you, Ruby, are like a beautiful melody.
You don't know right from wrong
However, you may not always have the best judgment.
And in your eyes I see heart aches for me
I can sense that you have feelings for me, and that they may cause you pain.
But from the start, who stole my heart?
Despite this, I fell in love with you from the beginning.
Ruby, it's you
It's always been you, Ruby.
I hear your voice and I must come to you
Whenever I hear your voice, I feel compelled to be close to you.
I have no choice what else can I do?
I am powerless to resist your charms, Ruby.
They say, Ruby you're like a flame
Some describe you, Ruby, as a passionate flame.
Into my life you came
You entered my life with a blazing intensity.
And though I should beware
Even though I should be cautious about the dangers of playing with fire.
Still I don't care you thrill me so
I am too captivated by you to be concerned about the risks, Ruby. You thrill me too much.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HEINZ ROEMHELD, MITCHELL PARISH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brainblastpro
Remember the episode where Jimmy pondered his own tulpa into existence in the white room?
@2ndCumminoftheAnti-Chrsitgau
very suspicious David..