Betty Carter (1929–1998) was a prominent U.S. jazz singer, renowned for her… Read Full Bio ↴Betty Carter (1929–1998) was a prominent U.S. jazz singer, renowned for her improvisational technique and idiosyncratic vocal style. Carter expanded the role of the vocalist in jazz, to a full, improvising member of the band. Although her voice was not as admired by the public as such vocalists as Sarah Vaughan or Ella Fitzgerald, many consider her to have exercised mastery of the human voice previously unheard in jazz. Carmen McRae once claimed that "there's really only one jazz singer - only one: Betty Carter."

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.

I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire
Betty Carter Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't ever care to rise to power
I would rather be with you an hour
For the things that one can buy
Are not worth a lover's sigh

I don't want to set the world on fire
I just want to start a flame in your heart
In my heart I have but one desire

And that one is you, no other will do

I've lost all ambition for worldly acclaim
I just want to be the one you love
And with your admission that you feel the same
I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of, believe me

I don't want to set the world on fire
I just want to start a flame in your heart

Overall Meaning

The song "I Don't Want to Set the World On Fire" by Betty Carter is a love song with a theme of prioritizing love over fame and power. The first verse expresses a strong preference for being with the loved one rather than seeking power. The lyrics suggest that the things that can be bought do not bring as much joy or satisfaction as the love of the significant other. The second verse emphasizes that the goal is not to gain worldly acclaim but to be loved by the person they desire. The third verse reveals that the singer is willing to give up and let go of any worldly ambition as long as they can be loved by the person they want in return. The chorus emphasizes the main theme of the song, which is that the singer only wants to kindle a fire in their lover's heart and not set the world on fire.

The lyrics reflect the values and sentiments of the time when the song was written, which was during World War II. The war had a profound impact on people's lives, and the message of the song resonated with many at that time. The lyrics are simple and straightforward but powerful, and Betty Carter's rendition of the song adds to its emotional impact.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't ever care to rise to power
I am not interested in gaining authority or control

I would rather be with you an hour
I value spending time with you more than anything else

For the things that one can buy
Material possessions or wealth

Are not worth a lover's sigh
Are not as valuable as the emotions and feelings of a romantic relationship

I don't want to set the world on fire
I am not looking to make a large impact on the world

I just want to start a flame in your heart
I want to ignite a passionate and emotional connection with you

In my heart I have but one desire
My only want or need

And that one is you, no other will do
Is to be with you, there is no one else I am interested in

I've lost all ambition for worldly acclaim
I am no longer interested in achieving recognition or status in society

I just want to be the one you love
My main goal is to be the person you care for and love the most

And with your admission that you feel the same
If you reciprocate those feelings and tell me that you love me too

I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of, believe me
I will have achieved my lifelong dream if you confirm your love for me

Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bennie Benjamin, Eddie Durham, Eddie Seiler, Sol Marcus

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Comments from YouTube:

Eddie Durham

3y↑1

My favorite version is by Betty Carter. Co-written by Eddie Durham. FINALLY "Swingin' the Blues - the Virtuosity of Eddie Durham" Large tabletop Paperback (and e-book) on Amazon 1/16/2021. Foreward by Impresario George Wein, founder of the Newport Jazz Festival. Beautifully detailed book cover art by Charles Frazier (formerly of Marvel)...