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 .
How Long Has This Been Going On
Jimmy Raney Lyrics
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I was kissed by my sisters, my cousins, and my aunties.
Sad to tell, it was hell, an inferno worse than Dante's.
So my dear I swore,
"Never, never more !"
On my list, I insisted that kissing must be crossed out.
Now, I find I was blind, and oh my!
I could cry salty tears,
Where have I been all these years?
Little wow, tell me now,
How long has this been going on?
There were chills up my spine,
And some thrills I can't define.
Listen, sweet, I repeat,
How long has this been going on?
Oh, I feel that I could melt,
Into Heaven I'm hurled!
I know how Columbus felt,
Finding another world.
Kiss me once, then once more.
What a dunce I was before.
What a break!
For Heaven's sake!
How long has this been going on?
Dear, when in your arms I creep,
That divine rendezvous,
Don't wake me, if I'm asleep,
Let me dream that it's true!
Kiss me twice, then once more.
That makes thrice, let's make it four!
What a break!
For Heaven's sake!
How long has this been going on?
How long has this, been going on?
The song "How Long Has This Been Going On" by Jimmy Raney talks about the singer’s realization of the pleasure and importance of romantic love after going through a childhood that he calls an "inferno worse than Dante's". The singer's relatives kiss him when he is a child, but he makes a list of proscriptions (including kissing) after finding out that it feels like being in hell. However, the singer discovers later in life that he has missed out on the joys of love and that his past experiences have blinded him to the beauty of it. The singer pleads with his love interest to kiss him over and over and expresses how he feels like he’s been transported to heaven, saying he knows how Columbus felt finding a new world.
Throughout "How Long Has This Been Going On", the singer goes through a complete transformation from a person who has sworn off romantic love into someone who is making up for lost time. He is realizing that he was missing out on something that was incredibly important and a necessary part of his life. Furthermore, the singer finds himself caught up in the pleasure of love and is unable to keep himself from wanting more of it. He begs his lover to carry on kissing him because he had missed out on so many opportunities in the past, and he does not want to miss any more.
Line by Line Meaning
As a tot, when I trotted in little velvet panties
As a child, when I walked around wearing velvet pants
I was kissed by my sisters, my cousins, and my aunties
My female family members used to kiss me
Sad to tell, it was hell, an inferno worse than Dante's
It was an unpleasant experience, even worse than what Dante described in his Inferno
So my dear I swore, "Never, never more !"
As a result, I decided I would never let anyone kiss me again
On my list, I insisted that kissing must be crossed out
I made sure to put kissing on my list of forbidden things
Now, I find I was blind, and oh my!
But now I see how foolish I was
How I lost out!
I missed out on something wonderful
I could cry salty tears
I feel so emotional that I could cry
Where have I been all these years?
I wonder why I didn't experience this sooner
Little wow, tell me now, how long has this been going on?
Please explain to me how long this has been happening
There were chills up my spine, and some thrills I can't define
I felt exhilarated and couldn't describe the sensation
Listen, sweet, I repeat, how long has this been going on?
Please tell me again how long this has been happening
Oh, I feel that I could melt, into Heaven I'm hurled!
I feel like I'm in heaven and could melt with pleasure
I know how Columbus felt, finding another world
I feel like I discovered a new world, just like Columbus did
Kiss me once, then once more
Please kiss me twice
What a dunce I was before
I realize now how foolish I was in the past
What a break! For Heaven's sake!
What a fortunate turn of events, it's almost too good to be true
Dear, when in your arms I creep, that divine rendezvous
When I'm wrapped in your embrace, it feels like a meeting of heavenly beings
Don't wake me, if I'm asleep, let me dream that it's true!
If I'm sleeping while in your arms, please let me continue to dream that it's real
Kiss me twice, then once more, that makes thrice, let's make it four!
Please kiss me four times, I can't get enough
How long has this been going on?
I'm still amazed and can't believe how long this wonderful thing has been happening
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind