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 .
Prelude to a Kiss
Jimmy Raney Lyrics
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A song in blue
Like a flower crying
For the dew
That was my heart serenading you
My prelude to a kiss
If you hear a song that grows
That was my heart trying to compose
A prelude to a kiss
Though it's just a simple melody
With nothing fancy
Nothing much
You could turn it to a symphony
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch
Oh how my love song gently cries
For the tenderness within your eyes
My love is a prelude that never dies
A prelude to a kiss
Though it's just a simple melody
With nothing fancy
Nothing much
You could turn it to a symphony
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch
Oh how my love song so gently cries
For the tenderness within your eyes
My love is a prelude that never dies
A prelude to a kiss
The song "Prelude to a Kiss" by Jimmy Raney is a love song expressing the deep emotions of the singer towards his lover. In the first verse, the singer is comparing his love to a song in blue, like a flower crying for the dew. He explains that the song is his heart serenading his lover, his prelude to a kiss. In the second verse, the singer goes on to explain that the song grows from his sentimental woes, and that it is his heart trying to compose the perfect prelude for his lover's kiss.
Although a simple melody, the singer believes that his lover could turn it into a symphony with a Shubert tune and a Gershwin touch. The lyrics of the song express the gentle cries of the singer's love for the tenderness within his lover's eyes. The prelude to a kiss is a beautiful expression of the singer's love, and it is clear that this love is something that will never die.
Overall, "Prelude to a Kiss" is a powerful love song that expresses the deep emotional connection between two people in love. The lyrics are beautiful, and the melody is simple yet poignant, making it a classic love song that has stood the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
If you hear
If you listen
A song in blue
A sad song
Like a flower crying
Like a sad flower shedding dew-like tears
For the dew
For what it's missing
That was my heart serenading you
That was my heart singing to you
My prelude to a kiss
My introduction to a kiss
If you hear a song that grows
If you listen to a song that develops
From my tender sentimental woes
From my sad sentimental feelings
That was my heart trying to compose
That was my heart attempting to write
A prelude to a kiss
An introduction to a kiss
Though it's just a simple melody
Although it's an uncomplicated tune
With nothing fancy
With no embellishments
Nothing much
Not very remarkable
You could turn it to a symphony
You could transform it into a grand musical composition
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch
A classical tune with a modern twist
Oh how my love song gently cries
Oh how my song of love softly weeps
For the tenderness within your eyes
For the gentleness I see in your eyes
My love is a prelude that never dies
My love is an everlasting introduction to a kiss
A prelude to a kiss
An introduction to a kiss
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Irving Gordon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind