Gary was considered by many to be one of the best crooners due to his extaordinary breath control and tonal quality of his voice. He had an exceptionally wide range of three octaves.
Gary was a stylized singer, who recorded 23 albums for RCA Victor Records. His singing ranged from robust baritone to a high sweet tenor often in the same song. Most popular songs of their time - suited to his intimate style - and they were among his recordings.
Gary sang in movies, on Broadway, had his own television show, and appeared at Carnegie Hall, with numerous symphonies. He appeared 30 times as a guest on the The Tonight Show with Jack Parr, Steve Allen and Johnny Carson. He traveled across the U.S. and Canada with approximately 40 concerts per year. For six years he gave Community concerts in over 400 cities and towns.
Considered handsome, personable, and very talented, Gary never quite became a household name. Possibly because his wide range was difficult for fans to sing along to; also his career peaked at the same time as the Beatles, whose unique popularity displaced the works of many artists of the time.
Gary was sometimes called the singer's singer because only another singer could fully appreciate what he was able to do with his voice. Most crooners were able to sing sweetly within a limited range, but Gary was able to carry what is known as a mezza voce up to beyond the staff. What often sounded like falsetto was almost always a legitimate tone.
One of his other talents was his seemingly endless supply of breath (no doubt aided by the fact Gary held several underwater swimming records). In addition to his impeccable phrasing, he artfully shaded words to convey the emotional content of the song. He was a crossover artist before the term was invented, and his 400 community concerts brought pop music to the concert stage. In 1960 he joined ASCAP and composed several popular songs. RCA has reissued some of his recordings and classy 92 track box is now available on the Collectables label.
Small World
John Gary Lyrics
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Come from another town
Funny, I'm a stranger myself here
Small world, isn't it?
Funny, you're a man who goes traveling
Rather than settling down
Funny, 'cause I'd love to go traveling
We have so much in common
It's a phenomenon
We could pool our resources
By joining forces from now on
Lucky, you're a man who likes children
That's an important sign
Lucky, I'm a woman with children
Small world, isn't it?
Funny, isn't it small and funny and fine?
We have so much in common
It's a phenomenon
We could pool our resources
By joining forces from now on
Lucky, you're a man who likes children
That's an important sign
Lucky, you're a woman with children
Small world, isn't it? Funny, isn't it
Isn't it small and funny and fine?
The song "Small World" by John Gary is about two strangers meeting and realizing they have many things in common. The first verse sets the scene with both the man and the woman being strangers in a new town. The second verse adds another layer to the similarities when the man is revealed to be a traveler while the woman wants to travel. The chorus highlights the fact that they have so much in common and can pool their resources by joining forces.
The third and final verse adds a more significant connection between the two as the man is revealed to like children and the woman has children. This leads to the conclusion that they are lucky to have met and that it's a small world after all. The song celebrates the idea that even in a vast world, two strangers can still find commonality and potentially build a life together.
The lyrics of "Small World" are simple, but the message is clear and relatable. It speaks to the idea that no matter how far apart we may seem, we are all connected in some way. It also champions the importance of finding commonality with others, as it can lead to powerful connections and collaborations.
Line by Line Meaning
Funny, you're a stranger who's come here
It's amusing that you're someone I've never met before who's come to this place.
Come from another town
You've come from a different location.
Funny, I'm a stranger myself here
It's ironic that I'm also unfamiliar with this location.
Small world, isn't it?
It's surprising how we've both ended up in this same small place.
Funny, you're a man who goes traveling
It's interesting that you prefer to travel rather than stay in one place.
Rather than settling down
You don't want to stay in one place for too long.
Funny, 'cause I'd love to go traveling
It's ironic because I also have a desire to travel.
We have so much in common
We share many similarities.
It's a phenomenon
It's surprising or remarkable.
We could pool our resources
We could combine our assets or skills.
By joining forces from now on
Together we could work as a team from this point forward.
Lucky, you're a man who likes children
Fortunate for me, you enjoy being around kids.
That's an important sign
It indicates something significant, like compatibility or a shared interest.
Lucky, I'm a woman with children
It's fortunate that I have kids, which you seem to like.
Isn't it small and funny and fine?
It's amusing how our lives have converged in this way, and it's something to appreciate.
Funny, isn't it small and funny and fine?
It's amusing how small and interconnected our world can be, and it's something to appreciate.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JULE STYNE, STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind