Wilson studied piano and violin at Tuskegee Institute. After working in the Speed Webb and Louis Armstrong bands, he joined Benny Carter's Chocolate Dandies in 1933. In 1935 he joined the Benny Goodman Trio (which consisted of Goodman, Wilson and drummer Gene Krupa, later expanded to the Benny Goodman Quartet with the addition of Lionel Hampton). The trio performed during the big band's intermissions. By joining the Trio, Wilson became the first black musician to perform in public with a previously all-white jazz group.
In the 1930s and 1940s he recorded fifty hit records with various singers such as Lena Horne and Helen Ward, including many of Billie Holiday's most successful records. During these years he also recorded many highly regarded sessions with a wide range of important swing musicians, such as Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo, Buck Clayton and Ben Webster.
Wilson formed his own short-lived big band in 1939, then led a sextet at Cafe Society from 1940 to 1944. In the 1950s he taught at the Juilliard School. Wilson performed as a soloist and with pick-up groups up until the final years of his life.
All My Life
Teddy Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been waiting for you
My wonderful one, I've begun
Living all my life
All my love
Has been waiting for you
My life is sublime, now that I'm
You seem so lovely, so far above me
I'm almost afraid to look
But I adore you; I pledge before you
A heart that's an open book
All my life
Hold me close to your heart
But all else above, hold my love
Darling, just hold my love
The song "All My Life" by Teddy Wilson expresses the longing and anticipation of finally finding "the one" after living a life of waiting. The lyrics reveal the singer's overwhelming love and devotion towards their beloved, offering them their heart an open book. The singer confesses that they have been waiting for this person all their life, and now that they have found them, they feel their life has become complete. They are willing to give everything to their love and ask them to hold them close to their heart. The lyrics sound like a vow of commitment and love to the significant other.
The lyrics further underline a fear of losing the person they love or being unworthy of them as they describe their fear of being too inferior to look at their significant other. The lyricist uses imagery to emphasize the beauty of the person they love and how they find them so incredible that they are almost afraid to look. The singer's love is intense, and the person's worth and admiration seem to overwhelm them.
Line by Line Meaning
All my life
I have been waiting for you my entire life.
I've been waiting for you
You are the one that I have been waiting for.
My wonderful one, I've begun
Living all my life
Since you came into my life, it has become wonderful, and I am now fully embracing life with you.
All my love
I have given all my love to you.
Has been waiting for you
You are the one for whom I have been reserving all my love.
My life is sublime, now that I'm
Living all my love
Since I have started living all my love with you, my life has become perfect.
You seem so lovely, so far above me
I find you so attractive and perfect that I feel unworthy of you.
I'm almost afraid to look
I fear that if I stare at you too long, I will lose you.
But I adore you; I pledge before you
A heart that's an open book
Despite my insecurities, I love you deeply and am willing to be completely transparent with my feelings.
Hold me close to your heart
I want to be close to you and feel your love.
But all else above, hold my love
Darling, just hold my love
My love for you is the most important thing. Please cherish and protect it.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: SAMMY H. STEPT, SIDNEY D. MITCHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-ug3hq2su6j
All my life
I've been waiting for you
My wonderful one
I've begun
Living all my life
All my love
Has been waiting for you
My life is sublime
Now that I'm
Giving all my love
You seem so lovely, so far above me
I'm almost afraid to look
But I adore you, I pledge before you
A heart that's an open book
All my life
Hold me close to your heart
But all else above
Hold my love
Darling, just hold my love
@leonardobrien
This is my personal fav song (and recording) of all time. I have no idea why this song is not more widely known / considered a 'standard'.
@ev_alex_
this is exactly me
@helevision
While searching for great Ella material I heard this magnificent piano solo. What a smooth style with gifted timing and choice of notes. With a little research I discovered the magnificent talent that was Teddy Wilson. Thanks for the post and listen to a solo work called Don' t Blame Me if you haven't already heard it.
@claeslantz2574
Teddys introduktion was one of his best pianosolos ever.
@miguelleiton3645
estupenda grabacion con un bajista que colma cualquier gusto..!!!!
@Honestdiscussion
1936 that's taking it back. Love how there's real music and musicians not pre-fabricated sounds and synth. It was real music not over polished to the point of losing the feeling behind it.
@rogerofford8601
Also a nice trumpet final chorus by the great underrated Frank Newton
@yvesfrancoisritmo
For me the high point of his magnificent recording. Only Joe Thomas and maybe Freddie Webster could come close to this.
Blake's clarinet (behind Ella) and Wilson's plano also impress..
@user-ug3hq2su6j
All my life
I've been waiting for you
My wonderful one
I've begun
Living all my life
All my love
Has been waiting for you
My life is sublime
Now that I'm
Giving all my love
You seem so lovely, so far above me
I'm almost afraid to look
But I adore you, I pledge before you
A heart that's an open book
All my life
Hold me close to your heart
But all else above
Hold my love
Darling, just hold my love
@nathanaviss6551
Best song ever!