Joe Mooney
Born 03/14/1911 (Paterson, NJ)
Died 05/12/1975 (Fort Laude… Read Full Bio ↴Joe Mooney
Born 03/14/1911 (Paterson, NJ)
Died 05/12/1975 (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
For a period of time, Joe Mooney was a well-known jazz accordionist -- which is definitely a small field -- but he had a lengthy and a rather episodic career. He went blind in the early '20s but by 1926 was playing duets with his brother Dan on radio. They recorded from 1929-31 as the Sunshine Boys (also as the Melotone Boys); Joe played piano and both brothers sang while joined by some notable jazz all-stars. The siblings stayed together through 1936 (broadcasting on WLW Radio in Cincinnati). Dan slipped away from music, while in 1937 Joe became the pianist and arranger for Frank Dailey. He joined Buddy Rogers in 1938 and was soon contributing charts for Paul Whiteman, Vincent Lopez, Larry Clinton and Les Brown, plus vocal arrangements for the Modernaires. In 1943 he formed his own quartet, playing accordion and taking vocals; his group also included clarinet, guitar and bass. The swing-oriented combo became very popular during 1946-49. After the band ran its course, Mooney worked as a vocalist with the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, recorded with Johnny Smith in 1953, moved to Florida in 1954 and gradually switched to organ. Joe Mooney's Quartet recorded for Decca from 1946-47 and he also recorded for Carousel (two titles in 1951), Atlantic (1956) and Columbia (1963-65). Occasionally he would travel to New York for television work or to record, but he mostly worked in Florida, including at his club The Grate Joy. He died of a stroke in 1975 at the age of 64.

Second Time Around
Joe Mooney Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Love is lovelier the second time around
Just as wonderful with both feet on the ground
It's that second time you hear your love song sung
Makes you think perhaps that love, like youth, is wasted on the young
Love's more comfortable the second time you fall
Like a friendly home the second time you call
Who can say what brought us to this miracle we've found?
There are those who'll bet love comes but once, and yet

I'm oh, so glad we met the second time around
Who can say what brought us to this miracle we've found?

There are those who'll bet love comes but once, and yet
I'm oh, so glad we met the second time around

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Joe Mooney’s “Second Time Around” are about the unending beauty of love, even if it is experienced for the second or nth time around. The first line of the song, “Love is lovelier the second time around,” establishes the main and recurring theme of the song. The lyrics suggest that love, although experienced before or even lost, can still be as wonderful as with the first experience. The second line, “Just as wonderful with both feet on the ground,” suggests a more mature, stable and grounded kind of love, which is different from the intense, passionate love of youth.

The third and fourth lines of the song, “It's that second time you hear your love song sung, Makes you think perhaps that love, like youth, is wasted on the young,” imply a newfound appreciation of love, which comes after the hardships and heartaches of youth. The lines suggest that only after experiencing the pain of failed relationships do people learn to cherish and truly appreciate the essence of love. The next two lines, “Love's more comfortable the second time you fall, Like a friendly home the second time you call,” further emphasize the comfort and security of love that comes after the initial experience of heartbreak. Finally, the last two lines of the song, “There are those who'll bet love comes but once, and yet, I'm oh, so glad we met the second time around,” express the singer's realization that although many people cling to the idea that love only happens once, they are lucky to have met their love again for the second time.

Line by Line Meaning

Love is lovelier the second time around
Experiencing love again after heartbreak or disappointment can be more beautiful and appreciated.

Just as wonderful with both feet on the ground
Being grounded and realistic can enhance and make love even better the second time around.

It's that second time you hear your love song sung
Hearing a familiar love song again can trigger memories and emotions, making you appreciate the love more the second time around.

Makes you think perhaps that love, like youth, is wasted on the young
Having more life experience, you realize that young love may not have been fully appreciated or understood, but the second time around can be much more meaningful.

Love's more comfortable the second time you fall
After experiencing heartbreak, you may learn from past mistakes and be more comfortable and cautious in love the second time around.

Like a friendly home the second time you call
Finding comfort and familiarity in a relationship can be like returning to a cozy, welcoming home.

Who can say what brought us to this miracle we've found?
The beauty and mystery of love cannot always be explained or understood, but it should still be appreciated.

There are those who'll bet love comes but once, and yet
Some believe that true love only happens once in a lifetime, but there is hope that love can happen again and be just as great.

I'm oh, so glad we met the second time around
Finding love again can be a wonderful and joyous experience that should be cherished.

Who can say what brought us to this miracle we've found?
The beauty and mystery of love cannot always be explained or understood, but it should still be appreciated.

There are those who'll bet love comes but once, and yet
Some believe that true love only happens once in a lifetime, but there is hope that love can happen again and be just as great.

I'm oh, so glad we met the second time around
Finding love again can be a wonderful and joyous experience that should be cherished.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS