Tex Beneke was born in Texas. He joined the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1938 … Read Full Bio ↴Tex Beneke was born in Texas. He joined the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1938 as a tenor saxophonist. He quickly became a star with the orchestra with his easy going manner, casual sounding voice and mellifluous saxophone playing. One night while riding to a gig with Glenn Miller in a car, they discussed tunes and Tex suggested a song he knew called "Ida". He sang it to Miller and Miller is reported to have said, "you know, Tex, we should write an arrangement for you to do that tune." They did and he did. It became a hit in 1939 and after that he became a featured singer with the band recording big hits like "I Got a Gal in Kalamazoo", "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree", "Chatanooga Choo Choo" and "I Never Knew". He later took over the band after Miller's death during the war. He led it from 1946 to 1948 and changed the name to the Tex Beneke Orchestra. He passed away in May of 2000. The band continues under his name and is led by Jim Snodgrass.

Sun Valley Jump
Tex Beneke Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Howdy folks, let's go for a ride
Get your favorite one to sit by your side
Cuddle up in a sleigh
Giddyap Nellie Grey
And away we go.

While you listen to the sleigh bells ring
You're yodeling to your baby

You'll feel nice and warm
no matter how cold it may be

Take a look at little Jack and Jill
They ski down a hill that's a snowplow turn
And look there's a spill
There's a spill on the hill
When you're down it's a thrill to go up again.

Ev'rybody ought to learn to ski for that is how we first met
We were that Jack and Jill that came down a hill,
When I looked at you my hearttook a spill
Took a spill on a hill
It's a thrill that I can't forget

It Happened In Sun Valley not so very long ago
There were sunbeams in the snow
and a twinkle in your eye
I remember oh so clearly
that you nearly passed me by

Then It Happened In Sun Valley
when you slipped and fell and so did I
Now ev'ry year we go back
and then we recall that fall and that moment

When we were there on a hill
So we both take a spill and we're Jack and Jill again.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tex Beneke’s “Sun Valley Jump” are both playful and romantic, taking listeners on a wintery adventure filled with sleigh rides, skiing, spills, and memories. The first verse sets the scene, encouraging listeners to go on a sleigh ride with their favorite person, cuddling up together and feeling warm no matter how cold it may be. The second verse zooms in on the action, with little Jack and Jill skiing down a hill that ends in a thrilling spill, only to get back up and do it all over again.

The final verse ties everything together, revealing that skiing is how the singer and his love first met on a hill in Sun Valley. They both took a spill, and the memory of that moment brings them back to the resort year after year. The song has a fun, lighthearted energy throughout, celebrating the joys of winter sports and the power of a shared experience to bring people closer together.

Line by Line Meaning

Howdy folks, let's go for a ride
Let's enjoy a sleigh ride together

Get your favorite one to sit by your side
Bring your loved one to keep you company on this ride

Cuddle up in a sleigh
Get cozy and comfortable with your partner in the sleigh

Giddyap Nellie Grey
Encouraging the horse to start pulling the sleigh

And away we go.
Off we go on our sleigh ride adventure

While you listen to the sleigh bells ring
Enjoy the sound of the bells attached to the sleigh

You're yodeling to your baby
Singing to your loved one out of pure excitement

You'll feel nice and warm
Despite the cold weather, feel a sense of warmth and coziness

no matter how cold it may be
The cold weather won't dampen our spirits

Take a look at little Jack and Jill
Observing two people skiing down a hill

They ski down a hill that's a snowplow turn
Using a snowplow turn to safely and efficiently navigate the downhill slope

And look there's a spill
Witnessing someone fall while skiing

There's a spill on the hill
Someone has taken a tumble on the ski slope

When you're down it's a thrill to go up again.
Flipping back up after falling is both exciting and invigorating

Ev'rybody ought to learn to ski for that is how we first met
The singer met their loved one while skiing, so they believe everyone should learn how to ski

We were that Jack and Jill that came down a hill,
The artist and their loved one were like Jack and Jill, skiing down a hill

When I looked at you my heart took a spill
The artist fell in love with their partner at first sight

Took a spill on a hill
Love struck the singer when they saw their loved one skiing

It's a thrill that I can't forget
The excitement of falling in love while skiing will never be forgotten by the singer

It Happened In Sun Valley not so very long ago
The artist and their loved one fell in love while skiing at Sun Valley resort recently

There were sunbeams in the snow
The snow was glistening in the sunlight

and a twinkle in your eye
Their partner had a sparkle in their eye during this moment of love

I remember oh so clearly that you nearly passed me by
The singer almost missed the chance to fall in love, but thankfully their partner didn't walk away

Then It Happened In Sun Valley
The moment of falling in love happened at Sun Valley resort

when you slipped and fell and so did I
Both the singer and their partner stumbled and fell in love at the same time

Now ev'ry year we go back
The resort holds a special place in their heart, so they return annually

and then we recall that fall and that moment
Each year, they reminisce about that moment when they fell in love

When we were there on a hill
Thinking of their love story taking place on the ski slope

So we both take a spill and we're Jack and Jill again.
They ski down the hill repeatedly, reminiscent of how Jack and Jill went up and down the hill

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY WARREN, MACK GORDON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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