Bassists included Scott LaFaro(1959-1961), Chuck Israels (1962-1965), Gary Peacock(1963), Teddy Kotick (1966), Eddie Gomez(1966-1977), and Marc Johnson(1978-1980).
On drums the trio had Paul Motian (1959-1962), Larry Bunker ( 1962-1965), Arnie Wise (1966, 1968), Joe Hunt (1967), Philly Joe Jones (1967, 1977-1978), Jack DeJohnette (1968), John Dentz (1968), Marty Morell (1968-1975), Eliot Zigmund (1975-1977), and Joe La Barbera (1978-1980).
How Deep Is the Ocean
Bill Evans Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll tell you no lie
How deep is the ocean?
How high is the sky?
How many times a day do I think of you?
How many roses are sprinkled with dew?
To be where you are?
How far is the journey
From here to a star?
And if I ever lost you, how much would I cry?
How deep is the ocean?
How high is the sky?
How far would I travel
To be where you are?
How far is the journey
From here to a star?
And if I ever lost you, how much would I cry?
How deep is the ocean?
How high is the sky?
How high is the sky?
In Bill Evans's song How Deep Is The Ocean, the lyrics express the depth and extent of the love felt by the singer for their beloved. The first verse asks a series of rhetorical questions to emphasize the ever-lasting and boundless love felt by the singer. The second verse continues the same line of questioning, with a particular focus on distance and separation. The final lines express the depth of despair the singer would feel if they were to lose their loved one, bringing the theme of love and loss full circle.
The song's lyrics are simple yet powerful; they capture the essence of undying love and express it through comparisons to vast natural elements such as the ocean and the sky. The song has been recorded and performed by various artists in different styles, but the essence of the lyrics remains consistent.
The song was written by Irving Berlin and was first recorded by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra in 1931. It has since become a jazz standard and has been covered by numerous artists throughout the years, including Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. The song is particularly associated with the Great American Songbook era of popular music.
Line by Line Meaning
How much do I love you?
Expressing the immense love felt
I'll tell you no lie
Promising honesty in love
How deep is the ocean?
Wondering about a measure of depth equal to the vastness of love
How high is the sky?
Wandering thoughts about an equal measure of infinite vastness
How many times a day do I think of you?
Reflecting on the constant thoughts about a loved one
How many roses are sprinkled with dew?
Comparing the number of roses to the infinite thoughts of love, beauty, and devotion
How far would I travel To be where you are?
Expressing a willingness to go any distance for love
How far is the journey From here to a star?
Reflecting on the vastness of space, in comparison with love
And if I ever lost you, how much would I cry?
Expressing the pain and suffering felt with the possibility of losing a cherished love
How deep is the ocean?
Wondering about a measure of depth equal to the vastness of pain
How high is the sky?
Wandering thoughts about an equal measure of infinite suffering
How high is the sky?
Repeating the question to emphasize the strength and depth of emotions
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gergely Ozsvár
Very good!
The beginning was the best!
I like when the melody stops and being continued with a lower pitched chord.
Michael Oelgeschlaeger
This is such a beautiful piece. Great music.
108高中畢業林大為
masterpiece
Sora.Hiakky
I don't know how the name match the piece however still great music
Gergely Ozsvár
My take on the connection of the name of the music and the actual music:
The ocean's upper part is fast, but deep down it is slow.
And the How Deep Is The Ocean? question points to depth.
And deep down the waters are slow, and this music is kinda slow compared to some other Bill Evans music.
Jack K
@Gergely Ozsvár it's an old standard, the lyrics are a love song about devotion; check out the Ella Fitzgerald version. Bill doesn't play the original melody till the end.