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.
Where or When
Teddy Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We looked at each other in the same way then
But I can't remember where or when
The clothes you're wearing are the clothes you wore
The smile you are smiling you were smiling then
But I can't remember where or when
Seem to be happening again
And so it seems that we have met before
And laughed before, and loved before
But who knows where or when
Teddy Wilson's song "Where or When" is a nostalgic tune that reflects on memories and the feeling of déjà vu. The lyrics focus on the feeling of familiarity towards someone or something, which is so strong that it becomes difficult to pinpoint the actual time and location when these feeling transpired. The song's opening line, "It seems we stood and talked like this before," hints at the possibility of experiencing the same situation multiple times, albeit in different contexts. The song's melancholic and dreamy melody perfectly captures the feeling of uncertainty that the lyrics describe.
The second stanza of the song depicts an image of someone wearing the same clothes and smiling in the same way they did before, yet the memory of when and where it happened remains elusive. The song also explores how some things that happen for the first time, such as meeting someone, seem to happen again - a phenomenon attributed to fate or destiny. The repetition in the chorus, "And so it seems that we have met before/And laughed before and loved before," perfectly captures the sentiment of the lyrics, which is that the connection between two people is so strong that it feels like they have shared memories from another place and time.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems we stood and talked like this before
The singer feels a sense of déjà vu as they engage in conversation with the listener.
We looked at each other in the same way then
The singer and the listener made eye contact similarly to a previous encounter.
But I can't remember where or when
Despite the familiarity, the singer cannot recall the previous meeting.
The clothes you're wearing are the clothes you wore
The listener is dressed in the same clothing from the previous encounter.
The smile you are smiling you were smiling then
The listener is also exhibiting the same facial expression as before.
But I can't remember where or when
Once again, the singer cannot recall the details of the previous meeting despite the similarities.
Some things that happened for the first time
Although some things are new experiences, some events may in fact have already occurred previously.
Seem to be happening again
The current situation appears to be similar to a previous occurrence.
And so it seems that we have met before
Based on the familiarity, it is likely that the artist and listener have met previously.
And laughed before, and loved before
In addition to meeting before, it is probable that the artist and listener also shared joyful moments and romantic feelings in the past.
But who knows where or when
Despite the strong sense of familiarity, neither the singer nor the listener can recall the details of their previous meeting, leaving the question of where and when unanswered.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@timothymeenan8213
why can't they music like this now days ? patricia & timmy dancing to this for hours at all high school dances ! 55