Eldridge was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His nickname was Little Jazz. Eldridge played in the bands of Fletcher Henderson, Gene Krupa and Artie Shaw before making records under his own name. He also played in Benny Goodman's and Count Basie's Orchestras, and co-led a band with Coleman Hawkins.
How Long Has This Been Going On
Roy Eldridge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was kissed by my sisters, my cousins, and my aunties.
Sad to tell, it was hell, an inferno worse than Dante's.
So my dear I swore,
"Never, never more !"
On my list, I insisted that kissing must be crossed out.
Now, I find I was blind, and oh my! How I lost out!
I could cry salty tears,
Where have I been all these years?
Little wow, tell me now:
How long has this been going on?
There were chills up my spine,
And some thrills I can't define.
Listen, sweet, I repeat:
How long has this been going on?
Oh, I feel that I could melt,
Into Heaven I'm hurled!
I know how Columbus felt,
Finding another world.
Kiss me once, then once more.
What a dunce I was before.
What a break! For Heaven's sake!
How long has this been going on?
Dear, when in your arms I creep,
That divine rendezvous,
Don't wake me, if I'm asleep,
Let me dream that it's true!
Kiss me twice, then once more.
That makes thrice, let's make it four!
What a break! For Heaven's sake!
How long has this been going on?
How long has this, been going on?
The lyrics to Roy Eldridge's "How Long Has This Been Going On?" express the joy and surprise of discovering the pleasure of kissing. The singer begins by recounting a childhood experience of being kissed by family members that was unpleasant, causing them to swear off kissing altogether. However, now they realize they have been missing out and questioning how long they have gone without experiencing the joy of kissing.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes increasingly excited about the newfound pleasure they have discovered. They express their desire for more kisses, savoring every moment, and not wanting it to end. The lyrics convey a sense of euphoria and passion, as the singer revels in the sensations of being kissed.
This song is a beautiful example of the ability of music to capture emotions and convey them through lyrics and melody. It speaks to the universal experience of discovering something new and wonderful and the joy that can come from taking a chance and trying new things.
Line by Line Meaning
As a tot, when I trotted in little velvet panties,
As a child, when I walked adorably in little velvet pants,
I was kissed by my sisters, my cousins, and my aunties.
I received kisses from my female family members
Sad to tell, it was hell, an inferno worse than Dante's.
Unfortunately, it was unpleasant, almost like Dante's inferno.
So my dear I swore, "Never, never more !"
So I vowed, 'Never, ever again!'
On my list, I insisted that kissing must be crossed out.
I even wrote it down on my list, I demanded that kissing be prohibited.
Now, I find I was blind, and oh my! How I lost out!
Now I realize that I was naive and missed out on something wonderful!
I could cry salty tears,
I could cry a lot of salty tears
Where have I been all these years?
Where have I been all these years
Little wow, tell me now: How long has this been going on?
My goodness, tell me now - How long has this been going on?
There were chills up my spine,
I felt a shiver down my spine
And some thrills I can't define.
And some excitement I can't describe
Listen, sweet, I repeat:
Listen to me, sweetheart, I repeat
How long has this been going on?
How long has this been happening?
Oh, I feel that I could melt,
Oh, I feel like I could melt
Into Heaven I'm hurled!
I feel like I am being thrown into Heaven!
I know how Columbus felt, Finding another world.
I know how Columbus felt when he discovered a new world.
Kiss me once, then once more.
Kiss me once, and then again.
What a dunce I was before.
I feel like such a fool for not realizing this before.
What a break! For Heaven's sake! How long has this been going on?
What a lucky break! For goodness sake, how long has this been happening?
Dear, when in your arms I creep, That divine rendezvous,
When I snuggle in your arms, our meeting feels divinely inspired.
Don't wake me, if I'm asleep, Let me dream that it's true!
Don't wake me if I'm sleeping, let me dream this is true!
Kiss me twice, then once more. That makes thrice, let's make it four!
Kiss me twice, and then again. That makes three, let's make it four!
What a break! For Heaven's sake! How long has this been going on?
What a lucky break! For goodness sake, how long has this been happening?
How long has this, been going on?
How long has this been happening?
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mistermister6686
Tracks:
A1 A Foggy Day 00:00
A2 Blue Moon 05:44
A3 Stormy Weather 09:44
A4 Sweethearts On Parade 14:11
B1 If I Had You 18:44
B2 I Only Have Eyes For You 22:33
B3 Sweet Georgia Brown 29:49
B4 The Song Is Ended 34:23
Credits:
Roy Eldridge - trumpet
Oscar Peterson - piano
Herb Ellis - guitar
Ray Brown - bass
Buddy Rich - drums
Recorded September 14, 1954
Fine Sound Studios, NYC
@mistermister6686
Tracks:
A1 A Foggy Day 00:00
A2 Blue Moon 05:44
A3 Stormy Weather 09:44
A4 Sweethearts On Parade 14:11
B1 If I Had You 18:44
B2 I Only Have Eyes For You 22:33
B3 Sweet Georgia Brown 29:49
B4 The Song Is Ended 34:23
Credits:
Roy Eldridge - trumpet
Oscar Peterson - piano
Herb Ellis - guitar
Ray Brown - bass
Buddy Rich - drums
Recorded September 14, 1954
Fine Sound Studios, NYC
@kodebruijn4753
the great musicians of the past, love them! But I would like to hear them more on this record.
@ritchiemims8160
Chillin' on a Sunday morning with Roy "Little Jazz" Eldridge
@bojanboskovic6744
Little Jazzy Evening! Roy & Bourbon Big Bang! Across The Universe!
@RJ986S
This music is so full of heart and soul and the blues. Since it's near February, I'm picturing myself at a nice Mardi Gras party in a swinging bistro in New Orleans! 🍺😊
@CalebOrvik
Killing!
@ronaldunkel2681
What a great jazzy/bluesy music folks. The best of the best folks playing a swingin’ session. Hooroo’s & Cheers!
@DanielBarberMusic
Don't think I've ever heard this album. What a collection of greats and what a joy to listen to... Thanks for posting!
@supersmudge59
Incomparable Roy Eldridge
@derkzweers4142
God do I love a foggy day if it sounds like this !