Jack Hylton was born in Bolton on 2nd July 1892. He came from a working class background and, as a boy, would accompany his father on the piano when he sang in clubs. He also performed at an early age as the "Singing Mill-Boy" and as a relief pianist for various bands.
His early career was as a relief pianist in the 400 club and with the Stroud Haxton Band. After the first world war he went on to play with the Queen's Dance Orchestra where he wrote arrangements of popular songs and had them recorded under the label 'Directed by Jack Hylton.' He went on from here to form his own band.
The band started recording under Jack Hylton's name in 1923. Jack became a respected band leader and was in great demand, so much so that he had to provide bands simultaneously in various locations under his own name. In the 1920s (Babyin' You 1926) the band developed into an orchestra and had a busy schedule. It toured America and Europe and continued until the 1940s when the orchestra disbanded due to members being called up for war service. Jack was also director of the DECCA record label. All Of Me (Decca Recording)
At this point Jack Hylton's career was already moving towards that of an impresario discovering new stars and managing radio, film and theatre productions from Ballets to Circuses. His productions dominated the London theatres with such productions as "The Merry Widow", "Kiss Me Kate" and "Kismet".
When I'm calling you (from the musical Rose Marie).
Some of the stars he managed, appeared in his productions or discovered were Shirley Bassey, Maurice Chevalier, Ernie Wise, Eric Morecambe, Arthur Askey, the Crazy Gang, George Formby, Diana Dors, Thora Hird, Liberace, Noel Gordon, Sid James, Rosalinda Neri to name but a few.
Run Rabbit Run. (A recording by Sid Buckman and Arthur Askey)
Jack later went on to work in TV as the Advisor of Light Entertainment for the new ITV channel. He worked in this role until 1959 and was producing stage productions at the same time. Here he was able to promote his stage discoveries on the television as TV stars. He was instrumental in organising various Royal Command Performances and continued supporting theatre productions until his final stage production "Camelot" in 1965.
It Had to Be You
jack hylton & his orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wandered around and finally found the somebody who
Could make me be true, could make me feel blue,
And even be glad just to be sad thinkin' of you.
Some others I've seen might never be mean
Might never be cross or try to be boss,
But they wouldn't do.
With all your faults, I love you still,
It had to be you, wonderful you,
It had to be you.
It had to be you, it had to be you.
I wandered around and finally found somebody who
Could make me be true, could make me be blue,
And even be glad just to be sad thinkin' of you.
Some others I've seen might never be mean
Might never be cross or try to be boss,
But they wouldn't do.
For nobody else gave me a thrill.
With all your faults, I love you still.
It had to be you, wonderful you
It had to be you.
The song "It Had to Be You" by Jack Hylton & His Orchestra is a romantic tune about the search for true love and finding the right person who can make someone feel true emotions. The lyrics express the idea that there is a person who can make you feel true love, who can make you feel blue, but who can also make you glad just to think of them. The persona of the song has been searching for this person and has finally found them, who has given them a thrill that nobody else could.
The lyrics go on to compare the person the persona has found to others they have seen who might never be mean or try to be bossy, but could never make them feel the way this person does. The persona acknowledges the faults of this person but still loves them anyway, believing that they are the one who was meant to be with them.
Overall, the song expresses the feeling of true love and the idea that there is someone out there who is meant to be with us.
Line by Line Meaning
It had to be you, it had to be you.
You were the one I waited for, there was nobody else who could have filled this void in my heart but you.
I wandered around and finally found the somebody who
I searched high and low for that special someone, and finally I found you.
Could make me be true, could make me feel blue,
You're the only one who could bring out the best in me and also make me feel down.
And even be glad just to be sad thinkin' of you.
Even though it hurts to think of you and how much I miss you, I still find a strange joy in that pain because it means you're always in my thoughts.
Some others I've seen might never be mean
I've seen other people who would never hurt me intentionally,
Might never be cross or try to be boss,
They might never get angry or try to control me,
But they wouldn't do.
But they just wouldn't be enough for me because they're not you.
For nobody else gave me a thrill.
I've never been more excited, happy, or alive with anyone else.
With all your faults, I love you still,
Despite your imperfections, I still love you the same and wouldn't change a thing.
It had to be you, wonderful you,
You're amazing and I'm so glad that it turned out to be you who has my heart.
It had to be you.
There was never anyone else who could have captured my heart like you did.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Isham Jones, Gus Kahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind