Carter was born Lillie Mae Jones on 16th May 1929 in Flint, Michigan and grew up in Detroit, where her father led a church choir. She studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory. She won a talent contest and became a regular on the local club circuit, singing and playing piano. When she was sixteen, she sang with Charlie Parker. She later performed with Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis and toured with Lionel Hampton (from whom she received the nickname "Betty Bebop"), when she perfected her scat singing of bebop.
Her career was eclipsed somewhat during the 1960s and 1970s, though a series of duets with Ray Charles in 1961, including the R&B-chart-topping "Baby, It's Cold Outside", brought her a measure of popular recognition. She recorded for various labels during this period, including Peacock, ABC-Paramount, and Atco, but was rarely satisfied with the resulting product. An episode in which a record company A&R man tried to abscond with a set of her master recordings led her to establish her own record label, Bet-Car, in 1970. Some of her most outstanding recordings were first issued on Bet-Car, including the double album The Audience with Betty Carter (1980). She was well-received at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1977 and 1978. In 1987 Carter signed with Verve Records. She won a Grammy in 1988 for her album Look What I Got! and sang in a guest appearance on The Cosby Show in that year.
She died on 26th September 1998.
Alone Together
Betty Carter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Above the world, we're not too proud
To cling together, we're strong
As long as we're together.
Alone together, the blinding rain
The starless night, were not in vain;
For we're together, and what is there
Our love is as deep as the sea,
Our love is as great as a love can be,
And we can weather the great unknown,
If we're alone together.
The song "Alone Together" by Betty Carter and Ray Charles talks about a couple being intimate beyond the crowd and above the world, where they are not ashamed to hold on to each other, and they derive strength from their togetherness. They face challenging moments together without fear because their love for each other is as deep as the sea and can weather the great unknown.
In the first verse, the song highlights the strength that comes from being together. Despite the chaos of the world, the couple finds comfort in each other's arms. The second verse emphasizes the power of togetherness in times of trouble. They are together through life's most challenging moments and unite to overcome them. The chorus reiterates the depth of their love, which they know is strong enough to weather any storm.
In conclusion, Alone Together by Betty Carter and Ray Charles is a powerful love song that emphasizes the strength of togetherness. The lyrics inspire us to find comfort, fearlessness and support in our relationships, especially when we face the most challenging moments of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Alone together, beyond the crowd,
Being together, away from the world and away from people in general.
Above the world, we're not too proud
Our love is above materialistic things, it isn't based on status, money or possessions.
To cling together, we're strong
Our love gives us the strength to cling onto each other through all circumstances.
As long as we're together.
Our relationship only works if we're together, we're dependent on each other's presence.
Alone together, the blinding rain
Together we can face any tough situation, that's even more intense than rain.
The starless night, were not in vain;
Even in the darkest of times, being together is still worth it and not in vain.
For we're together, and what is there
The fact that we're together is all that matters and enough.
To fear together.
We won't be afraid of anything as long as we're facing it together.
Our love is as deep as the sea,
Our love is vast and we'll always have a deep understanding between us.
Our love is as great as a love can be,
We have the greatest love that's possible between two people.
And we can weather the great unknown,
With our love, we can face any and every challenging situation.
If we're alone together.
We only need each other to face anything and everything that life throws our way.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARTHUR SCHWARTZ, HOWARD DIETZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@desilove7110
"Alone Together"
Alone together, beyond the crowd,
Above the world, we're not too proud
To cling together, We're strong
As long as we're together.
Alone together, the blinding rain
The starless night, were not in vain;
For we're together, and what is there
To fear together.
Our love is as deep as the sea,
Our love is as great as a love can be,
And we can weather the great unknown,
If we're alone together.
@murph3001
I firmly believe this is one of the greatest studio albums ever produced. Ray and Betty are forever. Perfection __
@yolandarodriguez3578
agreed!
@andreturner5357
I was in the military (Army) stationed near Stuggart where one night I improvised Mustang Sally. Later I was asked and did join a band "Blue Spirit". Point is the band was performing at the BLUE NOTE and there I had the great honor of meeting Ms Carter..hilight..she complimented my singing and wished me success.
@daviddavidson8050
Amazing music jazzblog101! Thank you for the post. Enjoy your day!
@rootandbranchbranch6299
How did we come to lose this kind of artistry? I doubt anyone can deliver this kind of tone and mood now. It's transfixing.
@janazaki1063
Jazz Vocalists Have become more Pop style and don't practice the slow deep melodic Jazz styles of the 40's 50 's , I have Studied Jazz singing and this song was taught to me it can be done fast or slow tempo
@michaelwoodward9894
BEAUTIFUL just BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER,Ray and Betty together
@jay1beaux
One of my favorites for the past 50 years.
@owensfromSI
Betty Carter possessed one of the sweetest voices of all times. The duo truly complimented one another. The subtle side of Ray Charles is as potent as his electrifying rockin' soul recordings.... :) Composer: (Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz) The Jack Halloran Singers - background vocals and Marty Paich - arranger, conductor
@michaelwoodward9894
Don't forget that band and the piano solo of Ray Charles