note the spelling Willson ... www.last.fm/music/Meredith+Willson
Born Robert Meredith Reiniger in Mason City, Iowa, Willson attended Damrosch Institute (later The Juilliard School) in New York City. A flute and piccolo player, Willson was a member of John Philip Sousa's band (1921 - 1923) and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini (1924 - 1929). Willson then moved to San Francisco, California as the concert director for KFRC, and then as a musical director for the NBC radio network in Hollywood.
His work for films included the music for Charlie Chaplin's 1940 film The Great Dictator, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. During World War II, he worked for the United States' Armed Forces Radio Service. His work with the AFRS teamed him with George Burns, Gracie Allen and Bill Goodwin. (He would work with all three as the bandleader, and a regular character, on the Burns and Allen radio program.) Returning to network radio after WWII, he created the Talking People, a choral group which spoke in unison while delivering radio commercials.
Willson's most famous work, The Music Man, premiered on Broadway in 1957 and was adapted twice for film (in 1962 and 2003). He referred to the play as "an Iowan's attempt to pay tribute to his home state." It took Willson some eight years and thirty revisions to complete the musical, for which he wrote more than forty songs. The cast recording of The Music Man won the very first Grammy award ever issued.
His second musical, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, ran on Broadway for 532 performances from 1960 to 1962 and was made into a 1964 motion picture starring Debbie Reynolds.
His third (and apparently last) musical was an adaptation of the film Miracle On 34th Street, called Here's Love! (1963).
His Symphony No. 1 In F Minor, A Symphony Of San Francisco, and Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Missions Of California, were recorded in 1999 by William T. Stromberg conducting the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra.
Willson penned a number of very well-known songs, such as "Seventy-Six Trombones," "Gary Indiana," "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas," and even "Till There Was You," which was a hit for the Beatles in 1963. He also wrote the University of Iowa's fight song.
In general, it was recognized that Willson wrote surprisingly well-crafted, complex, and subtle music that classical music fans could appreciate, with intricate and sometimes startling counterpoint, well-crafted melody, and subtle orchestration, all while still appealing to mass audiences.
Willson and his wife lived for years in the Mandeville Canyon section of Brentwood, California. In the 1960s, Willson was fondly remembered by friends and neighbors as a warm and gregarious host who loved nothing more than to play the piano and sing at numerous parties. Willson often gave out autographed copies of his record album, Meredith Willson Sings Songs from The Music Man.
Goodnight my Someone
Meredith Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goodnight, my someone,
Goodnight, my love,
Sleep tight, my someone,
Sleep tight, my love,
Our star is shining it's brightest light
For goodnight, my love, for goodnight.
Sweet dreams be yours, dear,
Sweet dreams to carry you close to me.
I wish they may and I wish they might
Now goodnight, my someone, goodnight
True love can be whispered from heart to heart
When lovers are parted they say
But I must depend on a wish and a star
As long as my heart doesn't know who you are.
Sweet dreams be yours dear,
If dreams there be
Sweet dreams to carry you close to me.
I wish they may and I wish they might
Now goodnight, my someone, goodnight.
Goodnight,
Goodnight.
The lyrics of Meredith Willson's song "Goodnight My Someone" are a touching and sentimental expression of love and longing. The song is sung by the character Marian, who is the librarian in the musical "The Music Man". The song begins with Marian bidding goodnight to her love, telling him to sleep tight and that she hopes his dreams will bring him close to her. She wishes upon a star for their love to be reunited, but acknowledges the distance between them.
The lyrics are full of hope and tenderness as Marian expresses her love and desire for her partner. She believes that true love can be communicated silently, through a whisper from heart to heart. Even though Marian and her love are separated, she holds onto the hope that their dreams will bring them closer. The song is a testament to the enduring power of love and the strength of the human heart.
Overall, "Goodnight My Someone" is a beautifully written and emotional song that captures the essence of love and longing. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, and the melody is nostalgic and haunting. It is no wonder that the song has become a classic and continues to be loved by generations.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodnight, my someone,
As I prepare to lay myself down for the night, a coded message of affection is conveyed to someone special.
Goodnight, my love,
This salutation is reserved for someone for whom my romantic affection burns strongest.
Sleep tight, my someone,
May rest come easily and doubts dissipate for the person of my affections.
Sleep tight, my love,
A sincere hope carries through these words that the one for whom I hold the strongest romantic feelings will slip into sweet slumber with ease and with heart untroubled.
Our star is shining it's brightest light
This starry night illuminates a love so strong and deep that it seems to glow in the heavens for all to see and be amazed.
For goodnight, my love, for goodnight.
This goodnight expresses affection, longing, and a heart already missing the one for whom the message is intended.
Sweet dreams be yours, dear,
These words are a sincere wish that the person receiving the message will journey to mental vistas that are serene and pleasant this night and always.
If dreams there be
This line is a suggestion that even when slumber is not captivated by dreamscapes, resting hearts and souls can still mingle and find joy in each other's company.
Sweet dreams to carry you close to me.
This is an earnest plea that dreams of the person sending the message will find their way to the recipient, making them feel close and wrapped in love.
I wish they may and I wish they might
This is a hope and desire so keenly felt that one fervently wishes upon every star in the night sky, that the message will be received and the recipient will feel the love intended.
Now goodnight, my someone, goodnight
This final goodbye carries a strong message of affection and eager anticipation of the future when the two lovers can be reunited.
Goodnight,
This one word carries all the affection and passion of the message that came before it. It is a final communication with the recipient before sleep and the void until the dawning of a new day.
Contributed by Lily O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Margaret Whang
So beautiful voice
I love duet. ❤️