Henderson was born in Chicago, Illinois. Henderson began his professional music career in 1952, performing in Chicago with Ramsey Lewis, and began recording as a leader after a move to New York in 1958. He subsequently recorded with jazz pianist Horace Silver on a a vocal version of Silver's "Señor Blues" which was a jukebox hit (in the mid-1950s), and remains one of jazz label Blue Note's top-selling singles. Additionally, Henderson performed and recorded with Oscar Peterson (Bill Henderson with the Oscar Peterson Trio), Jimmy Smith, Count Basie, Yusef Lateef, and Eddie Harris. He was under contract to the Vee Jay label between 1958 and 1961, who recorded his first album as leader, Bill Henderson Sings (1958), which features trumpeter Booker Little among the sidemen.
Beginning in the mid-1970s, he frequently appeared on television in supporting, usually one-time roles. His film roles have followed a similar trend — minor and supporting roles.Henderson also recorded his own vocal tracks as "King Blues" for the comedy film Get Crazy (1983). Henderson made a guest vocal appearance on Charlie Haden's album The Art of the Song (1999).
Where Are You?
Bill Henderson Lyrics
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Where have you gone without me
I thought you cared about me
Where are you
Where's my heart
Where is the dream we started
I can't believe we're parted
Where are you
What had we to gain
When I gave you my love
Was it all in vain
All life through
Must I go on pretending
Where is my happy ending
Where are you
When we said good-bye love
What had we to gain
When I gave you my love
Was it all in vain
All life through
Must I go on pretending
Where is that happy ending
Where are you
Where are you
In Bill Henderson's song "Where Are You," the lyrics speak to a sense of loss and confusion following a break-up. The repeated refrain of "Where are you" conveys the singer's longing for the person who has left, and the image of a heart and a dream represent the emotional bonds that have been broken. The singer speaks of having given their love in vain and asks where their happy ending is. The questions posed throughout the song suggest a feeling of betrayal or abandonment, and the final repetition of "Where are you" is left unresolved, emphasizing the open-ended nature of the pain.
The lyrics are relatable to many people who have experienced heartbreak or loss in relationships. They capture the feeling of being left behind and wondering what went wrong. The tone of the song is wistful and melancholic, with the slow, languid melody reinforcing the sense of longing.
Interestingly, "Where Are You" was originally written for a movie called "Top Secret Affair," which starred Kirk Douglas and Susan Hayward. The movie was released in 1957, and the song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Line by Line Meaning
Where are you
The singer is asking the listener where they are.
Where have you gone without me
The singer is wondering where the listener has gone without including him in their plans.
I thought you cared about me
The singer is expressing disappointment that the listener, who he thought cared about him, has left without him.
Where's my heart
The singer is asking where his heart is, which is a metaphor for the love he had for the listener.
Where is the dream we started
The singer is questioning the status of the dream they both started together.
I can't believe we're parted
The singer is in disbelief that they are no longer together.
When we said good-bye love
The singer is referring to the moment when they both said goodbye to each other.
What had we to gain
The singer is questioning what they had to gain from ending their relationship.
When I gave you my love
The singer is referring to the love he gave the listener during their relationship.
Was it all in vain
The singer is wondering if the love he gave was for nothing.
All life through
The singer is referring to his entire life.
Must I go on pretending
The singer is asking if he has to keep pretending that everything is okay when it's not.
Where is my happy ending
The singer is wondering where his happy ending is, which refers to a positive conclusion to his relationship with the listener.
Where are you
The singer is once again asking where the listener is.
Where are you
The singer repeats the question from the beginning of the song, emphasizing the importance of finding the listener.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lew Pollack, Lou Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind