He began playing the accordion at age 3, and appeared on the radio program Hobby Lobby at age seven.
His composition "Little Bird" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1963 (a minor hit on Fred Astaire's Ava label), and he formed the Pete Jolly Trio in 1964. With the Trio, and also as a solo artist, he recorded several albums, the last being in 2000, a collaboration with Swedish jazz pianist Jan Lundgren. He also worked with other notable jazz artists, including Buddy DeFranco, Art Pepper, and Red Norvo, and for many years with EZ music arranger and director Ray Conniff.
Jolly's music can be heard on television programs such as Get Smart, The Love Boat, I Spy, Mannix, M*A*S*H, and Dallas, as well as hundreds of movie soundtracks.
He died in Pasadena, California, from complications of bone marrow cancer, having been hospitalized from August to November, 2004.
On Green Dolphin Street
Pete Jolly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A man, a maid, a kiss, and then goodbye
Romance was the theme
And we were the players
I never think of this without a sigh
Lover, one lovely day
Love came, planning to stay Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
When I recall the love I found on
I could kiss the ground on Green Dolphin Street
Lover, one lovely day
Love came, planning to stay
Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
When I recall the love I found on
On Green Dolphin Street
The lyrics to Pete Jolly's song, On Green Dolphin Street, describe a bittersweet memory of a romantic encounter that took place on the titular street. The singer confesses that the experience seems almost like a dream, yet they know it actually happened. They were the players in a romantic drama that took place on the street, and despite the fact that it ended with a kiss goodbye, the singer cannot help but sigh when they remember it. The second verse repeats the same sentiment, with the addition of the idea that memories of the experience live on in the singer's heart, and that they could "kiss the ground" where it took place.
The lyrics to this song are undoubtedly romantic, but there is also an undercurrent of sadness to them. The repeated mention of memories living on serves as a reminder that the moment is now past, and can never be recreated. It is also notable that the singer is the only character mentioned in the song - there is no direct reference to the person they shared the experience with. This could be interpreted as implying that the singer is left alone with their memories, unable to share the moment with anyone else.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems like a dream, yet I know it happened
Despite feeling like a distant memory, I know for certain that it did occur.
A man, a maid, a kiss, and then goodbye
Two people shared a brief but passionate romance before parting ways.
Romance was the theme
Love and romance were at the center of this short-lived relationship.
And we were the players
The two individuals involved were the main characters in this love story.
I never think of this without a sigh
The memory of this love affair always elicits a sense of longing and sadness.
Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The titular street served as the backdrop for this brief but intense love affair.
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
The events that took place on Green Dolphin Street were so unforgettable that they existed in the lovers' memories forever.
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
Even when the two parted ways, the memories of their time together on Green Dolphin Street remained in their hearts.
When I recall the love I found on
The mere thought of Green Dolphin Street triggers a flood of memories of the love affair that took place there.
I could kiss the ground on Green Dolphin Street
The artist feels such a profound connection to the memories of their time on Green Dolphin Street that they feel compelled to physically express their affection for the location.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC., BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRONISLAW KAPER, NED WASHINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind