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.
When I Fall in Love
Betty Carter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or I′ll never fall in love
In a restless world like this is
Love is ended before it's begun
And too many moonlight, moonlight kisses
Seem to cool in the warmth of the sun
When I give my heart, it will be completely
And the moment that I feel that you feel that way too
That's when I fall in love with you
But the moment that I feel that you feel that way too
That's when I fall in love with you
The lyrics of Betty Carter's song "When I Fall in Love" explore the concept of true and lasting love in a world that often seems transient and fickle. The opening lines express a longing for a love that is eternal and unchanging. The singer declares that when they do fall in love, it will be a love that lasts forever, or else they would rather not fall in love at all. This sentiment reflects a desire for a deep and committed connection that transcends the fleeting nature of many relationships.
The lyrics also acknowledge the challenges of finding lasting love in a restless world. Love is described as being often ended before it even has a chance to begin. In a society where people are constantly moving and changing, the singer laments that the warmth and intensity of initial romantic encounters often fades away. The reference to "moonlight kisses" cooling in the warmth of the sun symbolizes the transitory nature of fleeting passions.
The second verse introduces the conditions for the singer's willingness to give their heart fully. They explain that when they do give their heart, it will be complete and total. There is no room for half-hearted commitments or half-measures. The singer's heart is a precious and vulnerable gift that can only be offered with utmost sincerity and trust.
Finally, the lyrics reveal that the moment when the singer realizes that their feelings are reciprocated is the moment when they truly fall in love with the other person. It is an acknowledgment that love is a mutual experience, requiring both parties to feel the same way for it to flourish.
Overall, the lyrics of "When I Fall in Love" convey a yearning for a love that is lasting and genuine in a world that often seems superficial and temporary. The song explores the desire for a deep connection and the vulnerability that comes with giving one's heart completely.
Line by Line Meaning
When I fall in love, it will be forever
When I find love, it will be a lasting and enduring love
Or I′ll never fall in love
Otherwise, I will never allow myself to fall in love
In a restless world like this is
In a world full of constant change and uncertainty
Love is ended before it's begun
Love often ends prematurely, even before it has a chance to fully develop
And too many moonlight, moonlight kisses
And too many temporary moments of passion and romance
Seem to cool in the warmth of the sun
Seem to lose their intensity and fade away in the face of reality
When I give my heart, it will be completely
When I offer my love, it will be wholeheartedly and without reservation
Or I′ll never give my heart
Or I will guard my heart and not allow anyone to truly capture it
And the moment that I feel that you feel that way too
And the precise instant when I sense that you reciprocate those same feelings
That's when I fall in love with you
That's when I surrender myself to the profound experience of falling in love with you
But the moment that I feel that you feel that way too
However, the moment that I perceive that you also share those emotions
That's when I fall in love with you
That's the moment when I allow myself to fall deeply in love with you
Writer(s): Victor Popular Young, Edward Heyman
Contributed by Joseph B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
magajazzfan Lee
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ruvo
magajazzfan Lee
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