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
It Had to Be You
Ruby Braff Lyrics
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I wandered around and finally found the somebody who
Could make me be true, could make me feel blue,
And even be glad just to be sad thinkin' of you.
Some others I've seen might never be mean
Might never be cross or try to be boss,
But they wouldn't do.
With all your faults, I love you still,
It had to be you, wonderful you,
It had to be you.
It had to be you, it had to be you.
I wandered around and finally found somebody who
Could make me be true, could make me be blue,
And even be glad just to be sad thinkin' of you.
Some others I've seen might never be mean
Might never be cross or try to be boss,
But they wouldn't do.
For nobody else gave me a thrill.
With all your faults, I love you still.
It had to be you, wonderful you
It had to be you.
The lyrics of "It Had to Be You" by Ruby Braff talk about finding the one special person who completes someone's life. The singer in the song wanders around for a while, but eventually, they find this person. This person makes the singer feel alive, even when feeling sad, and makes them be true to themselves. In contrast, the song also talks about some other people that the singer has met before, although they were nice, they wouldn't do because they lacked that unique spark that made this person special.
The song continues to highlight the person's flaws, but despite them, the singer still loves them. The song concludes by saying that this person is the one for the singer, and it had to be them. The song signifies that when two people are meant to be together, a connection exists that cannot be explained but felt.
Line by Line Meaning
It had to be you, it had to be you.
There was no one else but you who could make me feel this way and capture my heart.
I wandered around and finally found the somebody who
Could make me be true, could make me feel blue,
And even be glad just to be sad thinkin' of you.
After a long search, I finally found the person who could inspire me to be honest and faithful, yet also bring out my sadness and longing for them.
Some others I've seen might never be mean
Might never be cross or try to be boss,
But they wouldn't do.
There were others I've met who may have been kind and gentle, but they just couldn't compare to you and the unique feelings you bring out in me.
For nobody else gave me a thrill.
With all your faults, I love you still,
Despite your imperfections and flaws, no one else can give me the same excitement and joy that you do, and I still love you just the same.
It had to be you, wonderful you,
It had to be you.
You, with all your quirks and charms, were destined to be the one for me, and I'm grateful that it turned out to be you.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Isham Jones, Gus Kahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind