Calloway was a master of energetic scat singing and led one of the United States' most popular African American big bands from the start of the 1930s through the late 1940s. Calloway's Orchestra featured performers that included trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie and Adolphus "Doc" Cheatham, saxophonists Ben Webster and Leon "Chu" Berry, New Orleans guitar ace Danny Barker, and bassist Milt Hinton. Calloway continued to perform until his death in 1994 at the age of 86.
Sunset
Cab Calloway and His Orchestra Lyrics
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So lonely and then
You came, out of nowhere
Like the sun up from the hills
Cold, cold was the wind
Warm, warm were your lips
Out there, on that ski trail
A weekend in Canada, a change of scene
Was the most I bargained for
And then I discovered you and in your eyes
I found the love that I couldn't ignore
Down, down came the sun
Fast, fast, fast, beat my heart
I knew when the sun set
From that day, we'd never ever part
The song "Sunset" by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra is a nostalgic love song with a powerful beat and memorable lyrics. The song conveys the story of a lonely person who finds love unexpectedly and discovers a new world of warmth and excitement. The opening lines suggest the first emotions of the singer with the words "Once I was alone, so lonely and then". The words "you came out of nowhere like the sun up from the hills" highlight the sudden appearance of a romantic interest, which dispels the loneliness.
The second verse of the song describes the physical sensations that the singer experiences as a result of this newfound romance. The lyrics "cold, cold was the wind, warm, warm were your lips" and "where your kiss filled me with thrills" create a powerful image of the singer's physical impressions. The following lines introduce the setting of the encounter with "out there, on that ski trail," evoking images of a winter landscape, complete with hills and snow.
The chorus describes the impact this encounter has on the singer's life, with the lines "a weekend in Canada, a change of scene, was the most I bargained for, and then I discovered you." These lines suggest that the singer was not actively seeking love, but fate brought it to them anyway. The image of discovery continues with the phrase "and in your eyes I found the love that I couldn't ignore."
The final verse describes the singer's resolution to pursue this love, with the line "from that day, we'd never ever part." The powerful beat of the song and the repetition of the word "fast" in the line "fast, fast, fast, beat my heart" convey the urgency of this resolution.
Overall, the song "Sunset" is a nostalgic and evocative love song that captures the overwhelming feelings of discovering love unexpectedly.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I was alone
Before I met you, I used to feel lonely and isolated.
So lonely and then
My loneliness was profound and persistent, but it all changed when you came into my life.
You came, out of nowhere
I didn't expect to meet someone like you, it was a surprise to me.
Like the sun up from the hills
You were the light that brightened my world, illuminating it with joy and happiness.
Cold, cold was the wind
The wind outside was chilled and icy, making me shiver and feeling cold.
Warm, warm were your lips
But your kiss warmed me up and made me feel comfortable and cozy.
Out there, on that ski trail
We were outside, skiing down the trail.
Where your kiss filled me with thrills
Your kiss was so exciting and brought me immense pleasure and excitement.
A weekend in Canada, a change of scene
I went to Canada for a quick break and to experience something new and different.
Was the most I bargained for
I didn't expect to find love or anything too exciting, it was just a simple plan for me.
And then I discovered you and in your eyes
But in meeting you and looking into your eyes, I found so much more than I had anticipated.
I found the love that I couldn't ignore
I realized I had found love, something so powerful and huge that I couldn't resist it.
Down, down came the sun
The sun set, slowly descending below the horizon.
Fast, fast, fast, beat my heart
My pulse raced with excitement and anticipation.
I knew when the sun set
At that moment, I felt certain deep within me.
From that day, we'd never ever part
That we would be together forever and never be apart from each other in the future.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Norman Gimbel, Eddie Heywood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind