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.
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Teddy Wilson Lyrics
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I let you
We broke the ties that bind
I wanted to forget you
And leave the past behind
Still, the magic of the night I met you
Seems to stay forever in my mind
And high above
The moon was new
And so was love
This eager heart of mine was singing
Lover where can you be
You came at last
Love had its day
That day is past
You've gone away
This aching heart of mine is singing
Lover come back to me
When I remember every little thing
You used to do
I'm so lonely
Every road I walk along
I walk along with you
No wonder I am lonely
The sky is blue
The night is cold
The moon is new
But love is old
And while I'm waiting here
This heart of mine is singing
Lover come back to me
When I remember every little thing
You used to do
I grow lonely
Every road I walk along
I walk along with you
No wonder I am lonely
The sky is blue
The night is cold
The moon is new
But love is old
And while I'm waiting here
This heart of mine is singing
Lover come back to me
The lyrics of Teddy Wilson's "Lover Come Back to Me" are a lament for a lost love. The singer speaks of the pains of separation and the sense of loneliness that pervades their thoughts. This lost love has had a profound impact on the singer, as they reveal that they have attempted to move on from the relationship: "I wanted to forget you and leave the past behind." However, the memory of the union remains etched in their mind, and they are unable to shake the nostalgia for their lost partner.
The lyrics describe an idyllic moment between the two lovers when they first met, which contrasts dramatically with the present where they are separated. The night of their initial meeting is depicted in mesmerizing terms: "The sky was blue and high above, the moon was new and so was love." However, the pain of being apart from the other is all-consuming, and they urge their lover to come back to them.
Wilson's expert use of metaphor and imagery speaks to the universal human experience of separation and the grief that accompanies it. The lyrics consider themes of loss and the bittersweet memories that remain after a love has vanished. The melancholic plea in the singer's voice is palpable and speaks universally to everyone who has experienced heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
You went away
Your departure caused a separation between us
I let you
I allowed you to leave without resistance
We broke the ties that bind
Our connection and commitment to each other was broken and lost
I wanted to forget you
I desired to remove any memory of you from my mind
And leave the past behind
I aimed to move forward without dwelling on our past relationship
Still, the magic of the night I met you
Despite my attempts to forget you, the memory of the enchanting night we first met remains
Seems to stay forever in my mind
This memory is so powerful that it continues to live on in my thoughts
The sky was blue
The sky had a clear blue color
And high above
Up in the sky, above us
The moon was new
A new moon was present in the night sky
And so was love
Our love was new, just like the new moon
This eager heart of mine was singing
My heart was filled with enthusiasm and was singing with joy
Lover where can you be
I was anxiously looking for my lover, wondering where they could be
You came at last
You finally arrived
Love had its day
Our love was at its prime
That day is past
However, that prime time is no more
You've gone away
You have left again
This aching heart of mine is singing
My heart is filled with pain and is singing of that pain
Lover come back to me
I want you to return and fill the void in my heart
When I remember every little thing
Whenever I recall every single detail
You used to do
All of the things that you did before you left me
I'm so lonely
The absence of you has left me feeling isolated and sad
Every road I walk along
Every path I take
I walk along with you
I imagine that you are with me, even when you are not
No wonder I am lonely
It is no surprise that I am feeling lonely
The sky is blue
The sky has a clear blue color
The night is cold
The temperature of the night is low, causing it to be cold
The moon is new
A new moon is present in the night sky
But love is old
Our love has aged, unlike the new moon
And while I'm waiting here
As I sit here and wait
This heart of mine is singing
My heart is once again filled with pain and is singing of that pain
Lover come back to me
I am still longing for you to return and fill the void in my heart
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, DistroKid, TuneCore Inc., CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ONErpm, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN, II, OSCAR II HAMMERSTEIN, SIGMUND ROMBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
vova47
The first tune identified as "Introduction" is, in fact, Teddy Wilson Orchestra theme song
"Little Things That Mean So Much" , composed by his first wife Irene Kitchings.