Brad Mehldau is an American jazz pianist born on August 23, 1970 in Jackson… Read Full Bio ↴Brad Mehldau is an American jazz pianist born on August 23, 1970 in Jacksonville, Florida. He plays original compositions and jazz standards, as well as interpretations of non-jazz songs by The Beatles, Nick Drake, Radiohead and Soundgarden, for example. He has also contributed to movie soundtracks, including Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil (1997), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Space Cowboys (2000), The Million Dollar Hotel (2000).

In 1994 he founded Brad Mehldau Trio, with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jorge Rossy; in 2005, Jeff Ballard replaced Rossy. Brad Mehldau started playing piano at the age of six, and has released more than ten albums.

Prelude To A Kiss
Brad Mehldau Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If you hear
A song in blue
Like a flower crying
For the dew
That was my heart serenading you
My prelude to a kiss

If you hear a song that grows

From my tender sentimental woes
That was my heart trying to compose
A prelude to a kiss

Though it's just a simple melody
With nothing fancy
Nothing much
You could turn it to a symphony
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch

Oh how my love song gently cries
For the tenderness within your eyes
My love is a prelude that never dies
A prelude to a kiss

Though it's just a simple melody
With nothing fancy
Nothing much
You could turn it to a symphony
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch

Oh how my love song so gently cries
For the tenderness within your eyes

My love is a prelude that never dies
A prelude to a kiss

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Prelude To A Kiss" by Brad Mehldau speaks about the everlasting power of love, captured through music. In the first verse, the singer compares his heart's song to a blue flower crying for dew representing his yearning for the subject of the song. The prelude is symbolic of the beginning of a relationship, where the melody is just a simple tune. However, the singer acknowledges the potential it has to become a symphony when partnered with the right person. The second verse emphasizes the depth of emotions that the singer has for the subject of the song. The simplicity of the melody showcases that sometimes, love is in its purest form, and does not require anything fancy.

The phrase "Prelude To A Kiss" has a deeper meaning than just the title of the song. A prelude is the opening piece of a classical music program, and its purpose is to set the stage for the performance. In this song, "Prelude To A Kiss" represents the opening of a romantic relationship, where the singer’s melody is setting the stage for the beginning of a new love. Through the lyrics, the singer expresses his hope and desire for this relationship to blossom into a symphony, creating something beautiful and everlasting.

Line by Line Meaning

If you hear
If you listen closely

A song in blue
A melancholic tune

Like a flower crying
Like a flower longing for dew

For the dew
For something it needs

That was my heart serenading you
That was my heart singing to you

My prelude to a kiss
My intro to a kiss

If you hear a song that grows
If you hear a song that blossoms

From my tender sentimental woes
From my heartfelt emotions

That was my heart trying to compose
That was my heart attempting to create

A prelude to a kiss
A preface to a kiss

Though it's just a simple melody
Even though it's a basic tune