Raitt was born in Santa Ana, California. He got his start in theatre as a high school student at Fullerton High School in Fullerton, California. While there, he played in several drama productions in the Plummer Auditorium. Raitt sang in the chorus of "Desert Song." A few years before he died, Raitt once again came back to the Plummer to see a rehearsal, visit students and recollect his beginnings. He is on the school's "Hall of Fame" for his accomplishments.
He is best known for his stage roles in the musicals Carousel, Oklahoma!, The Pajama Game, Carnival in Flanders, Three Wishes for Jamie, and A Joyful Noise, in which he set the standard for virile, handsome, strong-voiced leading men during the golden age of the Broadway musical. His only leading film role was in the 1957 movie version of The Pajama Game opposite Doris Day.
On television, he was seen many times on the Bell Telephone Hour. A clip of a television performance of Raitt singing the final section of the song "Soliloquy" from Carousel is included in the documentary film Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There. In 1957, also for television, he and Mary Martin re-created their starring roles in the national touring version of Annie Get Your Gun.
In addition, Raitt made several studio cast recordings of Broadway musicals, including Oklahoma! (as Curly), and Show Boat (as Gaylord Ravenal).
In 1945, John Raitt was one of the recipients of the first Theatre World Award for his debut performance in Carousel. In 1965, he starred in the twentieth-anniversary production of the show at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
In 1981, he found out that his high school sweetheart was widowed. Having recently divorced from his second wife, he phoned her. "Having played Zorba, I believe in grabbing at life," he recalled. "So I called her and this sweet voice answered. 'I'm free now,' I told her, 'and I'm coming to dinner.' They married.
He died on February 20, 2005, at his home in Pacific Palisades, California, from complications due to pneumonia, aged 88. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre.
He was the father of singer Bonnie Raitt, and former father-in-law of Michael O'Keefe. He was the grandfather of Bay Raitt, the creator of Gollum's face for the The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
I wonder as I wander
John Raitt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on'ry people like you and like I
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God's angels in heaven for to sing,
He surely could have it, 'cause he was the King.
John Raitt's "I Wonder As I Wander" is a Christmas carol which invokes the spirit of Jesus Christ's birth, life, and sacrifice. The first verse describes the beauty of the sky and how it leads the singer to ponder about Jesus' life and the circumstances that led to his death. The second verse shifts focus to the night of his birth, in which Jesus was born humbly in a cow's stall, among farmers and shepherds. Yet, his birth was marked by a star from heaven, which symbolized the start of a new era, one which would bring salvation to the world. The third verse expresses the idea that Jesus had the power to have anything he wanted, including a star in the sky, a bird on the wing, or all of God's angels singing in heaven, yet chose to give his life for the poor and oppressed.
Overall, "I Wonder As I Wander" invites the listener to reflect on the mysteries and wonders of Jesus' life and the significance of his sacrifice. It celebrates the beauty of Christmas and reminds us that, despite his royal status, Jesus was a humble figure who identified with the poor and the marginalized.
Line by Line Meaning
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
I ponder as I stroll beneath the open space,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
The reason why Jesus, the redeemer, came to perish.
For poor on'ry people like you and like I
For folks who are wretched and downtrodden, similar to you and me.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
I continue to muse while walking in the vast expanse.
When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall,
When Mary gave birth to Jesus it occurred in a manger.
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
Accompanied by intelligent people, farmers, and shepherds alike.
But high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,
However, a star's radiance descended from the heavens above,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.
Prompted recollection of the pledge from times of yore.
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
Provided that Jesus longed for anything small,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Be it celestial illumination or airborne fauna,
Or all of God's angels in heaven for to sing,
Or the entirety of the divine angels to commence harmony,
He surely could have it, 'cause he was the King.
He would undoubtedly obtain it, for he was the ruler.
Lyrics © BARRY WALSH MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: JOHN NILES, BARRY WALSH, GRETCHEN PETERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind