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.
Easy Living
Teddy Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's easy to live when you're in love
And I'm so in love
There is nothing in life but you
I never regret the things that I'm giving
They're easy to give when you're in love
I'm happy to do whatever I do for you
For you maybe I'm a fool
But it's fun
People say you rule me with one wave of your hand
Darling, it's grand
They just don't understand
Living for you is easy living
It's easy to live when you're in love
And I'm so in love
There's nothing in life but you
For you maybe I'm a fool
But it's fun
People say you rule me with one wave of your hand
Baby, it's grand
They just don't understand
Living for you is easy living
It's easy to live when you're in love
And I'm so in love
There's nothing in life but you
The song "Easy Living" by Billie Holiday and Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra is a romantic ballad that expresses the joy and simplicity of living for someone you love. The lyrics suggest that when you are in love with someone, everything else in life pales in comparison, and it becomes effortless to give them everything you have.
The opening lines of the song, "Living for you is easy living, it's easy to live when you're in love," immediately set the tone of the song. The singer is saying that when you're in love, life is simple and joyous. The next few lines reinforce this idea, as the singer professes her love for the person she is singing to, saying that there is "nothing in life but you."
The song also explores the idea that being in love can make you feel foolish, but in a good way. The line, "For you maybe I'm a fool, but it's fun," suggests that the singer doesn't care what others might think of her love for this person. It's fun for her to be with them, which is all that matters.
Overall, "Easy Living" is a classic love song that captures the feeling of being in love with someone and feeling like nothing else matters.
Line by Line Meaning
Living for you is easy living
It's effortless to live when I'm living for you
It's easy to live when you're in love
When you're in love, living becomes effortless
And I'm so in love
I'm completely head over heels in love with you
There is nothing in life but you
You're the only thing that matters to me in life
I never regret the things that I'm giving
I have no regrets for the things I give to you
They're easy to give when you're in love
Giving is easy when you're in love
I'm happy to do whatever I do for you
I'm willing and content to do whatever I can for you
For you maybe I'm a fool
Others may consider me foolish for being so devoted to you
But it's fun
Yet, it's enjoyable for me
People say you rule me with one wave of your hand
People think you have complete control over me, like a magician with a wave of their wand
Darling, it's grand
But, my love, it's splendid
They just don't understand
They just don't comprehend what our love is like
Living for you is easy living
It's effortless to live when I'm living for you
It's easy to live when you're in love
When you're in love, living becomes effortless
And I'm so in love
I'm completely head over heels in love with you
There's nothing in life but you
You're the only thing that matters to me in life
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eguirald
Billie Holliday was a wonderful singer. To begin with, her sense of phrasing was absolutely incomparable.
@mdhbigdog
Great performanc. Thank you for the information about the song, the composers and the musicians. I wish all jazz video posts were like yours.
@RoundMidnightTV
It's hard work but in the end it pays off because you find out so much more information about a song you hadn't known before and you feel that it must be shared on a grander scale... thanks for the comment, very much appreciated Michael Hughes!
@Thumpersma
Ah, so warm and comfortable. That lady could sing. Thanks for sharing this. It made my night.
@Pinefinch
Very nice. Thanks for posting!
@philjongboom
Fallout 3!
@tobiesoftstudio823
That's exactly what brought me here :) now get your weaponry ready and lets head. Bring plenty of Med Packs. I have my Lincoln Repeater fully loaded with plenty of ammo. hehehe jk
@cbbred
+Phillip McCulloch !!! oh and Carol ;)