Body & Soul
Benny Carter Orchestra Lyrics
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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 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
The lyrics of Benny Carter's "Body and Soul" beautifully captures the heartfelt longing of a person for their partner. The singer expresses deep sadness and loneliness in their heart and sighs only for their beloved. The lyrics further reveal the singer's confusion about why their beloved has not seen how much they desire them. The singer confesses that they are all for their beloved, body, and soul.
The lyrics imply that the singer has been wronged by their partner, and they spend their days longing and wondering why. The singer asks if their partner is pretending, which looks like the end of their relationship unless they get another chance to prove their love. The second stanza reinforces the depth of the singer's devotion, and they are willing to surrender themselves to their partner, body, and soul.
In summary, Benny Carter's "Body and Soul" invokes the feeling of deep love, longing, and heartbreak. The lyrics reveal the vulnerability and raw emotions of a person deeply in love and willing to go to great lengths for their partner's love.
Line by Line Meaning
My heart is sad and lonely
I feel miserable and dejected without you in my life
For you I sigh, for you dear only
My heart aches and longs for your presence, and no one else's
Why haven't you seen it
I wonder why you're oblivious to the fact that I love you completely
I'm all for you body and soul
I'm devoted to you with my entire being, both physically and emotionally
I spend my days in longing
Every day, I'm consumed by deep desire for you
And wondering why it's me you're wronging
I'm trying to figure out why you're mistreating me in this way
I tell you I mean it
I'm not simply saying this to appease you – I genuinely care
I'm all for you body and soul
I'm completely and utterly devoted to you, in every way possible
I can't believe it
I'm shocked and dismayed by what's happening between us
It's hard to conceive it
I can't imagine why you'd reject my romantic advances
That you'd turn away romance
I'm confused and hurt by your rejection of my love
Are you pretending
I wonder if you're just pretending not to feel the same way I do
It looks like the ending
It seems like our relationship is coming to a close
Unless I could have just one more chance to prove, dear
I'm hopeful that I could convince you to give me another chance if you'd just let me try
My life a wreck you're making
You're causing chaos and damage to my life through your rejection of my love
You know I'm yours for just the taking
I'm telling you that I'm completely devoted to you and available for a relationship with you
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul
I'm willing to give myself completely to you, both physically and emotionally, if you'll have me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: PAUL MICHAEL BARRY, PHIL SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Debukochi
For those who aren't familiar with this recording, it was arranged by Benny Carter for this 1961 release, based upon Coleman Hawkins' 1939 classic. The blues influenced alto solo @0:49 is by Phil Woods. Charlie Rouse (I loved his early '60s work) follows with a bop-ish tenor solo @1:07. @1:33 Carter jumps in with a brief tenor solo featuring some snazzy double-timing, but it's The Hawk on tenor who has the longest and final solo starting @2:00. He plays this solo as a more forceful and contemporary interpretation of his original.
For many years, this was my quintessential version of Body and Soul. Then I heard Dexter Gordon's version, and that changed everything...forever.