Brenda's greatest success came in 1988 with the release of her third album, "Get Here". It featured the hit singles "Get Here" and "Piano In The Dark". At the 31st Grammy Awards, Brenda was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance - Female for "Get Here". "Piano In The Dark" was nominated for Song of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group (there was a duet? -- duet vocal was by Joe Esposito of Brooklyn Dreams). "Get Here" was later a huge hit covered by Oleta Adams.
Nearly all of her songs were written by herself. Some of her compositions are also performed by others like Roberta Flack, Diana Ross, Patrice Rushen, Patti Austin, Donna Summer, Chaka Khan, Fantasia, Ruben Studdard, Justin Guarini, and very successfully by the aforementioned Luther Vandross and Oleta Adams.
Russell is also a chief songwriter and lyricist for the hit Broadway musical "The Color Purple". In 2005 she saw a Broadway musical version of Alice Walker's The Color Purple. Produced by Oprah Winfrey, the show's score is written by Russell and lyricists-composers Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. Russell and her co-writers were nominated for a Tony Award (for Best Score) and a Grammy Award (in the Best Musical Show Album category).
Le Restaurant
Brenda Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would be just be there waiting
He left so soon
He'd only just arrived
He hummed a tune
One that I found romantic
It filled the room
He teased Francois behind the bar
And he left his tips in the candy jar
He carried on just like a song
And I'd always wondered where he'd gone
He never, never knew
How I would dream about him
My rendez, rendezvous
Down at Le Restaurant
Amidst a gaze
One day he sat beside me
I turned a page
Down at Le Restaurant
In Brenda Russell's song Le Restaurant, the lyrics tell a story about a woman who frequently visits a restaurant to see a man she has feelings for. The song begins with her waiting at the restaurant for the man. He hums a romantic tune that fills the room and she admires him from afar. She talks about how he teases François the bartender and leaves tips in the candy jar. She also mentions how he carried on like a song and how she has always wondered where he had gone. The woman reflects on how she dreams about him and considers their meetings at the restaurant her rendezvous.
One day, amidst a gaze, the man finally sat beside her, and she turned a page. The lyrics suggest that the woman is shy and had not spoken to the man until he finally sat beside her. The story reflects the emotions of unrequited love and the hope of a meaningful connection.
Line by Line Meaning
For a tea at two
At the specific time of 2 o'clock, I would be ready and willing to meet with him
I would be just be there waiting
I am eager to spend time with him and I would be patiently waiting for him
He left so soon
I was disappointed that he had to leave so abruptly
He'd only just arrived
He left almost as soon as he had come in
He hummed a tune
He was singing a melody softly to himself
One that I found romantic
I found the music to be charming and enchanting
It filled the room
The sound of his melody made the air thick with emotion
Down at Le Restaurant
The memorable place where we spent time together
He teased Francois behind the bar
He joked around with Francois, the bartender
And he left his tips in the candy jar
He placed his tips in the jar filled with candy as a way of showing his appreciation
He carried on just like a song
He acted in a carefree manner, like the melody of a song
And I'd always wondered where he'd gone
I was always curious and unsure about what had happened to him
He never, never knew
He was never aware of what I had thought or felt for him
How I would dream about him
I would often fantasize about him
My rendez, rendezvous
Our planned meeting place and time
Amidst a gaze
While looking at him intently
One day he sat beside me
He decided to sit next to me on that day
I turned a page
I shifted my attention and looked away from him for a moment while reading a book
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRENDA RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Terrence Ragin
This song is so hauntingly beautiful and it shakes my soul and core.
eun ki song
MEE TOO.
anthony ryan
Oh it definitely does that
Samuel Wilson
I STRONGLY AGREE !
Dwight Alfred
Yes indeed. Miss Russell is such a gifted composer and singer.
Shando
Everything about this song is wonderful, the lyrics and the musicianship is top tier, their feel for this amazing composition is what transports me whenever I listen to this song. Brenda Russell has never sounded better.
Anto Archi
Top tier indeed
Keith A. Neubert
Always thought that this would be a great theme song for a drama series. Restaurants are full of hardworking people with personal behind-the-scene challenges and triumphs.
Paul Donovan
She does such a MASTERFUL job describing things on this song that I can just picture the scenario inside this cafe!! "He teased Francois behind the bar,and he left his tips in the candy-jar." I've LOVED this song since first hearing it on the album with"Piano In The Dark"!!
Howard Hodge
I feel like I'm sitting there in the corner watching the song unfold in front of me. What an artist.