He was born Joseph Goreed in Cordele, Georgia and moved to Chicago as a child. He was raised by his mother and grandmother. He grew on the south side of Chicago, surrounded by jazz, blues, and gospel music. In the 1930s, as a teenager, he was a member of "The Jubilee Boys" and performed in Chicago churches.
He worked as a singer and bouncer in Chicago in the late 1930s and early 1940s. In 1943, he was hired by the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. He toured with Hampton for several years but never achieved breakthrough success.
He rose to national prominence as the singer for Count Basie's Orchestra in 1954. He remained with Basie for several years. "Everyday I have the Blues" is his biggest hit.
After leaving the Basie band, Williams continued to have a successful career working with his own jazz combo. He and Basie remained on good terms and he would regularly appear with the band.
Bill Cosby cast Williams as his father-in-law "Grandpa Al" Hanks in a recurring role on the 1980s sit-com The Cosby Show.
Williams enjoyed a successful career and worked regularly until his death. He died at age 80, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Joe Williams shares a birthday with Frank Sinatra who was also born Dec. 12, three years before Williams
The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else
Joe Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all my daydreams have gone astray
I think about the one and only
Who's bound to find me some golden day
The one I love is coming along some day
And I'll have none except the one I love
He/She may be near or ever so far away
And though our meeting is left to chance
Until our meeting
I still will have my dream romance
And through the night I pray to the moon above
To please be kind and find the one I love
The lyrics to "The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else" convey a sentiment of longing and hope for a future with the person one loves. The singer describes the loneliness they feel during long days and nights, when their daydreams seem to have gone astray. However, they hold on to the belief that the one they love will eventually come into their life, bringing them happiness and fulfillment.
Despite not knowing when or where they will meet, the singer remains steadfast in their conviction that they will have no one else but the one they love. The distance between them is acknowledged, but it doesn't deter their faith in a future together. The singer continues to cherish their dream romance, even in the absence of physical proximity. They seek solace in their prayers to the moon, hoping for its kindness in bringing their loved one closer.
Overall, the lyrics capture the bittersweet yearning of someone who is deeply in love, patiently waiting for their beloved to enter their life and fulfill their emotional desires.
Line by Line Meaning
When days are long and nights are lonely
During times of solitude and darkness
And all my daydreams have gone astray
When my fantasies have turned into disappointments
I think about the one and only
I contemplate the person who holds a special place in my heart
Who's bound to find me some golden day
Someone who is certain to bring happiness into my life someday
The one I love is coming along some day
My beloved will arrive at some point in time
And I'll have none except the one I love
I will not settle for anyone but the person I deeply love
He/She may be near or ever so far away
They could be in close proximity or distance doesn't matter
But I'll have none except the one I love
I won't accept anyone else as my partner
And though our meeting is left to chance
Although the circumstances of our encounter are uncertain
Until our meeting
Until the moment we cross paths
I still will have my dream romance
I will continue to hold onto my idealized love story
And through the night I pray to the moon above
During the nighttime, I express my hopes and desires to the moon
To please be kind and find the one I love
Requesting the moon's kindness in helping me discover my true love
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bronislaw Kaper, Gus Kahn, Walter Jurmann
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind