Born in Spokane, Washington, Rowles studied at the University of Washington, Seattle. After moving to Los Angeles, he joined Lester Young's group in 1942. He was known as a young protege of Ben Webster, with whom he recorded many classic jazz albums in the '50's.
Rowles also worked with Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Les Brown, Tommy Dorsey, and Tony Bennett, and as a studio musician.
In the 1950s and 1960s, he frequently played behind Billie Holiday and Peggy Lee, and in the 1980s he worked with Ella Fitzgerald.
Mr. Rowles was part of the elect few white musicians who were invited to substitute in the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
In 1973, Rowles settled in New York City, where he performed and/or recorded with Zoot Sims and Stan Getz, among others.
In the '80's, Mr. Rowles could often be found performing in fine fettle in New York City at the Knickerbocker Saloon.
He composed several jazz pieces, the best known being The Peacocks, which can be heard on the Stan Getz album of the same name. Rowles also performs on this album. The song is also featured on Gary Foster's upcoming release "Perfect Circularity".
In 1994, he accompanied jazz singer Jeri Brown on the only album containing only his own compositions, "A Timeless Place". Jimmy Rowles' daughter, Stacy Rowles, plays fluegelhorn.
He died from cardiovascular disease in Los Angeles, California at the age of 78.
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Jimmy Rowles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
It doesn't show signs of stopping
And I've bought some corn for popping
The lights are turned way down low
When we finally kiss goodnight
How I'll hate going out in the storm!
But if you'll really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm
The fire is slowly dying
And, my dear, we're still goodbying
But as long as you love me so
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
The song, "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", originally composed by Jule Styne in 1945, with lyrics by Sammy Cahn, became a popular standard recorded by many artists. It tells the story of a couple who are snowed in, but they find comfort in being with each other during the storm. The lyrics create a dreamy, romantic, and cozy atmosphere, which transports listeners to a peaceful world away from the cold and chaos of winter.
The opening lines, "Oh the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful," juxtapose the harshness of the weather against the warmth and coziness of the fireplace, offering a sharp contrast between the two images. Despite the inclement weather, the singer is enjoying the moment and has embraced the situation. The lyrics also suggest the singer's desire for companionship as they have "no place to go." The description of the fire dying and the singer saying goodbye to their partner seem to indicate that the song is coming to an end. However, the song's closing verse offers a glimmer of hope and an opportunity to rekindle the love between the couple.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the weather outside is frightful
The weather outside is unpleasant
But the fire is so delightful
However, the fire is pleasant
And since we've no place to go
We have nowhere to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
So, let it snow
It doesn't show signs of stopping
The snow doesn't seem to be stopping
And I've bought some corn for popping
I have bought some corn to make popcorn
The lights are turned way down low
The lights are dimmed
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
So, let it snow
When we finally kiss goodnight
When we finally say goodnight with a kiss
How I'll hate going out in the storm!
I will dislike going out in the storm
But if you'll really hold me tight
But if you hug me tightly
All the way home I'll be warm
I will feel warm all the way home
The fire is slowly dying
The fire is dying out
And, my dear, we're still goodbying
We are still saying goodbye, my dear
But as long as you love me so
But as long as you love me
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
Let it snow
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind