Body & Soul
Barry Harris & Kenny Barron Lyrics

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My heart is sad and lonely
For you I sigh, for you dear only
Why haven't you seen it
I'm all for you body and soul

I spend my days in longing
And wondering why it's me you're wronging
I tell you I mean it

I'm all for you body and soul

I can't believe it
It's hard to conceive it
That you'd turn away romance
Are you pretending
It looks like the ending
Unless I could have just one more chance to prove, dear

My life a wreck you're making
You know I'm yours for just the taking
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul

My life a wreck you're making

You know I'm yours for the very taking
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul

Overall Meaning

Barry Harris's song "Body and Soul" is a heart-wrenching love ballad about a person who is hopelessly in love with someone who does not reciprocate that love. The singer's heart is aching with loneliness, and they sing out to their beloved, asking why they haven't seen how deeply in love they are. The singer spends their days longing for the object of their affection and wondering why they are being wronged. They proclaim that they are all for their beloved's body and soul and ask for just one more chance to prove their love. The song ends on a melancholy note, with the singer lamenting that their life is a wreck all because they love someone who doesn't love them back.

The lyrics of "Body and Soul" are a classic representation of unrequited love, and the song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and Amy Winehouse. The song's lyrics have become iconic in the world of jazz, and it has remained a popular song to perform for both jazz singers and instrumentalists. The song's languid melody lends itself well to improvisation, and it has become a staple of many jazz musicians' repertoires.

Line by Line Meaning

My heart is sad and lonely
I feel deeply unhappy and alone.

For you I sigh, for you dear only
I yearn for you and only you.

Why haven't you seen it
Why haven't you realized that I am deeply in love with you.

I'm all for you body and soul
I am completely and wholeheartedly devoted to you.

I spend my days in longing
I spend my time yearning for your love.

And wondering why it's me you're wronging
I wonder why you are rejecting me.

I tell you I mean it
I am telling you that my feelings are genuine.

I'm all for you body and soul
I am completely and wholeheartedly devoted to you.

I can't believe it
It's hard for me to believe.

It's hard to conceive it
It's difficult for me to imagine.

That you'd turn away romance
That you would reject me and not want a romantic relationship with me.