He also championed African-American composers of the same period such as Eubie Blake, James P. Johnson, Andy Razaf, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, presenting their work not in a polemical way, but as simply the obvious equal of that of their white contemporaries.
His dedication to his great love – what he called the "Great American Song" – left him equally adept at performing the witty lyrics of Bessie Smith's "Gimme a Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer)" or Gershwin and Duke's "I Can't Get Started." Short stated his favorite songwriters were Ellington, Arlen and Kern, and he was instrumental in spearheading the construction of the Ellington Memorial in New York City.
He was born in Danville, Illinois, United States, where one of his school classmates was Dick Van Dyke. He began performing as a busker after leaving home at the age of eleven for Chicago, with his mother's permission.
He started working in clubs in the 1940s. In 1968 he was offered a two-week stint at the Café Carlyle in New York City, to fill in for George Feyer. Short (accompanied by Beverly Peer on bass and Dick Sheridan on drums) became an institution at the Carlyle, as Feyer had been before him, and remained there as a featured performer for over 35 years. There, a combination of traits – his seemingly effortless elegance; his vocal phrasing (perfected, as was that of Frank Sinatra, at the feet of Miss Mabel Mercer, with perhaps also some help from Ethel Waters); his talent for presenting unknown songs worth knowing while keeping well known songs fresh; his infectious good cheer; and his resolute, self-disciplined professionalism – earned him great respect and made him tremendously popular. Bobby Short was generous with his impromptu all-night performances at his various favorite cafes and restaurants. He was a regular patron at Ted Hook's Backstage, located at Eighth Avenue and Forty-Fifth Street.
1972: Short sings theme song in James Ivory's film Savages.
1976: Short sings and appears in a commercial for Revlon's perfume "Charlie."
1985: Short sings and appears in the beginning portion of the Misfits of Science theme song.
1986: Short appears in the Woody Allen film Hannah and Her Sisters. Then Allen used his recording "I Happen To Like New York" for opening title of Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993).
1991: Short stars as blues musician Ches Collins on the TV series In the Heat of the Night in which he sings the title track, Sweet, Sweet Blues.
1994: Short reprises his role as blues musician Ches Collins on the TV series In the Heat of the Night.
1999: Short appears in the Movie "Man of the Century"
2000: The Library of Congress designates Short a Living Legend, a recognition established as part of its bicentennial celebration.
2003: Short sings and plays piano in at least one episode of 7th Heaven on TV.
2004: Short announces he will end his regular appearances at the Café Carlyle by the end of the year, in favor of touring, traveling and spending time with friends.
2005: Short dies of leukemia at New York Presbyterian Hospital on March 21, 2005, aged 80 and is buried in Atherton Cemetery in Danville, Illinois, the city of his birth.
Beginner
Bobby Short Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From Mobnte Carlo to Reno,
They tell you that a beginner
Comes out a winner.
Beginner fishing for flounder
Will catch a seventeen pounder;
That's what I've always heard
And always thought absurd,
For I've got beginner's luck;
The first time I'm in love
I'm in love with you,
Gosh I'm lucky!
I've got beginner's luck;
There never was such a smile
Or such eyes of blue,
Gosh I'm fortunate!
This thing we've begun
Is much more than a pastime,
For this time is the one
Where the first time is the last time!
I've got beginner's luck,
Lucky through and through,
For the first time that I'm in love,
I'm in love with you!
I've got beginner's luck;
The first time I'm in love
I'm in love with you,
Gosh I'm lucky!
I've got beginner's luck;
They told me beginners win,
Now I know it's true,
Gosh I'm fortunate!
This thing we've begun
Is much more than a pastime,
For this time is the one
Where the first time is the last time!
I've got beginner's luck,
Lucky through and through,
For the first time that I'm in love,
I'm in love with you!
The lyrics to Bobby Short's song "I've Got Beginner's Luck" explore the idea of a beginner's chance, or the concept that someone new to something has a greater chance of success. The song references various gambling casinos and fishing scenarios where beginners supposedly have an advantage. However, the focus of the song is on the singer's experience with love, where he feels lucky to have fallen in love with someone for the first time. The singer describes their love as more than just a pastime and suggests that this first love may also be their last.
The lyrics convey a sense of excitement and naivety that often comes with new experiences. The singer seems to be swept off his feet by his new love interest and savors every moment of it. The repetition of the phrase "Gosh I'm lucky!" emphasizes the singer's joyful disbelief at his good fortune. At the same time, however, the lyrics suggest a bittersweet longing for this new love to last, as the singer acknowledges that "this time is the one where the first time is the last time!" This line is particularly poignant, hinting that the singer may be aware that first loves are often fleeting and that he may not be so lucky next time.
In conclusion, "I've Got Beginner's Luck" is a charming song that captures the joy and uncertainty of new experiences, particularly in regards to love. The song's exploration of the idea of a beginner's chance adds depth to the lyrics, reflecting the singer's hopes and fears as he navigates this new terrain.
Line by Line Meaning
At any gambling casino
Regardless of the city or country where you gamble
From Monte Carlo to Reno,
From the famous Monte Carlo casino to a small gambling establishment like Reno
They tell you that a beginner
People claim that someone who's new to a game:
Comes out a winner.
Is often very lucky and wins
Beginner fishing for flounder
A person who's just started fishing for a type of fish called flounder
Will catch a seventeen pounder;
Will catch a huge fish that weighs seventeen pounds
That's what I've always heard
That's what I've been told by others
And always thought absurd,
And I used to think this was ridiculous or unlikely
But now I believe ev'ry word!
But now I think it's all true because of my current experience
For I've got beginner's luck;
I'm experiencing this lucky phenomenon that beginners often have
There never was such a smile
No one has ever smiled at me in the way that you do
Or such eyes of blue,
Or had such beautiful blue eyes
Gosh I'm fortunate!
Wow! I'm very lucky to have you in my life
This thing we've begun
The relationship that we've just started
Is much more than a pastime,
Is something more serious and significant than just a leisure activity
For this time is the one
Because this particular experience is unique and special
Where the first time is the last time!
Because this first time that I'm in love with you will be the only time I ever fall in love
They told me beginners win,
People mentioned to me that beginners tend to be quite lucky
Now I know it's true,
And now I'm realizing that it's actually accurate
For the first time that I'm in love,
For the very first time that I've fallen in love
I'm in love with you!
And I'm in love with you!
Lucky through and through,
I'm so lucky in every way possible
Gosh I'm fortunate!
Wow! I'm so incredibly lucky
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind