Braff was a wonderfully characterful and melodic player with an immediately identifiable sound and unique tone on the cornet, an uncommon instrument in post-war jazz. He style was fundamentally based on that of earlier players including Louis Armstrong, Bobby Hackett and Bunny Berigan but he transcended these influences to always sounds fresh, sparky and somehow modern.
He was born in Boston and began playing in local clubs in the 1940s. In 1949, he was hired to play with the Edmond Hall Orchestra. He relocated to New York in 1953 where he was much in demand for band dates and recordings.
He died February 10, 2003, in Chatham, Massachusetts.
"Sure, they’ve made statements about my supposedly combining a modern approach with a feeling for traditional forms. Well, people say all sorts of things, because they want to categorise and label. I’ve only ever had two labels. Either it’s good or it stinks." - Ruby Braff speaking in 1968
Beware My Heart
Ruby Braff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beware my foolish heart
How white the ever constant moon
Take care my foolish heart
There's a line between love and fascination
That's hard to see, how many names such as this
For they both have the very same sensation
Her lips are much too close to mine
Beware my foolish heart
But should our eager lips combine
Then let the fire start
For this time it isn't fascination
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
It's love, this time it's love
My foolish heart
Ruby Braff's song My Foolish Heart is a classic love song that cautions the hearts of those in love. The song speaks about the beauty of the night and the danger of getting lost in love. The first stanza urges caution and advises that the heart should be properly guarded. The constant moon is symbolic of constancy and reliability, but also represents danger as it may lure lovers to make imprudent decisions. The singer implores their foolish heart to be wary of the potential consequences of falling in love.
The chorus of the song speaks about the fine line that exists between love and fascination. These two emotions are described as having similar sensations, but being hard to distinguish from one another. The romantic connection between two lovers is compared to the enchantment and magic of a kiss. The warning continues, as the singer goes on to describe his lover's lips as too close to theirs.
The final stanza of the song gives us a glimmer of hope as the singer describes the love they feel as being different from mere fascination, a fleeting emotion. It is described as being intense and powerful, ready to ignite a fire. The song My Foolish Heart emphasizes the importance of being cautious before giving in to love and to distinguish genuine love from mere fascination.
Line by Line Meaning
The night is like a lovely tune
The serene night is so melodious
Beware my foolish heart
Be cautious, impulsive heart of mine
How white the ever constant moon
The steadfast moon is shining so bright
Take care my foolish heart
Take care, unreliable heart of mine
There's a line between love and fascination
It's hard to tell the difference between love and infatuation
That's hard to see, how many names such as this
It's confusing, how many terms are there for this feeling
For they both have the very same sensation
Both feelings give a very similar experience
When you're locked in the magic of a kiss
When you're lost in the bliss of a kiss
Her lips are much too close to mine
Her lips are dangerously close to mine
But should our eager lips combine
If we give in to temptation and kiss passionately
Then let the fire start
Then let the passion ignite
For this time it isn't fascination
This time, it's not just infatuation
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
It's not a fleeting dream that will eventually end
It's love, this time it's love
It's true love, this time it's real
My foolish heart
My unpredictable, unreliable heart
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, O/B/O CAPASSO, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ned Washington, Victor Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind