Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson (born 1912-11-24 in Austin, Texas-died 1986-07… Read Full Bio ↴Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson (born 1912-11-24 in Austin, Texas-died 1986-07-31 in New Britain, Connecticut) was a jazz pianist from the United States . His sophisticated and elegant style graced the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

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 Wished On The Moon
Teddy Wilson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Every night was long and gloomy, shadows gathered in the air
No one ever listened to me, no one wondered did I care
None in all the world to love me, none to count that stars that hung
Then the moon came out above me and I saw that it was young

I wished on the moon for something I never knew
Wished on the moon for more than I ever knew
A sweeter rose, a softer sky

An April day that would not dance away

I begged of a star to throw me a beam or two
Wished on a star and asked for a dream or two

I looked for ev'ry loveliness, it all came true
I wished on the moon for you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Teddy Wilson's song "I Wished On the Moon" convey a sense of longing and despair at the beginning of the song, with the singer feeling isolated and lonely. The imagery of long, gloomy nights and shadows in the air create a haunting atmosphere, and the repeated use of "none" emphasizes the singer's sense of utter isolation. However, with the appearance of the moon, there is a shift in tone, as the singer begins to feel a glimmer of hope, emphasized by the descriptor "young." It is in this moment that the singer begins to wish, casting their desires out into the universe.

The first couplet of the chorus "I wished on the moon for something I never knew / Wished on the moon for more than I ever knew" hints at the idea that the singer is searching for something that they cannot quite pinpoint. They are not just wishing for a particular tangible thing, but for something greater, for a sense of fulfillment that they have perhaps never experienced. The subsequent lines in the chorus build on this idea, with descriptions of natural beauty, ending with the singer's ultimate dream coming true: wishing on the moon for someone to love.

Line by Line Meaning

Every night was long and gloomy, shadows gathered in the air
Every night felt endless and melancholic, the darkness of the night seemed to surround me

No one ever listened to me, no one wondered did I care
I felt ignored and unimportant, no one seemed to care or take notice of my feelings

None in all the world to love me, none to count that stars that hung
I felt unloved and alone in the world, with no one to share the beauty of the stars with me

Then the moon came out above me and I saw that it was young
Suddenly, the moon appeared in the sky and I realized that there was still hope for me to find something new and youthful in my life

I Wished On The MoonTeddy Wilson Lyrics

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I Wished On The Moon
Teddy Wilson Lyrics