Mehldau is first and foremost an improviser, and greatly cherishes the surprise and wonder that can occur from a spontaneous, directly expressed musical idea. But he also has a deep fascination for the formal architecture of music, which informs everything he plays. In his most inspired playing, the actual structure of his musical thought serves as an expressive device. As he plays, he listens to how ideas unwind, and the order in which they reveal themselves. Each tune has a strongly felt narrative arc, whether it expresses itself in a beginning and an end, or as something left intentionally open-ended. The two sides of Mehldau’s personality--the improviser and the formalist--play off each other, and the effect is often something like controlled chaos.
Mehldau has performed around the world at a steady pace since the mid-nineties, with his trio and as a solo pianist. His performances convey a wide range of expression, and he favors juxtaposing extremes. Often, the intellectual rigor and density of information in the abstraction of one tune is followed by a stripped down, emotional directness in the next. Over the years, he has attracted a sizeable following, which has grown to expect a singular, intense experience in his performance.
Still Crazy After All These Years
Brad Mehldau Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She seems so glad to see me
I just smiled and we talked about some old times
And then drank ourselves some beers
Still crazy after all these years
Still crazy after all these years
I'm not the kind of man
I seemed to lead on a familiar wage
And I'm no fool of love songs
That whisper in my ear
Still crazy after all these years
Still crazy after all these years
Four in the morning'
I laugh away
I never worry, well, why should I?
'Cause it's all gonna fade
So I sit by my window and I watch the cars
I fear I might do some damage one day
But I would not be convicted by the jury of my peers
Still crazy after all these years
Still crazy, still crazy,still crazy after all these years
The song "Still Crazy After All These Years" by Brad Mehldau Trio is a jazz rendition of Paul Simon's original track. The lyrics of the song convey the idea of an old lover meeting by chance and reminiscing about their past. The singer admits to being "still crazy after all these years" and not conforming to the social norms of love songs and societal expectations. He talks about staying up until four in the morning, laughing away his worries and watching the passing cars from his window.
The first verse is about the singer meeting his old lover unexpectedly and the conversation they had after a long time. The second verse describes the singer's personality as someone who doesn't conform to societal expectations and doesn't believe in love songs that prompt people to behave a certain way. The third verse talks about the singer's attitude towards life, where he laughs away his worries and doesn't get bogged down by them. He admits to having some destructive tendencies, but he's not worried as he knows he won't be convicted by the jury of his peers since he's not hurting anyone else.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of freedom and independence for the singer, who doesn't conform to societal norms but is still happy and content with his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I met my old lover on the street last May
Last May, I encountered my former partner while walking down the street
She seems so glad to see me
When we saw each other, she appeared quite happy and pleased
I just smiled and we talked about some old times
I responded in a friendly manner and reminisced about the past with her
And then drank ourselves some beers
We proceeded to indulge in some beer-drinking after our conversation
Still crazy after all these years
Despite the passage of time, I'm still seemingly eccentric or erratic in my behavior and mindset
Still crazy after all these years
My character and demeanor remain unconventional or abnormal after all this time
I'm not the kind of man
I'm not the sort of individual
Who tells social lies
Who fabricates falsehoods while socializing
I seemed to lead on a familiar wage
I gave the impression of proceeding with established habits or customs
And I'm no fool of love songs
I'm not naïve when it comes to romantic ballads
That whisper in my ear
Which may softly speak to me
Still crazy after all these years
Despite the passage of time, I'm still seemingly eccentric or erratic in my behavior and mindset
Still crazy after all these years
My character and demeanor remain unconventional or abnormal after all this time
Four in the morning'
At four o'clock in the morning
I laugh away
I dismiss or laugh off concerns or worries
I never worry, well, why should I?
I'm never anxious or concerned, but why ought I be?
'Cause it's all gonna fade
Because everything will ultimately diminish or disappear
So I sit by my window and I watch the cars
I spend my time sitting by a window, observing vehicles pass by
I fear I might do some damage one day
I'm apprehensive that I may cause harm or destruction eventually
But I would not be convicted by the jury of my peers
However, I'm confident that I won't be found guilty by individuals in my social circle
Still crazy after all these years
Despite the passage of time, I'm still seemingly eccentric or erratic in my behavior and mindset
Still crazy, still crazy,still crazy after all these years
My character and demeanor remain unconventional or abnormal after all this time
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind