In a career which spanned half a century, he worked in these capacities for such artists as Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Sarah Vaughan, Stan Kenton, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Linda Ronstadt, Stan Getz, Sammy Davis Jr, Michael Jackson, Art Pepper, and a hundred others.
However, his name is essentially unknown outside professional circles. He took little interest in self-promotion, never acquired a personal agent, happily saw his business affairs managed by his capable first wife, Huddy, and as soon as finances permitted decamped Los Angeles for a ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley north of Santa Barbara. There, he engaged his twin fantasies of riding horses and operating a private museum devoted to the saddles, books, rifles and guns of the American west. For a boy raised in urban Oakland California, this was a charmed leap.
(Wikipedia)
Just in Time
Marty Paich Lyrics
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Life was serene, I knew where I was at
"There's no hope for him," my dearest friends would mutter
I was something dragged in by the cat. Then
Just in time, I found you just in time
Before you came my time was running low
I was lost, the losing dice were tossed
Now you're here and now I know just where I'm going
No more doubt or fear, I found my way
For love came just in time, you found me just in time
And changed my lonely life that lovely day
The lyrics to Marty Paich’s song “Just in Time” tell a story of redemption and newfound love. The singer describes a time when they were down on their luck and seemingly without hope, face-down in the gutter and with no clear direction in life. Despite the pessimistic attitudes of those around them, the singer ultimately finds salvation through the love of another person just in the nick of time. The arrival of this new love is painted as a true turning point in the singer’s life, marking the start of a brand new chapter where doubt and fear have no place.
The song’s narrative of salvation through love is a common theme in popular music, but Paich’s lyrics stand out for their vivid and quirky imagery. The opening line, “I was resting comfortably, face down in the gutter” sets a tongue-in-cheek tone that’s maintained throughout the song. Even as the singer describes their hopeless situation, there’s a sense of wry humor that keeps things from feeling too bleak. The line “I was something dragged in by the cat” is a particular standout, painting a vivid picture of a beaten-down and bedraggled individual. Overall, “Just in Time” tells a classic story of love and redemption, but does so with a unique voice that sets it apart from other songs of its genre.
Line by Line Meaning
I was resting comfortably, face down in the gutter
I had hit rock bottom and accepted my fate in hopelessness
Life was serene, I knew where I was at
I was satisfied with my miserable existence
"There's no hope for him," my dearest friends would mutter
My friends had given up on me and believed I was a lost cause
I was something dragged in by the cat. Then
I was unworthy, weak, and at the mercy of fate until something changed
Just in time, I found you just in time
I found hope in a person who entered my life at the perfect moment
Before you came my time was running low
I was on the brink of losing all hope and giving up
I was lost, the losing dice were tossed
I was in a losing position, all chances of success were gone
My bridges all were crossed, nowhere to go
I had exhausted all options for a better life, no opportunities available
Now you're here and now I know just where I'm going
With the new person in my life, I am more confident and have direction
No more doubt or fear, I found my way
My doubts and fears have been replaced with hope and a sense of purpose
For love came just in time, you found me just in time
Love rescued me from a life of despair and gave me hope
And changed my lonely life that lovely day
My life has been transformed for the better ever since that day
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jule Styne, Adolph Green, Betty Comden
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind