Eva Cassidy was the third of four children born to Hugh and Barbara Cassidy. From an early age, she displayed artistic and musical talent. When she was nine years old, her father taught her to play the guitar, and she began to play and sing at family gatherings.
While a student at Bowie High School, she did sing with a local band, called Stonehenge, and received considerable praise.
At the age of eighteen, Cassidy began her professional career, singing and playing guitar in a Washington, D.C., area band, called Easy Street. This band performed in a variety of styles, at weddings, corporate parties, and pubs.
During the summer of 1983, Cassidy sang and played guitar, six days per week, at Wild World, in Maryland. Her brother Dan was also a member of this working band.
Throughout the 1980s, Cassidy worked with a number of other bands, including the soul and Motown-oriented band The Honeybees, and the techno-pop band Characters Without Names, later called Method Actor.
During this period, Cassidy also worked as a propagator at a plant nursery and as a furniture painter in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1986, she met (bassist and recording engineer) Chris Biondo, who encouraged her and helped her find work as a backup singer for various acts. In 1990, Biondo and Cassidy hired the so-called "Eva Cassidy Band", composed of Chris Biondo, Lenny Williams, Keith Grimes and Raice McLeod, and she began to perform frequently in the Washington area.
In 1992, Biondo played a tape of Cassidy's voice for Chuck Brown. Best known as the "Godfather of Go-go", Brown is also a jazz and blues vocalist. This led to the first commercial recording of Cassidy, the duet album with Chuck Brown, The Other Side; which featured performances of classic songs such as "Fever", Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" and Cassidy's signature tune "Over the Rainbow". The album was released and distributed by Liaison Records, the label that also released Brown's Go-go albums. The duet CD attracted the attention of various record companies, but the offers all required Cassidy to pigeonhole herself within a single style (e.g., pop or jazz), something she adamantly refused to do.[citation needed]
In 1993 Eva Cassidy was first honored by the Washington area music community when she was awarded two Wammie awards for "Female Vocalist Roots/Traditional R&B" and "Vocalist Jazz/Traditional." The next year she was chosen to perform for the awards ceremony.
In January 1996, Cassidy recorded the album Live at Blues Alley, about which The Washington Post later commented that "she could sing anything and make it sound like the only music that mattered". [1] Cassidy was unhappy with her singing on the album, because she had a bad cold on the night of the recording; she began recording a studio album which was eventually released as Eva by Heart posthumously in 1997.
During a promotional event for the Live at Blues Alley CD in July 1996, Cassidy noticed an ache in her hips, which she attributed to stiffness from painting murals. The pain persisted, and, a few weeks later, Cassidy was diagnosed with melanoma. By the time of her diagnosis, the cancer had spread throughout her body. Cassidy's health rapidly deteriorated, and her final performance was in September 1996. At the performance, she had used a walker to reach the stage, sang "What a Wonderful World" in front of an audience of friends, and was subsequently admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital.[citation needed]
Eva Cassidy died on November 2, 1996, at the age of 33. She was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Washington Area Music Association.
What A Wonderful World
Eva Cassidy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
I watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
I hear babies cry I watch them grow
And they'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself oh what a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of the people passing by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
But they're really saying I love you
I see trees that are green and red roses too
I watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself oh what a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of the people passing by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
But they're really saying I love you
I see trees of green and red roses too
I watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
I think to myself oh what a wonderful world
The lyrics of Eva Cassidy and Katie Melua's "What A Wonderful World" depict the beauty of the natural world and the joy of human interaction. The opening lines, "I see trees that are green red roses too, I watch them bloom for me and you," speak of the simple beauty of nature that is freely available to all of us to appreciate. The phrase "And I think to myself what a wonderful world," is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the idea that the world is indeed a wonderful place if one takes the time to stop and appreciate its beauty.
The second stanza of the song shifts focus to the growth and potential of human beings. The narrator hears babies cry and watches them grow, acknowledging that they will learn much more than they ever could. This highlights the endless possibilities that life has to offer and the potential for growth that every person has.
The final stanza once again brings together the beauty of nature and human interactions. The colors of the rainbow in the sky are mirrored on the faces of the people passing by, suggesting that there is beauty and love all around us that we may not always appreciate. The image of friends shaking hands and saying "how do you do", while really saying "I love you", leaves the listener with a hopeful feeling of the goodness and love that exists in the world.
Overall, "What A Wonderful World" is a joyful and uplifting song that encourages the listener to appreciate the simple beauty of nature and the love that exists between people.
Line by Line Meaning
I see trees that are green red roses too
I observe the natural world, including the trees and roses, and how they add beauty to our surroundings.
I watch them bloom for me and you
I observe the natural life cycles of the tree and roses, knowing that their beauty is not just for me, but for everyone to enjoy.
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
I reflect on the beauty of nature and the world around me, recognizing that we live in a truly remarkable place.
I hear babies cry I watch them grow
I am attentive to the sounds of life, including the cries of infants and the gradual development of children into adulthood.
And they'll learn much more than I'll ever know
I recognize that young people will experience and learn things that I may not have the opportunity to, and I anticipate their growth with wonder and excitement.
And I think to myself oh what a wonderful world
I continue to reflect on the beauty of the world, including the growth and development of young people, and how it all contributes to the amazing place we live in.
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
I appreciate the natural beauty of the sky, and the colors that come with it, such as the rainbow.
Are also on the faces of the people passing by
I recognize that people also have unique and beautiful qualities that are worth noticing and celebrating.
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
I notice how people greet each other, even strangers, with hands shaking and friendly greetings.
But they're really saying I love you
I understand that these greetings of 'how do you do' are often a way to express love and affection for others, even if it's not said directly.
And I think to myself oh what a wonderful world
I conclude that the beauty of the world and its inhabitants, including our interactions with each other, is truly remarkable and inspiring.
I see trees of green and red roses too
Repeating an earlier observation, I recognize and appreciate the beauty of the natural world around us, including trees and roses.
I watch them bloom for me and you
Just as before, I am grateful for the natural beauty of the world that can bring joy and enrichment to all who experience it.
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Again, I reflect on the remarkable beauty of the world and its many wonders, recognizing that we live in a truly fortunate and inspiring place.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George David Weiss, Robert Thiele
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sing Your Style Studio
"What A Wonderful World"
I see trees that are green, red roses too
I watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more, than I'll ever know
And I think to myself, ohh what a wonderful world
The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of the people passing by
I see friends shaking hands, saying, "how do you do?"
But they're really saying, "I love you"
I see trees that are green and red roses too
I watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, oh what a wonderful world
The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of the people passing by
I see friends shaking hands, saying, "how do you do?"
But they're really saying, "I love you
I see trees that are green and red roses too
I watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, oh what a wonderful world
I think to myself, ooh what a wonderful world
reef
I see trees that are green, red roses too
I watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more, than I'll ever know
And I think to myself, ohh what a wonderful world
The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of the people passing by
I see friends shaking hands, saying, "how do you do?"
But they're really saying, "I love you"
I see trees that are green and red roses too
I watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, oh what a wonderful world
The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of the people passing by
I see friends shaking hands, saying, "how do you do?"
But they're really saying, "I love you
I see trees that are green and red roses too
I watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, oh what a wonderful world
I think to myself, ooh what a wonderful world
cajqosmio
What A Wonderful World
(Cover version:EVa Cassidy)
I see trees that are green red roses too
I watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
I hear babies cry I watch them grow
And they'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself oh what a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of the people passing by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
But they're really saying I love you
I see trees that are green and red roses too
I watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself oh what a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of the people passing by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
But they're really saying I love you
I see trees of green and red roses too
I watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
I think to myself oh what a wonderful world
Dianne
She makes you feel you are hearing music for the first time. I also admire that she lived her life her way. Performed where she wanted and refused to fit into someone else's demands. She knew who she was. An amazing presence. Even though she has crossed over she is still with us, inspiring us. What a Wonderful World.
Bruno Loyale
So true.....God bless
Mary Pearce
What are you thinking about !!!
Steve Cook
Grover Washington Jr me take five Grover Washington Jr
Robert Ferguson
She takes us to a better world with reminders of the depth of our souls.
GRJ2733
Yes, there is something in her that makes us want to be better than we have been.
Karin MOlina Ramirez
❤
Horsey Horselips 🐎
Well Said
Marianna Davis
So true!
Sharron Pettis
Oh dear the most lovely thing I’ve ever heard! Makes me think of every good thing I want for my children and all souls!!! Thank. you Lord for this blessing!! 😭😊❤️