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.
Let's Fall in Love
Bobby Short Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why shouldn't we fall in love?
Our hearts are made of it
Let's take a chance
Why be afraid of it?
Let's close our eyes
And make our own paradise
Still we can try
To make a go of it
We might have been meant for each other
To be or not to be, let our hearts discover
Let's fall in love
Why shouldn't we fall in love?
Now is the time for it
While we are young
Let's fall in love
We might have been meant for each other
To be or not to be, let our hearts discover
Let's fall in love
Why shouldn't we fall in love?
Now is the time for it
While we are young
Let's fall in love
The lyrics of Bobby Short's song Let's Fall In Love encourage the idea of taking risks in love and following one's heart. The concept of falling in love is presented as being natural and something that should be embraced. The lyrics allude to the Romeo and Juliet quote "To be or not to be" which reinforces the idea that love is worth pursuing even if it might be risky or uncertain.
The first stanza describes the vulnerability of love, highlighting its importance in human hearts. The lyrics encourage individuals to take chances on love and not be afraid of what may come. The second stanza is about creating one's own paradise through love, even if the individuals involved don't fully understand what they are doing. The idea of being meant for each other is touched on in the third stanza, demonstrating that love could be predestined. The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the call to action for the characters involved in the song to take a leap of faith into love.
Overall, the lyrics of Let's Fall In Love promote the idea of taking chances in love and recognizing the natural human inclination towards it.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's fall in love
The singer is proposing that they both should fall in love.
Why shouldn't we fall in love?
The singer is wondering why they shouldn't take the chance to fall in love.
Our hearts are made of it
The singer believes that love is a fundamental part of being human.
Let's take a chance
The singer is urging them to be brave and take the risk of falling in love.
Why be afraid of it?
The singer is questioning why they should let fear hold them back from love.
Let's close our eyes
The singer suggests that they let go of their inhibitions and just enjoy the moment.
And make our own paradise
The singer wants them to create their own world of love and happiness.
Little we know of it
The singer acknowledges that love is complex and they may not fully understand it.
Still we can try
The singer believes that even with limited knowledge, they can still make an effort to pursue love.
To make a go of it
The singer is optimistic that they can make a successful attempt at love.
We might have been meant for each other
The singer suggests that there may be a deeper connection between them.
To be or not to be, let our hearts discover
The singer wants them to follow their hearts and see where love takes them.
Now is the time for it
The singer believes that the current moment is the right time for them to fall in love.
While we are young
The singer emphasizes that they should not waste time and take the chance to fall in love while they are young.
Let's fall in love
The singer repeats their proposal to fall in love and encourages them to take the leap.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind