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
When You're Smilin'
Ruby Braff Lyrics
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He was a kind man,
Helping a fellow along,
One could not see,
One could not walk,
But they both were humming this song;
When you're smiling, When you're smiling,
When you're laughing, When you're laughing,
The sun comes shining through,
But when you're crying you bring on the rain,
So stop your sighing be happy again,
Keep on smiling 'cause when you're smiling,
The whole world smiles with you.
I used to worry,
I used to hurry,
Each time it started to rain,
Now I see light,
Learned wrong from right,
And you'll never hear me complain;
When you're smiling, When you're smiling,
The whole world smiles with you,
When you're laughing, When you're laughing,
The sun comes shining through,
But when you're crying you bring on the rain,
So stop your sighing be happy again,
Keep on smiling 'cause when you're smiling,
The whole world smiles with you.
The above lyrics are from Ruby Braff's song "When You're Smiling". The song is all about the power of a smile and how it can impact those around us. The lyrics describe a blind man helping another person along, and despite their physical limitations, both of them were humming this song. The song highlights the message that a smile can brighten up even the darkest of days and bring joy to those around us.
The first verse of the song refers to the power of a smile and how it can make a difference in someone's life. The blind man in the verse is a kind man, helping the other man despite his disability. The song is conveying the message that even when one has limitations, they can still bring joy to those around them. The second verse talks about how the singer used to worry and hurry when it started to rain. The lyrics suggest that the singer has learned to see the world in a new light and never complains.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of smiling and the impact it has on those around us. When we smile, the whole world smiles with us. Similarly, when we laugh, the sun comes shining through. The lyrics suggest that when we cry or complain, we bring on the rain. The song encourages listeners to be happy and keep on smiling.
Overall, "When You're Smiling" is a song about positivity and the power of a smile. It emphasizes that even small things like a smile can make a big difference in someone's life. The song encourages listeners to be happy and spread joy to those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw a blind man,
I witnessed a visually impaired person
He was a kind man,
He demonstrated kindness to others
Helping a fellow along,
Assisting another person with moving forward
One could not see,
One person was unable to observe with their eyes
One could not walk,
One person was unable to move on their own
But they both were humming this song;
Despite their individual challenges, they were enjoying the moment together and singing
When you're smiling, When you're smiling,
When you express joy and positivity through a smile,
The whole world smiles with you,
Those around you feel uplifted and happy as well
When you're laughing, When you're laughing,
When you find amusement and merriment in life,
The sun comes shining through,
It feels like a bright, beautiful day
But when you're crying you bring on the rain,
When you feel sadness and despair,
So stop your sighing be happy again,
Choose to focus on the good and let go of negative emotions
Keep on smiling 'cause when you're smiling,
Continue to share joy through your expression and demeanor,
The whole world smiles with you.
And the world will respond in kind with happiness and positivity.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joe Goodwin, Larry Shay, Mark Fisher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind