He was born in Venice, Italy and his father was the concertmaster of the La Scala orchestra under Arturo Toscanini. His family moved to England in 1912, where he studied at Trinity College of Music in London. After graduation, he formed his own orchestra, which played in and around Birmingham. By the time World War II broke out, his orchestra was one of the most popular in England, both on the BBC and in live performances.
He was also musical director for a large number of musicals and other plays, including ones by Noel Coward. After the war, he concentrated on recording, and eventually gave up live performance altogether. He worked with arranger Ronnie Binge, who developed the cascading string sound that became his hallmark in such hits as Charmaine. His records were regulars in stores selling hi-fi stereo equipment, as they were produced and arranged for stereo reproduction.
He recorded for Decca until the mid-1950s, at which time he switched to London Records. He recorded over 50 albums on that label, many of which were top-40 hits. These included Song from Moulin Rouge and Cara Mia, which reached No. 1 in Britain in 1953 and 1954, respectively. The latter was also Mantovani's first U.S. Top Ten hit.
In the United States, between 1955 to 1972, he released over 40 albums, with 27 reaching the Top 40 and 11 the Top Ten. His biggest success was with the album Film Encores, which made it to No. 1 in 1957. Similarly, Mantovani Plays Music From 'Exodus' and Other Great Themes made it to No. 2 in 1961 and sold over one million albums.
Mantovani made his last recordings in 1975.
Since his death at his home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1980, his music has enjoyed a minor revival,[citation needed] with much of his catalogue reappearing on CD and an orchestra bearing his name performing concert tours. The salability of the Mantovani name is underscored by new recordings being made as the Mantovani Orchestra. Unfortunately, a large number of CDs are also available of unauthorized recordings, billed as Mantovani or Mantovani Orchestra.[citation needed] There have also been CDs released under the Mantovani name of recordings made by others while Mantovani was still alive.[citation needed] Thus, consumers of this music are advised to familiarize themselves with the conductor's discography. Material with the London Records logo on it is apt to be genuine Mantovani, while other recordings are less likely to be actual Mantovani recordings.
The Long and Winding Road
The Mantovani Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to you door
The wild and windy night
Has left a pool of tears
Crying for the day
Why leave me standing here?
Let me know the way
Many times I've been alone
And many times I've cried
Anyway you'll never know
The many ways I've tried
And still they lead me back
To the long winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
Lead me to your door
But still they lead me back
To the long winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't keep me waiting here
Lead me to your door
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
"The Long And Winding Road" is a poignant and introspective song that reflects on a journey, both literal and metaphorical. The long and winding road symbolizes the ups and downs, twists and turns that one encounters in life. It represents a path that leads to the person the singer deeply cares about, but it also carries a sense of uncertainty and longing. The road "that leads to your door" signifies the desire to be close to someone, to find love or reconciliation.
The lyrics also touch upon themes of perseverance and repeated attempts to reach the desired destination. The phrase "I've seen that road before, it always leads me here" suggests a sense of inevitability, as if the singer has gone down this road several times but keeps ending up in the same place, at the doorstep of the person they long for. The references to being alone, crying, and trying in various ways indicate the emotional struggles and efforts made to reach this person.
The repetition of the line "Don't leave me waiting here, lead me to your door" emphasizes the urgency and longing for connection. It begs for clarity and guidance, urging the person of interest to show the way and bring the singer closer to their heart. Overall, the song beautifully captures the complexity of human emotions and the yearning for love and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
The long and winding road
Life's unpredictable and complex journey
That leads to your door
That brings me closer to you
Will never disappear
Will always be present and influential
I've seen that road before
I've experienced similar challenges in the past
It always leads me here
It consistently brings me back to you
Lead me to your door
Guide me towards your love and presence
The wild and windy night
The tumultuous and chaotic moments
That the rain washed away
That brought temporary relief or cleansing
Has left a pool of tears
Resulted in deep sadness and sorrow
Crying for the day
Yearning for a brighter future
Why leave me standing here?
Why abandon me in this vulnerable state?
Let me know the way
Provide guidance and direction
Many times I've been alone
Frequently experiencing loneliness
And many times I've cried
Suffered through numerous moments of pain
Anyway you'll never know
No matter what, you'll never understand
The many ways I've tried
The various efforts I've made
And still they lead me back
Despite everything, I'm still brought back
To the long winding road
To the complicated and uncertain journey
You left me standing here
You abandoned me in this vulnerable state
A long long time ago
A significant period in the past
Don't leave me waiting here
Don't keep me alone and waiting
Lead me to your door
Guide me back to your love and presence
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Expressing affirmation and eagerness
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind