London's 35-year acting career began in films in 1944 and included playing opposite Gary Cooper in Man of the West (1958) and Robert Mitchum in The Wonderful Country (1959). She achieved continuing success in the TV medical drama Emergency! (1972–1979), co-starring her real-life husband, Bobby Troup, and produced by her ex-husband, Jack Webb, in which London played the female lead role of nurse Dixie McCall. She and Randolph Mantooth, who played one-half of her medical students, a paramedic, in the series, were very close to her family, until her death in 2000.
Born in Santa Rosa, California, she was the daughter of Jack and Josephine Peck, who were a vaudeville song-and-dance team. When she was fourteen the family moved to Los Angeles. Shortly after that, she began appearing in movies. She graduated from the Hollywood Professional High School in 1945.
London began singing under the name Gayle Peck in public in her teens before appearing in a film. She was discovered by talent agent Sue Carol (wife of actor Alan Ladd), while working as an elevator operator. Her early film career, however, did not include any singing roles.
London recorded 32 albums in a career that began in 1955 with a live performance at the 881 Club in Los Angeles. Billboard named her the most popular female vocalist for 1955, 1956, and 1957. She was the subject of a 1957 Life cover article in which she was quoted as saying, "It's only a thimbleful of a voice, and I have to use it close to the microphone. But it is a kind of oversmoked voice, and it automatically sounds intimate."
London's debut recordings were for the Bethlehem Records label. While shopping for a record deal, she recorded four tracks that would later be included on the compilation album Bethlehem's Girlfriends in 1955. Bobby Troup backed London on the album, for which London recorded the standards "Don't Worry About Me", "Motherless Child", "A Foggy Day", and "You're Blasé".
London's most famous single, "Cry Me a River", was written by her high-school classmate Arthur Hamilton and produced by Troup. The recording became a million-seller after its release in December 1955 and also sold on reissue in April 1983 from the attention brought by a Mari Wilson cover. London performed the song in the film The Girl Can't Help It (1956), and her recording gained later attention in the films Passion of Mind (2000) and V for Vendetta (2006). The song "Yummy Yummy Yummy" was featured on the HBO television series Six Feet Under and appears on its soundtrack album. London's "Must Be Catchin'" was featured in the 2011 premiere episode of the ABC series Pan Am. Her last recording was "My Funny Valentine" for the soundtrack of the Burt Reynolds film Sharky's Machine (1981).
Other popular singles include "Hot Toddy", "Daddy", and "Desafinado". Recordings such as "Go Slow" epitomized her career style: her voice is slow, smoky, and playfully sensual.
She was married to Jack Webb, of Dragnet fame. Her obvious beauty and self-poise (she was a pinup girl prized by GIs during World War II) contrasted with his pedestrian appearance and stiff-as-a-board acting technique (much parodied by impersonators). This unlikely pairing arose from his and her love for jazz; their marriage lasted from July 1947 to November 1953. They had two daughters, one who was killed in a traffic accident in the 1990s and one who survived London. In 1954, having become somewhat reclusive after her divorce from Jack Webb, she met jazz composer and musician Bobby Troup at a club on La Brea Blvd. They married on December 31, 1959 and remained married until Troup's death in February 1999. Together, they had one daughter and twin sons.
London suffered a stroke in 1995, and was in poor health until her death in Encino, California, at the age of seventy-four, survived by four of her five children. She died on18th October 2000, and was buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
As Time Goes By
Julie London Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A kiss is still a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by
And when two lovers woo
They still say I love you
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by
Moonlight and love songs never out of date
Hearts full of passion, jealousy and hate
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny
It's still the same old story
The fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by
It's still the same old story
The fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by
The song "As Time Goes By" by Julie London is all about the passage of time and how certain fundamental things remain the same despite changing circumstances. The lyrics begin by reminding listeners that no matter what happens in the world, a kiss is still just a kiss and a sigh is still just a sigh. These are the fundamental things that everyone can rely on, in a world that is otherwise constantly changing.
The song then delves into the topic of love and how it is a constant throughout time. The lyrics suggest that when two people fall in love, they will always say "I love you" to each other, no matter what happens in the future. And while things like moonlight and love songs may seem old-fashioned, they never truly go out of style. Even as people experience emotions like passion, jealousy, and hate, the need for love and companionship remains a constant in human lives.
The song ends on a note of hope, suggesting that no matter what happens in the world, there will always be room for love and lovers. It is a message that suggests even in times of turmoil, people can find solace and happiness in the embrace of someone they love.
Line by Line Meaning
You must remember this
It's important to remember what I'm about to say.
A kiss is still a kiss
No matter how time changes, a kiss still means the same thing.
A sigh is just a sigh
Everyone sighs, it's just a natural part of life and love.
The fundamental things apply
The basic feelings and actions of love still apply in every generation.
As time goes by
Even though time changes things, the core elements of love remain the same.
And when two lovers woo
When two people court each other in love...
They still say I love you
...they still express their love.
On that you can rely
You can always depend on the expression of love in a relationship.
No matter what the future brings
Regardless of what challenges the future holds...
As time goes by
...the fundamental things will still be there to carry a relationship through.
Moonlight and love songs never out of date
Romantic music and moonlit nights will always be a part of love stories.
Hearts full of passion, jealousy and hate
Emotions like passion, jealousy, and hate still exist in every generation and influence love.
Woman needs man
Women still have a natural desire for the companionship of men.
And man must have his mate
Men also have a natural desire to find their lifelong partner.
That no one can deny
This is an undeniable aspect of human nature.
It's still the same old story
This concept of love is a timeless tale.
The fight for love and glory
The pursuit of love and the desire for greatness remains a human desire.
A case of do or die
Success in love often feels like a matter of life and death.
The world will always welcome lovers
Regardless of time or circumstance, society will always be accepting of lovers.
As time goes by
Love remains a constant even as the world changes around it.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Herman Hupfeld
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind