Paris was born on the 11th January 1900. His brother, Sidney de Paris, was also a musician. The two brothers started a band in the late 1940s called New New Orleans Jazz. It featured Omer Simeon, the famed clarinettist with Jelly Roll Morton. Other legendary jazzmen who served in the band from time to time were drummers Zutty Singleton and Freddie Moore. The banjo chair was filled first by Eddie Gibbs and later by Lee Blair. Don Kirkpatrick was the piano player who played with them most often. This band became an institution in New York City during the 1950s, toured the world in the late 1950s, and recorded extensively.
Paris died on the 3rd January 1973.
Begin the Beguine
Wilbur De Paris Lyrics
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It brings back the sound of music so tender
It brings back a night of tropical splendor
It brings back a memory ever green
I'm with you once more under the stars
And down by the shore an orchestra's playing
And even the palms seem to be swaying
To live it again is past all endeavor
Except when that tune clutches my heart
And there we are, swearing to love forever
And promising never, never to part
What moments divine, what rapture serene
Till clouds came along to disperse the joys we had tasted
And now when I hear people curse the chance that was wasted
I know but too well what they mean
So don't let them begin the beguine
Let the love that was once a fire remain an ember
Let it sleep like the dead desire I only remember
When they begin the beguine
Oh yes, let them begin the beguine, please make them play
Till the stars that were there before return above you
Till you whisper to me once more, "Darling, I love you"
Then we suddenly know what heaven we're in
When they begin the, begin the, begin the beguine
When they begin the, begin the, begin the beguine
When they begin the beguine
"Begin the Beguine" is a classic romantic tune that speaks of the memories of a past love. The lyrics describe the effect the sound of the beguine has on the singer, taking them back to nights of tropical splendor under the stars by the shore when an orchestra would play. The song speaks of the rapture and joy of that moment in time, describing it as "moments divine" and "rapture serene." However, this joy is disrupted by the clouds that came along to disperse that joy, leaving the singer with only a memory. The singer urges the orchestra not to play the beguine, to let the love that was once a fire remain an ember, and let it sleep like the dead desire he or she only remembers. But finally, the singer gives in to their desire and asks them to play the beguine again, bringing back the memories of that special moment once more.
Line by Line Meaning
When they begin the beguine
When the music starts.
It brings back the sound of music so tender
The music reminds me of a gentle, loving feeling.
It brings back a night of tropical splendor
The music reminds me of a beautiful night in a tropical place.
It brings back a memory ever green
The music brings up a joyful memory that will never fade.
I'm with you once more under the stars
The music makes me feel like I'm with my loved one again.
And down by the shore an orchestra's playing
I hear an orchestra playing by the shore.
And even the palms seem to be swaying
The music is so lovely that even the trees seem to be moving to it.
When they begin the beguine
When the music starts.
To live it again is past all endeavor
To try to relive that moment again is impossible.
Except when that tune clutches my heart
Except for when I hear that song and it touches me deeply.
And there we are, swearing to love forever
We are there again, promising to love each other forever.
And promising never, never to part
We also promise to never leave each other's side.
What moments divine, what rapture serene
What wonderful, peaceful moments we had together.
Till clouds came along to disperse the joys we had tasted
But then something went wrong and those happy moments were gone.
And now when I hear people curse the chance that was wasted
When I hear others regretting missed opportunities.
I know but too well what they mean
I understand their feelings all too well.
So don't let them begin the beguine
Don't let the music start again.
Let the love that was once a fire remain an ember
Let the love we once had cool down.
Let it sleep like the dead desire I only remember
Let it stay buried like a long gone passion that I only recall.
When they begin the beguine
When the music starts again.
Oh yes, let them begin the beguine, please make them play
Actually, go ahead and start the music, please.
Till the stars that were there before return above you
Until the stars that we once gazed at are back in the sky.
Till you whisper to me once more, "Darling, I love you"
Until you say those words to me again: "Darling, I love you".
Then we suddenly know what heaven we're in
Then we will find ourselves in paradise.
When they begin the, begin the, begin the beguine
When the music starts again and again and again.
When they begin the beguine
When the music starts.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind