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.
Love Is Here To Stay
Teddy Wilson Lyrics
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Not for a year but ever and a day
The radio and the telephone and the movies that we know
May just be passing fancies and in time may go
But oh, my dear, our love is here to stay
Together we're going a long, long way
In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble
But our love is here to stay
In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble
They're only made of clay
But our love is here to stay
The Lyrics of Teddy Wilson's "Love is Here to Stay" are a testament to the strength of true love. The opening line, "It's very clear, our love is here to stay," confidently declares the singer's surety in the relationship. The couple in the song is in it for the long haul, as the second line states unequivocally that their love is not just a passing fancy but one that will last beyond the present.
The third and fourth lines, "The radio and the telephone and the movies that we know/May just be passing fancies and in time may go" contrast the vagaries of the modern world with the constancy of love. The world is fickle, and trends come and go. But true love, that is grounded in mutual affection and commitment, is a constant that is not subject to the whims of fashion.
The remaining stanzas reinforce the idea that their love is unbreakable. Even tangible structures like the Rockies and Gibraltar could crumble, but their love would remain steadfast. This song aims to communicate to its listeners that some things in life are eternal and that love is one of those things, and when we make a commitment of love it is for more than just a passing fancy.
Line by Line Meaning
It's very clear, our love is here to stay
It is evident to us that our love for each other is going to last forever.
Not for a year but ever and a day
Our love will not be limited to a year, but it will last forever.
The radio and the telephone and the movies that we know
The technology we use to communicate may change over time.
May just be passing fancies and in time may go
These technological advancements may not last forever, they may be just temporary.
But oh, my dear, our love is here to stay
Regardless of any changes in our surroundings, our love will always exist.
Together we're going a long, long way
We are committed to each other for the long haul, and will always be together by each other's side.
In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble
Even the biggest, most immovable geographical structures may one day disappear or break down.
They're only made of clay
These structures are not invincible and can be destroyed.
But our love is here to stay
Despite any changes that may occur in our environment, our love for each other will remain and endure.
Lyrics © RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind