Wiley was born in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. While still in her early teens, she left home to pursue a singing career with the Leo Reisman band. Her career was temporarily interrupted by a fall while horseback riding. Wiley suffered temporary blindness, but recovered, and at the age of 19 was back with Reisman again, with whom she recorded three songs: "Take It From Me," "Time On My Hands," and her own composition, "Got The South In My Soul." She sang with Paul Whiteman and later, the Casa Loma Orchestra. A collaboration with composer Victor Young resulted in several songs for which Wiley wrote the lyrics, including "Got The South in My Soul" and "Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere," the latter an R&B hit in the 1950s.
In 1939, Wiley recorded eight Gershwin songs on 78s with a small group for Liberty Music Shops. The set sold well and was followed by 78s dedicated to the music of Cole Porter (1940) and Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart (1940 and 1954), Harold Arlen (1943), and 10" LPs dedicated to the music of Vincent Youmans and Irving Berlin (1951). The players on these recordings included Bunny Berigan, Bud Freeman, Max Kaminsky, Fats Waller, Billy Butterfield, Bobby Hackett, Eddie Condon, Stan Freeman, Cy Walter, and the bandleader Jess Stacy, to whom Wiley was married for a number of years. These influential albums launched the concept of a "songbook" (often featuring lesser-known songs), which was later widely imitated by other singers.
Wiley's career made a resurgence in 1950 with the much admired ten-inch album Night in Manhattan. In 1954, she opened the very first Newport Jazz Festival accompanied by Bobby Hackett. Later in the decade she recorded two of her finest albums, West of the Moon (1956) and A Touch of the Blues (1957). In the 1960s, Wiley retired, although she acted in a 1963 television film, Something About Lee Wiley, which told her life story. The film stimulated interest in the singer. Her last public appearance was a concert in Carnegie Hall in 1972 as part of the New York Jazz Festival, where she was enthusiastically received.
The Man I Love
Lee Wiley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every night I dream a little dream
And of course Prince Charming is the theme
The he, for me.
Although I realize as well as you
It is seldom that a dream comes true,
To me it's clear
That he'll appear.
Some day he'll come along, the man I love
And he'll be big and strong, the man I love
And when he comes my way,
I'll do my best to make him stay.
He'll look at me and smile, I'll understand
And in a little while, he'll take my hand
And though it seems absurd
I know we both won't say a word.
Maybe I shall meet him Sunday,
Maybe Monday, maybe not
Still I'm sure to meet him one day
Maybe Tuesday will be my good news day.
He'll build a little home just meant for two
From which I'll never roam, who would? would you?
And so, all else above,
I'm waiting for the man I love.
Lee Wiley's song "The Man I Love" talks about the singer's longing for her perfect partner, the man of her dreams. She begins by mentioning how she dreams every night of a man that fits the description of her Prince Charming, but also acknowledges that dreams are rarely fulfilled. Regardless of this, she is convinced that her man is out there somewhere, and that someday he will come along.
The singer's description of this perfect man is idealistic in nature. She dreams of a man who is big and strong and makes her feel like she is the only one in the world. She is convinced that when he comes into her life, she will know it immediately. She describes a scenario where they will probably not say much when they meet, but they will understand each other perfectly. The lyrics are optimistic and full of hope, capturing the romantic ideals that many people hold dear.
However, the song is also tinged with an underlying sadness. The singer is wistful and somewhat melancholic as she waits and dreams of this perfect man. The theme of waiting and hoping for someone to come along is a common one in many love songs, and this one is no different. Lee Wiley's voice is full of emotion and longing, capturing the sense of yearning that many people feel when they are looking for love.
Line by Line Meaning
When the mellow moon begins to beam
Every night when the moon shines, I start dreaming.
Every night I dream a little dream
I fantasize about meeting my ideal man every night.
And of course Prince Charming is the theme
My dreams revolve around finding my perfect partner.
The he, for me.
The man who is meant to be with me.
Although I realize as well as you
I know as well as anyone that dreams do not always come true.
It is seldom that a dream comes true,
It is rare for dreams to come true.
To me it's clear
But I believe that my dream will come true.
that he'll appear.
That the man I have always imagined will show up in my life.
Some day he'll come along, the man I love
One day, the man who will be my life partner will appear.
And he'll be big and strong, the man I love
He will be the kind of man who is tough and that I can lean on.
And when he comes my way,
When he arrives in my life.
I'll do my best to make him stay.
I am willing to do everything to make him stick to me.
He'll look at me and smile, I'll understand
I will know, even without words, that he likes and accepts me.
And in a little while, he'll take my hand
Soon after, he will hold my hand, signaling his intention to be with me.
And though it seems absurd
Although it looks too good to be true.
I know we both won't say a word.
We will not have to say anything because we both know immediately that we are meant to be together.
Maybe I shall meet him Sunday,
Perhaps I will encounter him one Sunday.
Maybe Monday, maybe not
It might as well be on a Monday, or maybe not.
Still I'm sure to meet him one day
But without a doubt, I will meet him one day.
Maybe Tuesday will be my good news day.
Or it could be Tuesday when that momentous event unfolds.
He'll build a little home just meant for two
Together, we will make a cozy and intimate abode.
From which I'll never roam, who would? would you?
I won't ever leave that home, and I doubt that he would either. Would you?
And so, all else above,
Above any other desire, what I want is for us to be together.
I'm waiting for the man I love.
Thus, I'm patiently waiting for the man I love to come and make my dreams a reality.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@catman916
This is a very fine version of this classic song by a singer who deserves more recognition.
@CarloQuinto
Fantastic! Beautiful voice and a real understanding of the lyrics! Great interpretation! I wish that women singers today would emulate that great style
@bigguy43055
This just gives me goosebumps! Truly amazing.
@barbcard
One of my favorite, albeit sad, songs. Gershwin always reminds me of one of my uncles, a very talented man who always played Gershwin on whatever piano was available. I miss him but did publish a story about him a few years ago.
@Corrie121
I just love this rendition of this Gershwin classic. It is just beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
@bigcity233
This is one of the great recordings of this Gershwin song.
@user-nu9ht9ve4x
In 2023..
So many beautiful performances TILL now..
Luckilly..
But..
"The Man I Love".. STILL sounds like Lee only to me.. ❣️
@CarloQuinto
Great Song! Great interpretation!
@peterpiece2102
Ohh, this is majestic version. I never heard about this edition.. I'm glad.
@CarloQuinto
EXQUISITE! A true star!