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.
April In Paris
Teddy Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And geese are flying high
But it's April in my heart again
The devil got his due
Love's holiday is through
Love and I have made a happy start again
The world just turned around
It isn't Fall at all you see
It's Spring that I have found
There's frost in Central Park
At five it's almost dark
What's the difference
When you've heard love's sweet amend
There's snowflakes in the sky
And geese are flying high
But there's April in my heart again
The lyrics of Teddy Wilson's song "April in My Heart" present a dichotomy between the natural world and the emotional state of the singer. Despite the appearance of winter with snowflakes and geese flying high, the singer feels like it's April in their heart again. This metaphorical language suggests that the singer is experiencing a new beginning, even when the outside world suggests an ending or a pause. The contrast between "the devil got his due" and "love and I have made a happy start again" implies that the singer had recently gone through some sort of difficulty or breakup, but has since rekindled their relationship with love.
Line by Line Meaning
There's snowflakes in the sky
Winter has arrived and the sky is snowing heavily
And geese are flying high
Amidst the chilly weather, the geese are flying above the sky
But it's April in my heart again
Despite the harsh climate, the poet's heart is filled with the warmth of spring season, as he has fallen in love again
The devil got his due
The poet might have faced some consequences for his past actions
Love's holiday is through
The period of temporary happiness is over because love is no longer restricted to any particular day
Love and I have made a happy start again
The poet has found someone special and is happy to start a new journey with them
Through leaves lie on the ground
The season of autumn, a period of bearing fruit, has come to an end, as leaves have fallen on the ground
The world just turned around
The world is still rotating and moving forward despite the change in seasons
It isn't Fall at all you see
Although it is traditionally Autumn, the poet is not experiencing it anymore as he is enjoying the warmth of Spring
It's Spring that I have found
The poet has found love and happiness – something that is synonymous with the Spring season
There's frost in Central Park
The poet is witnessing the results of harsh winter in one of New York City's most famous parks
At five it's almost dark
It's getting dark really soon, as days are becoming shorter during winter season
What's the difference
It doesn't matter anymore because the poet is in love and happy regardless of the weather conditions
When you've heard love's sweet amend
The poet's heart has been touched by love and no matter the weather, his heart will remain filled with the love and positivity
There's snowflakes in the sky
The sky is still snowing, but it cannot stop the poet's heart from being filled with the warmth of love
And geese are flying high
The geese are still flying even though the winter season is at its peak
But there's April in my heart again
Despite what's going on around, love and positivity are still present and reflected in the poet's heart
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Vic Mizzy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind