On Green Dolphin Street
Bill Evans Trio Lyrics


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It seems like a dream, yet I know it happened
A man, a maid, a kiss, and then goodbye
Romance was the theme
And we were the players
I never think of this without a sigh

Lover, one lovely day
Love came, planning to stay
Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
When I recall the love I found on
I could kiss the ground on Green Dolphin Street

Lover, one lovely day
Love came, planning to stay
Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart




When I recall the love I found on
On Green Dolphin Street

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bill Evans Trio's song "On Green Dolphin Street" recount a remembrance of a love story that took place on Green Dolphin Street. The singer recalls how it all seemed like a dream, but he knows it happened. A man and a woman fell in love, kissed once, and then parted ways. The theme of this short-lived love affair was romance. The singer admits that he still sighs when he thinks back to those moments.


The lyrics then take us to the moment when love arrived one day, planning to stay. Green Dolphin Street is mentioned again as the place where love found the two protagonists. The street became the setting for unforgettable nights filled with love and romance. Although the lovers are now separated by distance, their memories of Green Dolphin Street live in their hearts. The singer, in particular, recalls the love he found on Green Dolphin Street so intensely that he could even "kiss the ground" there.


Line by Line Meaning

It seems like a dream, yet I know it happened
Although it feels like a surreal experience, I am certain it really occurred


A man, a maid, a kiss, and then goodbye
The story involved a man and a woman who shared a romantic kiss, but eventually parted ways


Romance was the theme
The central focus of the story was about romantic love


And we were the players
The man and woman were the main characters in this romantic tale


I never think of this without a sigh
Whenever I think about this story, I cannot help but let out a nostalgic sigh


Lover, one lovely day
Addressing the lover, reminiscing of a beautiful day


Love came, planning to stay
Love had arrived and intended to remain forever


Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The romantic story took place on Green Dolphin Street


The setting for nights beyond forgetting
The experience was so memorable that the characters would never forget it


And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
Even when they were apart, the memories of that experience remained in their hearts


When I recall the love I found on
When I remember the love that was present on that day...


I could kiss the ground on Green Dolphin Street
I am filled with so much emotion that I could kiss the very ground on which this experience took place


On Green Dolphin Street
Reiterating that the romantic experience occurred on Green Dolphin Street




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, PATTI WASHINGTON MUSIC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: MILES DAVIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

lray1234

He makes the piano almost sound like a new instrument....Bill Evans is amazing

Bill Kirchner

This was recorded on January 19, 1959 at the end of a Chet Baker studio record date in NYC. There was extra time available, and producer Orrin Keepnews asked Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones to stay and record a few impromptu tunes as a trio. The results were not released until over a decade later.

falconflight guitar inventions

bill was really digging his chops..great info man....!

catsgomoo

Unbelievable. Heaps and bags of talent, feel, and soul in every note whilst remaining technically unquestionable. Such a privilege to have so many great recordings of him. He captures such a beautiful feeling with his playing a really thoughtful and sophisticated air with a certain playfulness and innocence. What a musician.

Louise Rose

Yes, beautiful re-imagining of this standard (originally from a late-40s film) and you can hear the gentle summer/early autumn rain in the cymbals and brushwork, the whole track feels like a watercolour painting or the like. Exquisite piano playing! :)

David Goldblatt

God, I love the way Bill deconstructs a song and then sublimely chases it back together for those brief moments. Oscar nails this tune but Bill OWNS IT.

Algonquin

Evans plays a modern classical style...not to be confused with jazz that Oscar played.

Darryl Schultz

Own Shmown-there's one pianist to actually MAKE LOVE to this little number-Roy Budd. This Bill Evans effort was a snoozefest by comparison.

Heylollie

@Darryl Schultz NSFW

Darryl Schultz

@Heylollie The Roy Budd version of On Green Dolphin Street that I mentioned in my last post here,is on an album I bought in a record shop many years ago. One of the very best tracks I've heard of any music. Didn't get it on YouTube or by Googling.

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