Noble played the piano but seldom did so with his orchestra. In a movie short from the 1940s featuring Ray Noble and Buddy Clark (one of his most popular band singers), Ray Noble is asked by the announcer to play one of his most popular hits. He sits down at the piano and plays "Goodnight Sweetheart" ("Goodnight sweetheart, 'til we meet tomorrow. Goodnight sweetheart, parting is such sorrow"). This is the song that once seemed to be played at the end of every high school and college prom, the end of every party featuring live music, and the last song played by a dance band to signal the end of the evening.
Although Noble was no singer, he did appear twice as an upper crust Englishmen on two of his more popular New York records, 1935's Top Hat and 1937's Slumming on Park Avenue.
Noble and Bowlly's 1934 recording of "Midnight, the Stars and You" was prominently featured on the soundtrack of Stanley Kubrick's film The Shining in 1980.
It's All Forgotten Now
Ray Noble and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it's all over now
You used to whisper little things to set me aglow
But it's all over now
I listened to you tell me little white lies
Never thought you meant to deceive
Whoever would have doubted those innocent eyes
Remember how I planned a little home by a stream
Where we'd spend every day
You must have thought me crazy when I painted that dream
Cause you threw it away
I kinda wish that things would be different
Have a happy ending somehow
But I guess you only took me for a ride in the dark
And it's all over now
Remember how I planned a little home by a stream
Where we'd spend every day
You must have thought me crazy when I painted that dream
Cause you threw it away
I kinda wish that things would be different
Have a happy ending somehow
But I guess you only took me for a ride in the dark
And it's all, it's all over now
In Ray Noble and His Orchestra’s song “It’s All Forgotten Now,” the lyrics express the disappointment and heartbreak of a failed relationship. The first two lines suggest that the couple used to enjoy being close and intimate with each other, but it is all in the past now. The following lines reveal that the singer enjoyed when their partner whispered sweet things to them, but now it is clear that those words were insincere. Despite being deceived, the singer never suspected their partner of dishonesty, and believed every kiss and touch, leading to a dream of a happy future together.
The next verse describes a future that they had once planned together, hoping for a simple and peaceful existence by a stream. But that dream was shattered when their partner threw it all away. Despite the disappointment, the singer still longs for a happy resolution with their partner, but they understand that it is a lost cause. The final line suggests that the singer feels like they were taken on a ride, a journey of love that ultimately led to heartbreak.
Overall, the song “It’s All Forgotten Now” captures the betrayal and disappointment that can come with love, as well as the fleeting nature of happiness and dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to love to hold you when the lights were down low
I enjoyed holding you in intimate moments
But it's all over now
Our relationship has ended
You used to whisper little things to set me aglow
You would say sweet nothings that made me feel special
I listened to you tell me little white lies
I believed your lies, thinking they were harmless
Never thought you meant to deceive
I never believed you had bad intentions
Whoever would have doubted those innocent eyes
I never suspected that your eyes were hiding deceit
And all the little kisses that you made me believe
I thought your kisses were genuine and truthful
Remember how I planned a little home by a stream
I envisioned a peaceful home where we could enjoy nature
Where we'd spend every day
Our days would be filled with each other's company
You must have thought me crazy when I painted that dream
You probably thought my dream was unrealistic or naive
Cause you threw it away
You shattered my dream and destroyed our future together
I kinda wish that things would be different
I wish our relationship had a chance to work out
Have a happy ending somehow
I want a positive outcome for our relationship
But I guess you only took me for a ride in the dark
You used me for your own enjoyment and left me in the dark
And it's all, it's all over now
Our relationship has come to a complete end
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music, Inc.
Written by: BOBBY WOMACK, SHIRLEY WOMACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Trombonology
This one (with which I did NOT become acquainted through The Shining ), along with "When You've Got A Little Springtime in Your Heart," has to be in my Top Three for Al's vocals with Noble's band. Not sure which side I'd choose to complete that exclusive grouping, as Al contributed so many beautiful vocals to Ray's records; he recorded with many great Brit bands but, IMO, he was at his best with the Noble orch. There's a reason we're still talking about Albert Allick Bowlly eighty years after his untimely death -- and in this sensitive, beautifully shaded performance we can find that reason: he was a magnificent interpreter of the Popular Song of his era. The Noble band, my favorite British aggregation, sounds positively sumptuous in support.
@phaasch
There are many reasons, IMO, why we're still listening to Mr Bowlly today, and increasingly so. I think perhaps the principal one is, and you touched on this in one of your very recent comments on Mike Zirpolo's blog, about great soloists who can tell us a brilliant story within 32 bars.
Al's voice takes us somewhere beyond the mere words of a lyric- somewhere that is almost beyond analysis, but is deep within our human spirit. Much as in the way we can listen to what someone like (say) Bunny, Pres, Teddy, or Benny Carter "tells" us, and come away with that feeling of uplift and enlightenment- that there IS something more, just through that door into the secret garden, and Al is one who opens the door for those of us lucky enough to recognize it. There's part of our souls in that voice. He, and some of the others I mentioned, have brought me through some difficult times. There is certainly no succour of this kind present in our everyday world.
Just for the record, my own favourite 3 Noble Bowllys are "Remember Me", "What now" and "Maybe its because I love you too much". Nor did I come to this one via "The Shining" either! ;)
@maxweiss1597
i didn't encounter this one from the shining either actually. it's one of my favorites too, i like the beginning instrumentals. its funny i just got back from playing in a concert for my school, since its my last day of my 11th grade year. we played similar music which is cool. thanks for writing these paragraphs, they're cool to read. hope you're doing well!
@Trombonology
@Mark Thompson As usual, Mark, you get to the heart and soul of the matter. You're so right -- Al's enduring importance, meaning and relevance goes so far beyond what the dry word skill might suggest. Sometimes, as you discuss, great musicality is a conduit or means rather than the end in itself that enables an artist to communicate -- and illuminate -- to/for the listener, and that's what makes the connection between the two, artist and listener, so much more meaningful and lasting than just dazzling and being dazzled. We forget that if that's "all there is," as the song goes, but we remember a talent that speaks to the heart. Al's artistry certainly did that.
@Mysticmoon62
One my favorite Al Bowlly songs is the very thought of you.
@Trombonology
@Katherine Heckerman I think most of us love that one!
@spencersmith2798
One of Noble’s best tunes, seldom heard today compared to many of his other “hits”...wonderful post...thank you!
@cyberont
It was used in the movie "Doctor Sleep." That inspired me to make an all-Ray mixtape for my car.
@michaeltuz608
Such a lovely tune!
It's a bit sobering to realize that The Shining is now nearly as old as this recording was when Kubrick used it in his film.
@tdgtwo850
And Leyland Kirby under The Caretaker moniker sampled this song from his song of the same name from his album, A Stairway to the Stars.