When Benton was young he enjoyed gospel music and wrote songs and in 1948 he went to New York to pursue his music career.
He was a member of several gospel groups including "The Langfordairies", "The Jerusalem Stars", and "The Golden Gate Quartet".
After returning to his home state he joined a R&B singing group, "the Sandmen", and soon went back to New York to try for a big break. Eventually the record company decided to drop The Sandmen and push Brook as a solo artist.
Benton wrote songs for artists such as Nat King Cole, Clyde McPhatter, and Roy Hamilton. Soon he released his first minor hit A Million Miles From Nowhere, and later he joined the Mercury label, which would later bring him big success.
In 1952 he got his big break with It's Just a Matter of Time and Endlessly.
It's Just a Matter of Time made it to #3 on the U.S. Pop charts, while Endlessly made it to #12 . Both hits were written by Benton himself.
Benton had many #1 hits including Rainy Night in Georgia and Hotel Happiness. According to Songfacts, his version of the blues standard The Boll Weevil Song has the unique distinction of being the first #1 song on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.
Altogether, Benton had 38 hit singles through out his career. His last album was "Fools Rush In", released posthumously in 2005. He died on April 9, 1988.
A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
Brook Benton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was magic abroad in the air
There were angels dining at the Ritz
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
I may be right, I may be wrong
But I'm perfectly willing to swear
That when you turned and smiled at me
A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
Poor puzzled moon, he wore a frown
How could he know we two were so in love
The whole darned world seemed upside down
The streets of town were paved with stars
It was such a romantic affair
And as we kissed and said good-night
A nightingale sang
A nightingale sang
I know 'cause I was there
That night in Berkeley Square
The lyrics of Brook Benton's song "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" are a vivid account of a magical night of love. The singer recalls meeting someone on this particular evening, where an ethereal atmosphere was palpable all around them. He describes the mystical quality of the night, sharing that even the angels were dining at the Ritz Hotel, in addition to a nightingale who sang a song that would forever be etched in his memory. The singer is confident in his fondness for this person, as he swears that it was when they smiled at him that the nightingale sang its sweet melody.
The singer shares that the moon seemed puzzled and wore a frown, unaware of the loving connection between the two lovers. The streets of London were paved with stars, setting a romantic ambiance for the couple as they kissed and let the night come to a close. The lyrics conclude with the singer recalling his experience of the night, stating that he was there when the nightingale sang in Berkeley Square.
In summary, the lyrics of "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square" capture a momentous evening of love, as well as the captivating environment in which it took place. It is a touching reminiscence of a memory that has stuck with the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
That certain night, the night we met
The specific night we met was incredibly special
There was magic abroad in the air
There was an enchanting and mystical atmosphere all around us
There were angels dining at the Ritz
Dignified and esteemed individuals were present, adding to the already sophisticated aura
And a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
There was a beautiful bird that sang and added to the perfect night
I may be right, I may be wrong
It's possible that I'm correct, or I could be mistaken
But I'm perfectly willing to swear
I am absolutely certain
That when you turned and smiled at me
The moment you looked my way and grinned
A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
The sweet bird's tune filled the air once again
The moon that lingered over London town
The moon was present above the city of London
Poor puzzled moon, he wore a frown
The moon seemed to be perplexed or confused
How could he know we two were so in love
It's impossible for the moon to comprehend the depth of our love for each other
The whole darned world seemed upside down
Everything felt different and turned around
The streets of town were paved with stars
The city streets seemed to be covered in bright and twinkling stars
It was such a romantic affair
The whole experience was incredibly romantic
And as we kissed and said good-night
As we parted ways and said our farewells with a kiss
A nightingale sang
The nightingale serenaded us one final time
A nightingale sang
The bird sang once more
I know 'cause I was there
I am so certain of this because I was experiencing it all firsthand
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Eric Maschwitz, Manning Sherwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind