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.
I Hate You
Bobby Short Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Although I know they're really green
I seem to see you differently
Changing as I'm treated kindly or treated meanly
From moment to moment
You're two different people
Faithful and warm when I'm in your arms
But however you are
Deep down whatever you are
Whoever you are, I love you
Sometimes I feel you're mine alone
But then I'm sure it's just not so
I get this feeling on my own
After I've learnt if you're staying or if you're going
From moment to moment
You're two different people
Someone I know as the one I love
Or the one I wish I never knew
However you are
Deep down whatever you are
Whoever you are, I love you
Sometimes your eyes look blue to me
The lyrics of Bobby Short's song "I Hate You" describe the conflicted emotions of the singer towards their lover, and how their perception of their lover changes depending on how they are treated. The first stanza talks about how the lover's eyes can appear to be a different color, depending on how they are seen. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for how the lover's true character can be obscured or revealed depending on their behavior towards the singer. The second stanza talks about how the lover can seem like two different people, depending on whether they are with the singer or not. They are described as both faithful and warm, and untrue, suggesting that the singer is struggling with conflicting feelings about their partner's behavior towards them. The final refrain affirms that the singer loves their partner no matter how they behave, suggesting that their love is unconditional and unshakeable.
Overall, the song seems to be exploring the complex emotional dynamics of a relationship, where the singer's perception of their partner can be influenced by external factors such as their behavior, and where love can exist alongside anger and frustration.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes your eyes look blue to me
Sometimes I am mistaken in my perception of you
Although I know they're really green
Despite knowing the truth about you
I seem to see you differently
My perception of you tends to change
Changing as I'm treated kindly or treated meanly
My perception of you changes based on how you treat me
From moment to moment
At any given moment
You're two different people
You exhibit two different personalities
Faithful and warm when I'm in your arms
You are loving and devoted when we are together
And then when you leave you're so untrue
But when we are apart, you act unfaithful
But however you are
Regardless of your actions
Deep down whatever you are
Beneath the surface of your personality
Whoever you are, I love you
I still love you, despite your flaws and changing personality
Sometimes I feel you're mine alone
Occasionally, I have the illusion of having you all to myself
But then I'm sure it's just not so
But I am aware that it's just a delusion
I get this feeling on my own
I experience this feeling by myself
After I've learnt if you're staying or if you're going
Once I know whether you will remain in my life or not
Someone I know as the one I love
The person I adore
Or the one I wish I never knew
Or the person I regret meeting
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BURT F. BACHARACH, HAL DAVID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind