He was born in San Piero Patti, Sicily. His family emigrated to the United States in 1920 and settled in Santa Rosa, California. He started his musical career playing the baritone, like his father, but he quickly branched out into other instruments, notably the French horn and the piano. He received a bachelor's degree from San Francisco State College, and then studied composition with Darius Milhaud at Mills College in Oakland, California.
After he graduated, he was hired as an arranger and composer by guitarist and bandleader Johnny Richards. He spent World War II playing with Paul Desmond in an army band.
After WWII Rugolo went to work for Stan Kenton who headed one of the most progressive big bands of the time. Rugolo provided arrangements and original compositions that drew on his knowledge of 20th century music, sometimes blurring the boundaries between the ballroom and the concert hall.
While Rugolo continued to work occasionally with Kenton in the 1950s, he spent more time creating arrangements for pop vocalists, including June Christy, Peggy Lee and the Four Freshmen. During this period he also worked for a while on musicals at MGM, and served as an A&R director for Mercury Records in the late 1950s. Among his many albums were Adventures In Rhythm, Introducing Pete Rugolo, Rugolomania, Reeds In Hi-Fi and Music For Hi-Fi Bugs.
Dream Of You
Pete Rugolo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are too wonderful to be what you seem!
Could there be eyes like yours,
Could there be lips like yours
Could there be smiles like yours,
Honest and truly?
You stepped out of a cloud
I want to take you away, away from the crowd
Alone and apart out of a dream,
Safe in my heart
You stepped out of a dream
You are too wonderful to be what you seem!
Could there be eyes like yours,
Could there be lips like yours
Could there be smiles like yours,
Honest and truly?
You stepped out of a cloud
I want to take you away, away from the crowd
And have you all to myself,
Alone and apart out of a dream,
Safe in my heart
The lyrics of Pete Rugolo's song "Dream Of You" convey the feeling of being swept off one's feet by an enchanting person who seems too good to be true. The singer marvels at the beauty of this person's eyes, lips, and smiles, finding it hard to believe that someone so wonderful could exist. It's as though the object of the singer's affection has stepped out of a dream, and the singer desires to take them away from the surrounding crowd and keep them safe in their heart.
The romantic theme of the song is enhanced by the dreamlike quality of the lyrics, which use the metaphorical imagery of clouds and dreams to convey a sense of otherworldly enchantment. The song speaks to the desire for a deep, meaningful connection with someone who seems too perfect to be real, and it resonates with anyone who has experienced the dizzying rush of falling in love.
Overall, "Dream Of You" is a song that captures the intense emotions of infatuation and longing, expressing them in a way that is both poetic and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
You stepped out of a dream
You appeared before me like a dream come true
You are too wonderful to be what you seem!
You possess qualities that surpass what one might expect
Could there be eyes like yours,
Is it possible for anyone to have such beautiful eyes?
Could there be lips like yours
Can anyone have lips as lovely as yours?
Could there be smiles like yours,
Are there any smiles that can compare to yours?
Honest and truly?
Are these qualities genuine and true?
You stepped out of a cloud
You emerged before me like the sun breaking through clouds
I want to take you away, away from the crowd
I desire to be alone with you and away from distractions
And have you all to myself,
I want to have you exclusively for myself
Alone and apart out of a dream,
Together, just the two of us, in a world that feels unreal
Safe in my heart
Where I can protect and cherish you forever
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: GUS KAHN, NACIO HERB BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind