Born in Toronto, Ontario, he was commissioned as a captain in the Canadian Army and became the conductor/arranger of the Canadian Band of the allied expeditionary force sent overseas during World War II, which was the Canadian equivalent of the American Band of the AEF led by Major Glenn Miller.
At the end of the war, Farnon decided to make England his home, and he later moved to Guernsey in the Channel Islands with his wife and children.
He was considered by his peers the finest arranger in the world, and his talents influenced many composer-arrangers including Quincy Jones, all of whom acknowledge his contributions to their work. Conductor André Previn called him "the greatest writer for strings in the world."
Robert Farnon died at the age of eighty-seven at a hospice near his home of forty years in Guernsey. He was survived by his wife Patricia and their five children.
Robert Farnon is probably best known for two famous pieces of light music, Jumping Bean and Portrait of a Flirt, which were originally released as the A and B sides on the same 78. Also famous are his Westminster Waltz and A Star is Born.
I'll Be Around
Robert Farnon Lyrics
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When somebody breaks your heart
Some somebody twice as smart as I
A somebody who will swear to be true
As you used to do with me
Who'll leave you to learn
That misery loves company, wait and see
I mean, I wanna be around to see how he does it
When he breaks your heart to bits
Let's see if the puzzle fits so fine
And that's when I'll discover that revenge is sweet
As I sit there applaudin' from a front-row seat
When somebody breaks your heart
Like you, like you broke mine
The lyrics of Robert Farnon's song "I'll Be Around" speaks about someone who is willing to be there for their former lover in case they get their heart broken again by someone smarter than them. The person expresses that they want to pick up the pieces when their ex-lover's heart gets broken, just like how they had picked up theirs when their ex-lover broke their heart. However, this time, they want to watch from a front-row seat as their ex-lover gets their heart broken, and they'll secretly enjoy seeing them go through the same heartbreak they caused them.
The song shows the relatable feelings of heartbreak and the desire for revenge. The person is still not over their ex-lover, and the pain is still fresh in their mind. They want to feel the satisfaction of seeing their ex-lover go through what they went through. The lyrics speak to the human emotion of wanting to feel validated in their pain and finding ways to cope with their heartbreak.
In conclusion, the lyrics to "I'll Be Around" are about someone who seeks revenge through watching their ex-lover get their heart broken. The song shows how the desire for revenge can be a coping mechanism for heartbreak, which is a relatable feeling for many.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna be around to pick up the pieces
I want to be there for you when someone else breaks your heart
When somebody breaks your heart
When someone else causes you emotional pain
Some somebody twice as smart as I
Someone more cunning and intelligent than me
A somebody who will swear to be true
Someone who will promise to be faithful
As you used to do with me
In the same way that you promised me loyalty
Who'll leave you to learn
This person will abandon you to teach you a lesson
That misery loves company, wait and see
You will soon realize that it's common for unhappy people to commiserate with each other
I mean, I wanna be around to see how he does it
I want to witness how this person will cause you harm
When he breaks your heart to bits
When he shatters your emotions into small pieces
Let's see if the puzzle fits so fine
Let's see if this new lover is a good match for you
And that's when I'll discover that revenge is sweet
That's when I'll realize that getting revenge is satisfying
As I sit there applaudin' from a front-row seat
From a close and prominent position, I will cheer you on while you get revenge
Like you, like you broke mine
Just as you broke my heart
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY MERCER, SADIE VIMMERSTEDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind