He was most famous for his rendition of Tip-toe Thru The Tulips With Me a No. 17 chart hit in 1968 that was delivered in his distinctive high falsetto. He became well known via numerous and highly rated appearances on television including Johnny Carson and Laugh-In. On December 17, 1969, 45 million viewers watched Tiny Tim get married on NBC TV via an appearance on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show program. He was widely known, but generally thought of as a novelty act, and was not taken very seriously, although his records displayed a wide and serious forensic knowledge of early American stage songs.
Growing up with the squeaky clean entertainment choices of the 1930's and 40's, Herbert preferred the romantic crooners of the late- 19th and early-20th centuries and cinematic singers like Bing Crosby and Rudy Valee were amongst his early favorites.
After stints in the Greenwich Village folkscene of the 1950's and 60's billed as Vern Castle, Larry Love, Darry Dover and Emmett Swink, Khaury eventually settled on the name Tiny Tim. He doffed white facial powder makeup, and utilized a ukulele and songs that only a true American musical archivist would know. Despite some amateur demo acetates, his first professional recordings were with producer Richard Perry for the Blue Cat in 1966. Refusing to be deterred despite many years of setbacks in the notoriously tough New York show biz world, Tiny Tim earned a regular gig at a hip club called The Scene, and was soon signed by Mo Ostin to Warner Brothers subsidiary Reprise, then also the home of Frank Sinatra, and his daughter Nancy.
His 1970's label VicTim failed as a business venture, and he once told an interviewer that his next label Toilet Records was so-named "because that's where my career went." By 1978, the public's taste had soured on his act and Johnny Carson refused to book Tiny Tim anymore. However bleak the financial picture appeared, Tiny Tim refused to relent whatever spotlite remained for him, and toured constantly. through the 80's and 90's appearing at punk rock and gay nightclubs, making numerous solo recordings and some with the Texas-based polka band Brave Combo.
He died on November 30, 1996, after a heart attack while performing onstage at a benefit for the Woman's Club of Minneapolis. He was buried with his ukulele.
That Old Feeling
Tiny Tim Lyrics
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When you came in sight i got that old feeling
The moment you came by i felt a thrill
And when you caught my eye
My heart stood still
Once again i seemed to have that old yearning
And i knew the spark of love was still burning
There'll be no new romance for me
For that old feeling is still in my heart
(Repeat)
In "That Old Feeling" by Tiny Tim, the singer expresses his feelings of nostalgia and longing towards a former lover. He describes seeing her once again and feeling a familiar rush of emotions, as if he had never truly moved on from her. His heart "stood still" when their eyes met, indicating that his love for her is still very much alive.
Despite this intense yearning, the singer acknowledges that he cannot start a new romance because he is still holding onto the past. He refers to his feelings as "that old feeling," indicating that they are not new or fleeting, but a long-standing emotion that has endured over time. The repetition of this phrase at the end of each verse reinforces the idea that these emotions are deeply ingrained and difficult to shake off.
Overall, the lyrics of "That Old Feeling" capture the bittersweet experience of holding onto a love from the past, even when it seems impossible to move forward. The singer's wistful tone and vivid descriptions of his emotions create a poignant and relatable portrait of the human heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw you last night and got that old feeling
Upon sighting you last night, I was filled with strong and familiar emotions that I have felt before.
When you came in sight i got that old feeling
As you entered my line of vision, I was overwhelmed with a sense of nostalgia and emotional intensity.
The moment you came by i felt a thrill
Just as you passed by me, I was struck with an intense wave of excitement and anticipation.
And when you caught my eye, My heart stood still
As soon as our eyes met, my heart stopped as a result of the powerful and unexpected emotional reaction that arose within me.
Once again i seemed to have that old yearning
Once more I felt a deep longing for something that I had previously experienced and desired greatly in the past.
And i knew the spark of love was still burning
I was certain that the initial feeling of love that had once existed between us was still strong and present.
There'll be no new romance for me, It's foolish to start
I have resigned myself to avoiding the potential for any new romantic relationships, as it would be unwise to try to overshadow or replace what I already feel for you.
For that old feeling is still in my heart (Repeat)
Because the intense emotions and feelings associated with you are still present in my heart, I cannot move on or forget about the past. This feeling keeps drawing me back to you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Lew Brown, Sammy Fain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind