Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Bryant grew up in Chicago and took trumpet lessons to little success. His first job in entertainment was dancing in the Whitman Sisters Show in 1926. He worked in various vaudeville productions for the next several years, and in 1934 he appeared in the show Chocolate Revue with Bessie Smith.
In 1934, he put together his first big band, which at times included Teddy Wilson, Cozy Cole, Johnny Russell, Benny Carter, Ben Webster, Eddie Durham, Ram Ramirez, and Taft Jordan. They recorded six times between 1935 and 1938; Bryant sings on 18 of the 26 sides recorded.
Once his ensemble disbanded, Bryant worked in acting and disc jockeying. He recorded rhythm and blues in 1945 and led another big band between 1946 and 1948. During September and October 1949, he hosted Uptown Jubilee, a short-lived all-black variety show on CBS-TV . The show aired on Tuesday nights.
In the 1950s he was the emcee at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. He moved to California later in the 1950s and died of a heart attack in Los Angeles in 1964.
All my life
Willie Bryant and His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been waiting for you
My wonderful one, I've begun
Living all my life
All my love
Has been waiting for you
My life is sublime, now that I'm
You seem so lovely, so far above me
I'm almost afraid to look
But I adore you; I pledge before you
A heart that's an open book
All my life
Hold me close to your heart
But all else above, hold my love
Darling, just hold my love
The lyrics of the song "All My Life" by Willie Bryant and his Orchestra describe the joy of finally finding love after waiting for it for so long. The singer expresses his excitement by saying he has been waiting his whole life for his lover to come along. The lyrics convey the message that the wait was worth it, as the love he has found is sensational and has elevated his life.
The singer pledges his love to his partner, describing them as someone he adores and considers far above him. He declares his love for them openly and desires for them to hold his love above all else. The lyrics show the singer's eagerness to hold his partner's affection close to his heart.
Overall, the song is a beautiful tribute to the transformative power of love. It speaks of finding happiness and completion through another person, acknowledging the lengths one may have to go to find love and the significance of the love once it is found.
Line by Line Meaning
All my life
Throughout my entire existence
I've been waiting for you
I have anticipated meeting you for a long time
My wonderful one, I've begun
You are the amazing person I had hoped to meet and I have started to live the life I always imagined with you
Living all my life
My entire existence has been to find and be with you
All my love
I have been withholding all my feelings of love for you
Has been waiting for you
I have been holding back all my affection until our paths crossed
My life is sublime, now that I'm
My life is elevated to the highest level of happiness because I have you in it
Living all my love
I am now expressing and sharing all the love I have for you
You seem so lovely, so far above me
You are an enchanting person and I feel unworthy of your love and beauty
I'm almost afraid to look
I am intimidated by your perfect persona and afraid of not being accepted by you
But I adore you; I pledge before you
Nonetheless, I cherish you wholeheartedly and vow to dedicate myself to you
A heart that's an open book
I am transparent in my emotions and intentions; I am genuine
All my life
Since I came into existence
Hold me close to your heart
Embrace me tightly with love and compassion
But all else above, hold my love
My love for you should be the most valuable thing you hold on to
Darling, just hold my love
My affection for you is unique and precious, so please don't let go of it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Sammy H. Stept, Sidney D. Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind