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.
If You Were Mine
Teddy Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could be a ruler of kings
And if you were mine
I could do such wonderful things
I'd say to a star
Stop where you are
Light up my lover's way
Would obey, say
If you were mine
I would live for your love alone
To kneel at your shrine
I would give up all that I own
Yes even my heart
Even my life
I'd trade it all for you
And think I was lucky too
If you were mine
The song "If You Were Mine" by Teddy Wilson is a romantic and passionate declaration of love. The singer of the song is expressing how much they love and want the person they are addressing, and how much they would give up for their love. The lyrics describe how much power the person they love has over them: if they were together, the singer would feel like a king and would do anything for them. The lyrics are filled with romantic gestures, like asking stars to light up their lover's way and giving up everything they own for the person they love.
The first lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The singer believes that if the person they love were theirs, they would have everything they need in the world. They would be powerful, and they could do anything to make their loved one happy. The singer is so enamored of the person they love that they would give up their own life for them. This song is a perfect example of the depth of love that can exist between two people.
Overall, "If You Were Mine" is a touching and romantic song that expresses the depth of love and devotion that can exist between two people. The song is a wonderful example of a heartfelt love ballad that will continue to resonate with audiences for generations.
Line by Line Meaning
If you were mine
The singer is expressing their desire to have the person they’re addressing all to themselves
I could be a ruler of kings
If the person was the singer's, they would feel like they were in control of everything and could conquer anything
And if you were mine
The singer repeats their longing for the person to belong to them
I could do such wonderful things
If the person was the artist's, they would feel like anything is possible and that they can achieve great things together
I'd say to a star
The artist is using imagery to express just how much they desire this person - they would even command the stars for them
Stop where you are
The singer commands the star to cease moving
Light up my lover's way
The singer asks the star to illuminate their lover's path
And every star above you
The artist imagines that all the other stars would be aware of their true love
Would obey, say
The artist believes the stars would follow their command to light up their lover's path, highlighting the depth of their love
If you were mine
The artist repeats their desire and longing for the person they are addressing
I would live for your love alone
The singer would live their life solely for the love of the person they address
To kneel at your shrine
The artist would worship and respect their love interest deeply
I would give up all that I own
The singer is willing to give away everything they own for the person they love - their emotions run deep
Yes even my heart
The singer values the person they are addressing so much that they would willingly give their heart to be with them
Even my life
The singer is so invested in their love that they would even stake their life to be with the person they love
I'd trade it all for you
The artist would give up everything for their love interest
And think I was lucky too
The artist feels incredibly grateful for the opportunity to love and be loved by the person they address
If you were mine
The singer concludes the song by once again expressing their desire to have the person they are addressing all to themselves
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: REX K. RIDEOUT, WILL DOWNING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CookingBird
Super 👍😍 my friend