Galison was born and raised in New York City, New York. As a child, he started to study piano, but at the age of eight decided to switch to guitar having been inspired by The Beatles. He developed a love of jazz in high school and subsequently attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He decided to change to the harmonica because "I was one of a million guitarists at Berklee" and it was easy to carry around. He became Berklee's only harmonica player. Among his role models at the time were Toots Thielemans and Stevie Wonder.
After Berklee, he studied further at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, then returned to New York in 1982. He swiftly developed a good reputation as a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist.
He performed at various New York venues including The Village Gate, The Blue Note and the Lone Star Cafe with legendary jazz musicians Jaco Pastorius and Jaki Byard. He also played with his own group at Preacher's Cafe in Greenwich Village.
Galison has worked with a diverse range of artists including Carly Simon, Sting, Barbra Streisand, Peggy Lee, Chaka Khan and Astrud Gilberto. He has performed Gordon Jacob's "Suite for Harmonica and Orchestra" and toured the USA in the Broadway musical, Big River. He has also recorded soundtracks for films, most notably Academy Award nominees The Untouchables and Bagdad Café. His harmonica is also heard on the Sesame Street theme ("a great honor") and countless commercials. Other television work includes Oz and Saturday Night Live
One of his major influences and role models, Toots Thielmans, once described him as "the most original and individual of the new generation of harmonica players".
Back In Your Own Back Yard
William Galison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoping ev'ry cloud will be silver lined.
But we all return as we live wo learn,
That we left our happiness behind.
When they sing you "Look for the Silver Lining,"
It is silver dollars they're looking for.
You will find my friend that the rainbow's end,
The bird with feathers of blue, is waiting for you,
Back in your own back yard,
You'll see your castle in Spain, through your window pane,
Back in your own back yard.
Oh you can go to the East go to the West,
But someday you'll come weary at heart back where you started from,
You'll find your happiness lies, right under your eyes,
Back in your own backyard.
The lyrics of William Galison & Madeleine Peyroux's song, Back in Your Own Backyard, depicts the journey of an individual who leaves their home with the expectation of finding a better life. They believe that all their problems would magically vanish, and they would be able to find their happiness elsewhere. However, as they start living their life, they realize that they have left their happiness behind. The lyrics convey the message that happiness cannot be found elsewhere, it lies within oneself.
The song further emphasizes the idea that people are always attracted to the idea of finding something new and better. However, in the pursuit of finding something new, individuals overlook the little joys and pleasures of life that can be found in their own homes. The song advises listeners to appreciate the simple things in life, and the happiness that lies within their own backyard.
The lyrics of the song are simple and relatable, offering a comforting and nostalgic feeling. The use of the metaphor of the bluebird symbolizes the search for happiness, that ultimately leads us back to our own home. The song's message is an essential reminder to people to appreciate the little things in life and be grateful for what they have.
Line by Line Meaning
We leave home expecting to find a blue bird,
We venture out in search of happiness and good fortune.
Hoping ev'ry cloud will be silver lined.
We hope that every obstacle we face will have a positive outcome.
But we all return as we live wo learn,
We eventually come back to reality as we gain experience in life.
That we left our happiness behind.
We often take for granted the joy and contentment we have at home.
When they sing you "Look for the Silver Lining,"
When people encourage you to stay positive amidst a difficult situation,
It is silver dollars they're looking for.
Their motivation is often monetary gain rather than genuine support.
You will find my friend that the rainbow's end,
The solution to your problems or the fulfillment of your dreams,
Is somewhere around your kitchen door.
Might be closer to home than you think.
The bird with feathers of blue, is waiting for you,
The symbol of happiness or inner peace is already within your reach.
Back in your own back yard,
You can find contentment in the familiar surroundings of home.
You'll see your castle in Spain, through your window pane,
You can appreciate the beauty of life and nature even in your own backyard.
Oh you can go to the East go to the West,
You can travel the world in search of happiness and adventure,
But someday you'll come weary at heart back where you started from,
But eventually, you will long to return to your familiar, comfortable surroundings.
You'll find your happiness lies, right under your eyes,
Your source of contentment and joy is often within reach and close to home.
Back in your own backyard.
The familiar and comfortable surroundings of home can provide a sense of fulfillment and happiness.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Al Jolson, Billy Rose, Dave Dreyer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheJazsinger
I LOVE this song and this version is so great!!