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 There Be Love
Bobby Short Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let there be me.
Let there be oysters
Under the sea.
Let there be wind,
An occasional rain.
Chile con carne,
Let there be birds
To sing in the trees,
Someone to bless me
Whenever I sneeze.
Let there be cuckoos,
A lark and a dove,
But first of all, please
Let there be love.
Let there be cuckoos,
A lark and a dove,
But first of all, please
Let there be love
Hmmm umm, love
Hmmm umm, love
Let there be love.
In Bobby Short's "Let There Be Love," the singer yearns for the presence of love in various forms throughout his life. The lyrics are framed as an appeal for the essential elements of life, such as oysters, wind, rain, and birds. Love is described as the ultimate priority, preceding even the presence of birds in the trees. The desire for love is emphasized by the repetition of the concluding phrase, "Let there be love," throughout the song.
Through the portrayal of love as a necessary component of life, Short expresses a universal longing for the affirmation and companionship that only love can provide. The specific examples used in the lyrics, such as the blessing given when one sneezes, highlight the ways in which love can manifest itself in everyday interactions. The use of a repeated melody in the "hmmm umm, love" phrase creates a calming sensation and underscores the song's message of seeking comfort and connection through love.
Overall, "Let There Be Love" is a sentimental and honest plea for the power and importance of love in our lives. The song recognizes love as a unifying force that brings us together and provides meaning to our experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Let there be you,
May you exist in this world.
Let there be me.
May I exist in this world.
Let there be oysters / Under the sea.
Let there be an abundance of sea creatures for our consumption.
Let there be wind, / An occasional rain.
Let there be varied weather patterns that keep our environment lively.
Chile con carne, / Sparkling champagne
Let there be savory and luxurious foods and drinks.
Let there be birds / To sing in the trees,
Let there be natural beauty and music in the world.
Someone to bless me / Whenever I sneeze.
Let there be someone to care for me and wish me well.
Let there be cuckoos, / A lark and a dove,
Let there be a variety of birds for their beauty and songs.
But first of all, please / Let there be love.
However, above and beyond all else, let love be present among us.
Let there be cuckoos, / A lark and a dove,
Let there be a variety of birds for their beauty and songs.
But first of all, please / Let there be love
However, above and beyond all else, let love be present among us.
Hmmm umm, love / Hmmm umm, love
Love is the ultimate goal and desire.
Let there be love.
May love fill our lives and give us purpose.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES KERR, CHARLES BURCHILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hank Kislow
Great music