Jimmy Raney (20 August 1927–10 May 1995) was an American jazz guitarist bor… Read Full Bio ↴Jimmy Raney (20 August 1927–10 May 1995) was an American jazz guitarist born in Louisville, Kentucky most notable for his work from 1951–1952 and 1962-1963 with Stan Getz and for his work from 1953–1954 with the Red Norvo trio, replacing Tal Farlow. In 1954 and 1955 he won the Down Beat critics poll for guitar. Raney worked in a variety of jazz mediums, including cool jazz, bebop, post bop, hard bop and mainstream jazz.

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 .

Body and Soul 2
Jimmy Raney Lyrics

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My heart is sad and lonely
For you I sigh, for you dear only
Why haven't you seen it
I'm all for you body and soul

I spend my days in longing
And wondering why it's me you're wronging
I tell you I mean it

I'm all for you body and soul

I can't believe it
It's hard to conceive it
That you'd turn away romance
Are you pretending
It looks like the ending
Unless I could have just one more chance to prove, dear

My life a wreck you're making
You know I'm yours for just the taking
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul

My life a wreck you're making

You know I'm yours for the very taking
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Body and Soul" express a deep longing for a love that is unreciprocated. The singer is filled with sorrow and loneliness, his heart aching for the one he loves. He wonders why his love interest hasn't seen his feelings for them, and declares that he is all for them "body and soul", meaning he has given himself completely to them.

He spends his days lost in thought, wondering why he is being wronged and why romance is being turned away. The singer cannot believe that his love is not returned, and is desperate for one more chance to prove his affection. He laments that his life is in shambles because of this unrequited love, but despite the pain he is willing to surrender himself completely to the object of his desire.

Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of deep love and longing, mixed with despair and desperation, as the singer grapples with unrequited love and the possibility that it may never be reciprocated.

Line by Line Meaning

My heart is sad and lonely
I feel desolate and melancholy without you

For you I sigh, for you dear only
I yearn and long for you, exclusively

Why haven't you seen it
I wonder why you haven't noticed my feelings

I'm all for you body and soul
I'm completely devoted to you, with every fiber of my being

I spend my days in longing
My days are filled with pining and yearning

And wondering why it's me you're wronging
I can't help but wonder why you're treating me unfairly

I tell you I mean it
I'm sincere when I say this

I'm all for you body and soul
Once again, I'm completely devoted to you

I can't believe it
I'm having a tough time accepting this reality

It's hard to conceive it
It's difficult to understand and come to terms with

That you'd turn away romance
I can't fathom why you'd reject love like this