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 .
Yesterdays
Jimmy Raney Lyrics
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'Round midnight, midnight
I do pretty well, till after sundown
Suppertime I'm feelin' sad
But it really gets bad
'Round midnight
Memories always start 'round midnight
When my heart is still with you
And ol' midnight knows it, too
When a quarrel we had needs mending
Does it mean that our love is ending
Darlin' I need you, lately I find
You're out of my heart
And I'm out of my mind
Let our hearts take wings'
'Round midnight, midnight
Let the angels sing
For your returning
Till our love is safe and sound
And old midnight comes around
Feelin' sad
Really gets bad
Round, Round, Round Midnight
The lyrics to Jimmy Raney and Sonny Clark's song "Yesterdays," specifically the verse "It begins to tell 'Round midnight, midnight / I do pretty well, till after sundown / Suppertime I'm feelin' sad / But it really gets bad 'Round midnight," suggest a deep sense of longing and nostalgia that is often felt during the late hours of the night. The singer describes how they are able to manage their emotions and memories during the day, but as night falls and they are left alone with their thoughts, the weight of the past becomes unbearable. The phrase "suppertime" is used as a metaphor for the end of the day, but also carries connotations of nourishment and sustenance. This suggests that despite their sadness, the singer is still able to find some comfort in the memories they carry with them. However, as midnight approaches, they find themselves unable to continue on in the same way and are overwhelmed by the pain of their past.
The second half of the lyrics paint a picture of a person who is struggling to come to terms with a recent quarrel with their lover. The questions "Does it mean that our love is ending / Darlin' I need you, lately I find / You're out of my heart / And I'm out of my mind" express a deep sense of confusion and uncertainty about the state of their relationship. The singer is searching for some resolution to their pain and hopes that their lover will return to them so that they can find peace. The repetition of the phrase "round midnight" emphasizes the cyclical nature of the singer's emotions and the idea that they are trapped in a never-ending cycle of sadness and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
It begins to tell
The song starts to describe a feeling
'Round midnight, midnight
The feeling specifically starts around midnight
I do pretty well, till after sundown
The feeling is not too bad during the day, but worsens at night
Suppertime I'm feelin' sad
The start of the bad feeling seems to coincide with dinnertime
But it really gets bad
The feeling becomes much worse than just sadness
'Round midnight
The worst part of the feeling happens at midnight
Memories always start 'round midnight
The bad feeling is triggered by memories that come up at midnight
Haven't got the heart to stand those memories
The memories are so painful that the singer cannot bear to think about them
When my heart is still with you
The memories are related to someone the singer is still in love with
And ol' midnight knows it, too
The midnight hour seems to be aware of the singer's struggles
When a quarrel we had needs mending
The singer and their loved one have had a fight that needs to be resolved
Does it mean that our love is ending
The singer worries that the fight may be a sign of deeper problems in the relationship
Darlin' I need you, lately I find
The singer realizes how much they need their loved one
You're out of my heart
The loved one seems to have become distant from the singer
And I'm out of my mind
The singer feels like they are losing their grip on reality
Let our hearts take wings'
The singer hopes that their love can be rekindled
'Round midnight, midnight
The midnight hour is still associated with the bad feeling and memories, but the hope for reconciliation remains
Let the angels sing
The singer wishes for a heavenly intervention to bring their loved one back
For your returning
The singer longs for their loved one to come back to them
Till our love is safe and sound
The hope is for a stable, secure relationship
And old midnight comes around
Despite the hardships, the association with midnight lingers
Feelin' sad
The bad feeling may still be present, but there is a glimmer of hope
Really gets bad
The worst part of the feeling has passed and there is room for improvement
Round, Round, Round Midnight
The repetition of 'round midnight' emphasizes the persistent association with the feeling and memories, but also hints at the hope for a brighter future
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COOTIE WILLIAMS, BERNARD D. HANIGHEN, THEOLONIOUS S. MONK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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