Like many other successful musicians from Chicago, he studied music at DuSable High School under Walter Dyett. Griffin, was reputed to be the 'World's Fastest Saxophonist' in the jazz idiom, though as he aged, and as the jazz audience declined, this accolade all but disappeared.
In the 1940s and 1950s he worked in Lionel Hampton's and Joe Morris's bands, in the Jazz Messengers, and in the Thelonious Monk Quartet. From 1960 to 1962 Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Griffin led their own group. Having felt he had achieved much in the USA, his pinnacle on record arguably the 1957 Blowin' session on the Blue Note label with fellow tenor John Coltrane, he moved to Europe. He lived in France in 1963, moving to the Netherlands in 1978, and he still continued to record and tour until his death in 2008.
Exactly Like You
Johnny Griffin Lyrics
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Not a real one, just a dream
A wonderful vision of us as a team
Can you imagine how I feel now
Love is real now, it's ideal
You're just what I wanted
And now it's nice to live
Paradise to live
I know why I've waited
Know why I've been blue
Prayed each night for someone
Exactly like you
Why should we spend money
On a show or two
No one does those love scenes
Exactly like you
You make me feel so grand
I want to hand the world to you
I hope you'll understand
Each foolish little scheme I'm schemin'
And dream I'm dreamin'
Now I know why mother
Taught me to be true
She meant me for someone
Exactly like you
The lyrics to Johnny Griffin's song Exactly Like You tell the story of a person who used to have the perfect sweetheart in their mind, a dreamy partner with whom they felt they could accomplish anything, but it was a path to get there. Now, however, they have found someone who fits this ideal image they had, someone who makes them feel happy and content, as though they are living in paradise. The person singing the song knows why they have waited, why they have been blue- it was because they were looking for someone who is exactly like their current partner.
The person singing the song goes on to question why anyone should spend money on movies or shows displaying love scenes, because nobody can do it as well as the person they love. They make the singer feel grand, as though they can achieve anything, and they want to give the world to this person in exchange. The person hopes their partner can understand each of their foolish little dreams and schemes, because they were meant to be with someone exactly like them- and this is why their mother had taught them to be true.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to have a perfect sweetheart
My dream was to have a perfect person in my life
Not a real one, just a dream
It was just a vision I had and never thought it will ever come true
A wonderful vision of us as a team
A beautiful picture of us together as a perfect couple
Can you imagine how I feel now
It's exactly how I imagined, and I'm feeling overwhelmed
Love is real now, it's ideal
Now, I finally found true love which meets my ideal characteristics
You're just what I wanted
You are what I always wished and hoped for
And now it's nice to live
My life feels complete and content now that I have you
Paradise to live
It feels like I am living in paradise with you
I know why I've waited
I understand now why I was single for so long
Know why I've been blue
I understand why I was feeling sad when I was alone
Prayed each night for someone
I used to pray every night for a partner who matches my dream
Exactly like you
And luckily, I found you who is exactly the same as I wished
Why should we spend money
I wonder why we need to spend money on movies or other entertainment
On a show or two
When our love story is better and unique than any movie we may watch
No one does those love scenes
No love story can match what we share right now
You make me feel so grand
I feel really great and special when I'm with you
I want to hand the world to you
I long to give you everything that you wish for
I hope you'll understand
I pray that you will understand my thoughts and feelings
Each foolish little scheme I'm schemin'
I know that some of my plans are silly, but I can't help daydreaming
And dream I'm dreamin'
I can't help but daydream about our future together
Now I know why mother
Finally, I understand why my mother used to advise me
Taught me to be true
She always taught me to be honest, genuine and loyal
She meant me for someone
She always prayed for me to find the right person
Exactly like you
And now, thankfully, I am blessed enough to have found you - the perfect match for me.
Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind