… Read Full Bio ↴Blossom Dearie (1924-2009) was an American jazz singer and pianist.
Born on 28th April 1924 in East Durham, New York, of mixed Scottish and Norwegian ancestry, Dearie began her career in vocal groups in New York. In the early 1950s she moved to Paris, forming her own vocal group, The Blue Stars, later to become the Swingle Singers.
After signing to Verve, Dearie returned to the U.S. where, despite developing a successful career and achieving international fame, by 1974 the lack of interest from major labels led her to start her own label, Daffodil Records. She continued performing into her eighties.
Blossom Dearie died on 7th February 2009, at her apartment in Greenwich Village, New York City
Someone to Watch over Me
Blossom Dearie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Says that love is blind
Still we're often told
Seek and ye shall find
So I'm going to seek
A certain lad
I've had in mind
Haven't found him yet
He's the big affair
I cannot forget
Only man I ever think
Of with regret
I'd like
To add his initial
To my monogram
Tell me
Where is the shepherd
For this lost lamb?
There's a somebody
I'm longin' to see
I hope that he turns
Out to be
Someone to watch over me
I'm a little lamb
Who's lost in the wood
I know I could
Always be good
To one
Who'll watch over me
Although he may
Not be the man some
Girls think
Of as handsome
To my heart
He carries the key
Won't you tell him please
To put on some speed
Follow my lead
Oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me
Won't you tell him please
To put on some speed
Follow my lead
Oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me
Someone to watch over me
In Blossom Dearie's rendition of George and Ira Gershwin's classic Someone to Watch Over Me, the singer expresses her desire to find someone to love and watch over her. The first verse begins with a common saying that "love is blind," suggesting that love does not discriminate based on physical appearance or social status. Despite this, the singer believes that one must actively seek out love in order to find it. She has a particular lad in mind whom she has not yet found, despite looking everywhere. This man is the "big affair" she cannot forget, the only one she thinks of with regret. She is so taken by him that she wants to add his initial to her monogram.
The second verse continues the singer's description of herself as a "little lamb" who is lost in the woods. She knows that she could be good to someone who would watch over her, even if he may not be conventionally handsome. To her, this man carries the key to her heart. She pleads with the listener to tell him to hurry and follow her lead because she desperately needs someone to watch over her. The song's gentle melody matches the singer's vulnerability and insecurity, conveying her longing for a relationship that provides comfort and security.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a saying old
As the old adage goes
Says that love is blind
Love is often irrational
Still we're often told
Yet we are still advised
Seek and ye shall find
That if we go looking, we may find what we're looking for
So I'm going to seek
Therefore, I shall seek
A certain lad
For a specific young man
I've had in mind
Whom I've been thinking of
Looking everywhere
Searching endlessly
Haven't found him yet
Yet I have not found him
He's the big affair
He is the main event
I cannot forget
I cannot shake off the memory of him
Only man I ever think
He is the only man who comes to mind
Of with regret
And I regret letting him go
I'd like
I would desire
To add his initial
To include his initial
To my monogram
In my monogram
Tell me
Please inform me
Where is the shepherd
Where can I find the one who guides
For this lost lamb?
For someone who is lost like me?
There's a somebody
There is someone
I'm longin' to see
I am yearning to see
I hope that he turns
I hope that he is
Out to be
The one
Someone to watch over me
Who will look out for me
I'm a little lamb
I am small and vulnerable
Who's lost in the wood
Lost and alone in the forest
I know I could
I am certain that I can
Always be good
Always be righteous
To one
For one person
Who'll watch over me
Who will take responsibility for me
Although he may
Although he may not
Not be the man some
Be not the man some people
Girls think
Believe girls think
Of as handsome
Is handsome
To my heart
For my heart
He carries the key
He holds the key to my happiness
Won't you tell him please
Could you please inform him
To put on some speed
To act quickly
Follow my lead
And do as I say
Oh, how I need
Oh, how I require
Someone to watch over me
Someone to take care of me
Won't you tell him please
Would you please tell him
To put on some speed
To hurry up
Follow my lead
And do as I ask
Oh, how I need
Oh, how I am desperate for
Someone to watch over me
Someone to protect me
Someone to watch over me
Someone to keep an eye on me
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, O/B/O DistroKid, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Haroof
this is actually one of the better covers of this song i've heard. she has the perfect voice for it.
Arlene Corwin
She was great from start to finish. i heard her first in the early 50's. She just kept developing subtly, not really changing and yet changing. Yes, you're all right - she will be and is alread sadly missed. Arlene Corwin
Fabrizio Grassi
I just melt listening to Blossom. Her sound is utterly unique soaring gently on the wings of a swift. Her placement precise yet so laidback. What a darling to listen to. Lullaby supreme. Ms Cat
Ridenour Clarinet Products
You might try some of Eva Cassidy if you haven't already heard her. Like Blossom, she can bring you to tears with the trueness and beauty of her singing. Eva passed away of melanoma in the 1990s at 33--a great loss. She's all over youtube---try her live performance of Over the Rainbo or Time after Time (cindy lauper's song) or Fields of Gold. You won't be sorry.
Scotter1971
Many many many wonderful surprises, sir! A lot of her catalogue is thankfully back in print on compact disc. Don't hesitate, sieze the day!!!
kas an
i sang in a restaurant today with jeff kemp pianist and someone told me i sang just like blossom, they asked me she wa my inspiration but is never heard of her, ive come straight back home to listen