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.
I Know That You Know
Teddy Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ev'ry chap should hold a heart that's all his own
Love may come at first sight, they told me
When I saw you, I knew
That I had found my only love
When I found you
So, darling, I know that you know
I choose you, won't lose you
I wish you knew how much I long to hold you in my arms
This time is my time
T'will soon be goodbye time
Then in the star light, hold me tight
With one more little kiss say nighty night
So, darling, I know that you know
That I'll go where you go
I choose you, won't lose you
I wish you knew how much I long to hold you in my arms
The lyrics to Teddy Wilson's "I Know That You Know" express the idea that life is a game and that it's better not to play it on your own. The song talks about the importance of having a loving heart and how love can happen at first sight. The singer explains that when they met the person they're singing to, they knew that they had found their one true love. The lyrics are a declaration of love and a plea for a reciprocal connection in the relationship. The singer longs to hold the person that they love in their arms, and they want the other person to feel the same way.
There's a strong sense of longing in the song, as the singer knows that they won't always be together and that their time is limited. They ask the person they love to hold them close and give them a last kiss before parting ways for the night. Overall, the lyrics are romantic and heartfelt, expressing the universal themes of love and longing that people have been feeling for centuries.
Line by Line Meaning
Life's a game, but who can play it all alone
Life is a challenging journey that can't be conquered without a partner.
Ev'ry chap should hold a heart that's all his own
Everyone has a need for a personal, individual love.
Love may come at first sight, they told me
People have said that love can occur immediately upon meeting someone.
When I saw you, I knew
When I met you, I understood that love at first sight was real.
That I had found my only love
I had discovered the one person I would always love.
So, darling, I know that you know
My dear, I am confident that you are aware
That I'll go where you go
I will follow you wherever you may be
I choose you, won't lose you
I have chosen you, and I won't let you go
I wish you knew how much I long to hold you in my arms
I desire you to know the extent of my love and yearning for you
This time is my time
This moment belongs to me
T'will soon be goodbye time
Our time is coming to an end
Then in the star light, hold me tight
As we look up at the stars, embrace me firmly
With one more little kiss say nighty night
Whisper 'goodnight' with a final, tender kiss
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANNE CALDWELL, VINCENT YOUMANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jesse Russell
This is one of the best versions I have a great jazz standard I know that you know that I have ever heard I love Teddy Wilson’s piano playing keep the music coming and keep on swinging.