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.
Here
Bobby Short Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spring is here! Why isn't the waltz entrancing?
No desire, no ambition leads me
Maybe it's because nobody needs me
Spring is here! Why doesn't the breeze delight me?
Stars appear, why doesn't the night invite me?
Maybe it's because nobody loves me
Spring is here I hear
Spring is here! Why doesn't my heart go dancing?
Spring is here! Why isn't the waltz entrancing?
No desire, no ambition leads me
Maybe it's because nobody needs me
Spring is here! Why doesn't the breeze delight me?
Stars appear, why doesn't the night invite me?
Maybe it's because nobody loves me
Spring is here I hear
In Bobby Short's song Spring Is Here, the lyrics express a sense of loneliness and disconnection from the renewed energy and beauty of spring. The singer questions why they are not experiencing the joy and excitement that usually comes with the arrival of spring. The repetition of the questions, "Why doesn't my heart go dancing?" and "Why isn't the waltz entrancing?" suggest a sense of confusion and frustration that the singer feels at not being able to participate in the celebratory atmosphere of spring. The lack of desire, ambition, and feeling of being unwanted are all contributing factors to the melancholic mood of the song.
The line "Maybe it's because nobody needs me" encapsulates the singer's sense of isolation and feelings of not having a place in the world. This is reinforced in the lines "Maybe it's because nobody loves me" and "Why doesn't the night invite me?" which emphasize the singer's longing for connection and companionship.
The tone of the song is solemn and introspective. It conveys a deep sense of longing and unfulfilled desires. It suggests that even in a season of new beginnings, some people may not feel the same energy and excitement as others.
Line by Line Meaning
Spring is here! Why doesn't my heart go dancing?
Despite the arrival of Spring, I'm not feeling the joy and excitement that I should be experiencing.
Spring is here! Why isn't the waltz entrancing?
Even with the music playing and people dancing around, I'm unable to find pleasure in the dance.
No desire, no ambition leads me
I'm lacking the motivation and drive to take on new challenges or pursue my goals.
Maybe it's because nobody needs me
Perhaps my lack of purpose and direction is due to feeling unimportant or irrelevant to others.
Spring is here! Why doesn't the breeze delight me?
Even with the warm sun and gentle breeze, I'm not feeling the happiness and contentment that I should be feeling.
Stars appear, why doesn't the night invite me?
Even with the beauty of the night sky, I'm not feeling the sense of connection or wonder that I should be feeling.
Maybe it's because nobody loves me
Perhaps my feelings of loneliness and detachment are due to not feeling loved or cared for by others.
Spring is here I hear
Despite my lack of enthusiasm, I can hear the sounds and see the signs of Spring all around me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind