Jimmy Raney began his jazz guitar career very early with the history showing he played in the Jerry Wald band in 1944 at age 17.
In 1946 he worked for a time as guitarist with the Max Miller Quartet at Elmer's in Chicago, his first paying gig. Raney also worked in the Artie Shaw Orchestra and collaborated with Woody Herman for nine months in 1948. He also collaborated and recorded with Buddy DeFranco, Al Haig and later on with Bob Brookmeyer. In 1967 alcoholism and other professional difficulties led him to leave New York City and return to his native Louisville. He resurfaced in the 1970s and also did work with his son Doug, who is also a guitarist. Raney suffered for thirty years from Meniere's Disease, a degenerative condition that eventually led to near complete deafness in both ears. Fortunately, his playing remained unaffected. Raney died of heart failure in Louisville Ky. on May 10th of 1995, just short of his 68th birthday. An obituary in the New York Times referred to Jimmy Raney as 'one of the most gifted and influential postwar jazz guitarists in the world .
Autumn Leaves
Jimmy Raney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
The lyrics of Jimmy Raney's song Autumn Leaves talk about the changing of the seasons and how it reminds him of a lost love. The falling leaves are a metaphor for the fleeting nature of life and love. As the leaves slowly float by his window, he remembers the summer kisses and warm embraces of his former lover. He misses her the most when the leaves begin to fall because it reminds him of how everything changes and nothing lasts forever. The song goes on to describe the human experience of love and loss, how two people can come together and live their lives together, only to be separated by the slow and painful passage of time.
In the second verse, the lyrics switch to French, adding a layer of sophistication and elegance to the song. The French lyrics describe the same themes of love and loss, but in a more poetic and romantic way. The singer remembers his former lover and the time they spent together, but acknowledges that life goes on and people grow apart. The metaphor of the sea washing away the footprints of separated lovers is powerful and evocative, tapping into the shared human experience of love and loss.
Overall, the lyrics to Jimmy Raney's Autumn Leaves are a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of love and the changing of the seasons. The song captures the bittersweet emotions of remembering a lost love and the passing of time, while also celebrating the beauty of life and the joys of human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
The falling leaves drift by the window
The leaves that fall from the trees sway gently by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
The leaves of fall are colored with a mix of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
I remember your lips and the sweet kisses from the summer
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
I recall holding your hands that were sunburned from the summer sun
Since you went away the days grow long
The passing of time feels endless since you left
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
Winter is approaching and soon the world will be filled with its coldness
But I miss you most of all my darling
Out of everything and everyone, I miss you the most
When autumn leaves start to fall
My longing peaks during the time when fall leaves drop from trees
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
This is a song that resembles us
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
You loved me and I loved you
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
We were once living together
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
You who loved me and I who loved you
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
But life separates those who love each other
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
It happens slowly and quietly
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
And just as the sea washes away footprints on the sand, it erases the memories of lovers who are no longer together
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GIORGIO CANALI, FRANCESCO MAGNELLI, GIANNI MAROCCOLO, MASSIMO ZAMBONI, GIOVANNI LINDO FERRETTI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Greg Brown
Excellent, your transcriptions are greatly appreciated. Thanks a million!
roger weafer
wow...gotta be my favorite version of Aumn Leaves. Thank You Sir Leduc!
Peter Callaway
Francois you just brilliant 👏🏾and a wonderful musician!🎸🎼🎶🎵😀
Your transcriptions are AWESOME and AMAZING!
JohnB
i memorized this tune off the record 30+ years ago - long since forgotten. time for a refresh. thx.
Danny Sargeant
I guess I'll be learning Autumn Leaves in a 4th key now. The Kenny Burrell version is awesome. Thanks, I'm learning a lot here.
François Leduc
Thanks! I'm adding the Kenny Burrell version to my 'to do' list!
Juliano Cavalcante
Thanks! Great job!
Gussy Rikh
Very educational. Thank you.
Oscar Ortega
This is awesome! Thank you! *subscribed
François Leduc
Thanks!