A pleasing interpreter of standards whose influences include cool school fa… Read Full Bio ↴A pleasing interpreter of standards whose influences include cool school favorites like Chris Connor, Julie London, and June Christy, Barbara Montgomery has been singing jazz since the 1960s, but didn't actually record an album until 1996. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Montgomery lived in Vietnam in the early to mid-'60s because of her father's work as an electrical engineer before moving to her adopted home of Philadelphia in the late '60s. In the early to mid-'70s, Montgomery's day gig was The Mike Douglas Show, for which she performed a variety of duties (including makeup artist, camera person, and stage manager). When the popular television program moved from Philly to L.A., Montgomery chose to remain in Philly. Montgomery went on tour with pop/folk singer Harry Chapin later in the 1970s (helping with lighting and doing some background vocals), but after having her first child in 1979, she took a break from music for several years in order to be a full-time mother. Since 1986, she has served as musical director for fitness expert Richard Simmons. Between the demands of working for Simmons and raising a child, Montgomery had little time for jazz singing in the 1980s. But she returned to club gigs in 1992 and acquired a small following playing the Philly jazz circuit, where she has been joined by such notables as guitarist Jimmy Bruno and pianists Sid Simmons, Barry Sames, and Dennis Fortune. Montgomery recruited former Chick Corea drummer Dave Weckl for her first album of 1996 (which she produced with guitarist Michael Sembello), and in 1998 the sophomore LP, Ask Me Now, was released. Dakini Land followed three years later, a tribute to the work of Chick Corea that won her much praise and put her on the scene as a vocalist to follow. That reputation was helped by Little Sunflower, the following year's record of standards.

Like A Lover
Barbara Montgomery Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Like a lover, the morning sun
Slowly rises and kisses you awake
Your smile is soft and fuzzy
As you let it play upon your face
Oh, how I dream
I might be like the morning sun to you

Like a lover, the river wind

Sighs and ripples its fingers through your hair
Upon your cheek it lingers
Never having known a sweeter place
Oh, how I dream
I might be like the river wind to you

How I envy a cup that knows your lips
Let it be me, my love
And a table that feels your fingertips
Let it be me, let me be your love
Bring an end to the endless days and nights
Without you

Like a lover, the velvet moon
Shares your pillow and watches while you sleep
Its light arrives on tiptoe
Gently taking you in its embrace
Oh, how I dream
I might be like the velvet moon to you

Oh, how I dream
I might be like the river wind to you

How I envy a cup that knows your lips
Let it be me, my love
And a table that feels your fingertips
Let it be me, let me be your love
Bring an end to the endless days and nights
Without you

Like a lover, the velvet moon
Shares your pillow and watches while you sleep
Its light arrives on tiptoe
Gently taking you in its embrace
Oh, how I dream
I might be like the velvet moon to you

I might be like the velvet moon to you

I might be like the velvet moon to you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Barbara Montgomery's song "Like a Lover" are imbued with romanticism and a longing for intimacy. She compares herself to elements of nature that have a close relationship to her beloved. She wishes she could be as gentle and loving as the morning sun, that awakens her beloved with a soft kiss. She dreams of being like the river wind that traces its fingers through her beloved's hair, revealing the tenderness of her touch. Montgomery continues to express her longing to be like objects that feel her beloved's presence, such as a cup that knows the taste of her lips or a table that can feel the touch of her fingertips. The song ends with Montgomery dreaming of being like the velvet moon, watching over her beloved and embracing her with its gentle light while she sleeps.

The song "Like a Lover" was originally composed by Brazilian musician Marcos Valle, who wrote the lyrics in Portuguese. It was first released in 1964 under the title "Como un Sopro de Céu". The English lyrics were written by American songwriter Alan Bergman, who collaborated with his wife, Marilyn Bergman, and singer-songwriter Sérgio Mendes to create the English version. Montgomery recorded the song for her album "I Wanna Make It With You" in 1976.

Line by Line Meaning

Like a lover, the morning sun Slowly rises and kisses you awake
The morning sun rises slowly, caressing your face with its warmth and light, awakening you gently, like a lover.

Your smile is soft and fuzzy As you let it play upon your face
Your smile is warm and gentle, bringing a sense of comfort and contentment to those around you, as if you were luxuriating in the embrace of a lover.

Like a lover, the river wind Sighs and ripples its fingers through your hair Upon your cheek it lingers Never having known a sweeter place
The river wind flows softly through your hair, brushing against your cheek and leaving a tender caress, as if it were savouring the sweetness of a lover's embrace.

How I envy a cup that knows your lips Let it be me, my love And a table that feels your fingertips Let it be me, let me be your love Bring an end to the endless days and nights Without you
I yearn to be the cup that touches your lips and the table that feels your gentle fingertips, bringing an end to the endless days and nights of loneliness without you, my love.

Like a lover, the velvet moon Shares your pillow and watches while you sleep Its light arrives on tiptoe Gently taking you in its embrace
The velvet moon sits beside you on your pillow, observing you as you sleep, its light gently enveloping you in its embrace, like a lover keeping you safe and warm.

Oh, how I dream I might be like the velvet moon to you
Oh, how I dream of being the one who watches over you while you sleep, providing a sense of peace and security, like the velvet moon.

I might be like the velvet moon to you
I might be the one who brings a sense of calm and comfort, like the velvet moon, staying by your side always and ensuring your safety and happiness.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALAN BERGMAN, DORIVAL TOSTES CAYMMI, MARILYN BERGMAN, NELSON MOTTA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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