McRae was born in Harlem, New York, on the 8th April 1920, and studied piano as a child. As a teenager she came to the attention of Teddy Wilson and his wife, the composer Irene Kitchings Wilson. Through their influence, one of McRae’s early songs, "Dream of Life", was recorded by Wilson’s longtime collaborator Billie Holiday.
By the late 1940s she was well known among the modern jazz musicians who gathered at Minton's Playhouse, Harlem’s most famous jazz club, where she was the intermission pianist. But it was while working in Brooklyn that she came to the attention of Decca’s Milt Gabler. Her five year association with Decca yielded twelve LPs.
The musicians she sang with include Benny Carter, Mercer Ellington, Count Basie, Sammy Davis Jr, Dave Brubeck, and Louis Armstrong. She was married once (and briefly), to drummer Kenny Clarke.
McRae died on the 10th November 1994.
A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
Carmen McRae Lyrics
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There was magic abroad in the air
There were angels dining at the Ritz
And a nightingale sang in Berkley Square
I may be right, I may be wrong
But I'm perfectly willing to swear
That when you turned and smiled at me
The moon that lingered over London town
Poor puzzled moon, he wore a frown
How could he know we two were so in love?
The whole darn world seemed upside down
The streets of town were paved with stars
It was such a romantic affair
And, as we kissed and said goodnight,
A nightingale sang in Berkley Square
The streets of town were paved with stars
It was such a romantic affair
And, as we kissed and said goodnight,
A nightingale sang in Berkley Square
I know 'cause I was there
That night in Berkley Square
In Carmen McRae's "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" the lyrics are reflective of a magical evening where the singer met someone special. The song opens with a description of magic in the air, and angels dining at the ritzy Ritz hotel. There's a sense of enchantment surrounding the lyrics that sets the tone for a romantic experience that's unfolding. As the singer reflects on the night, they describe a specific moment where they believe the nightingale sang in Berkeley Square.
The second verse reflects on the moon that watched over this magical evening. The moon represents the world's watchful eye, unaware of the magical moment that was taking place beneath its watchful presence. The world seemed upside down as the singer and their romantic partner enjoyed each other's company. There's a sense that nothing else mattered in this moment, that the singer and their love were the only things that existed.
Finally, as the singer says goodbye to their love, they look back fondly on the evening that they've had together. The streets were paved with stars and the whole town seemed to reflect the enchantment that surrounded them. All in all, McRae's "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" is a reflection on a magical night, where love was able to bloom in spite of the world's watchful eye.
Line by Line Meaning
That certain night, the night we met
On that one fateful night when our paths first crossed
There was magic abroad in the air
A feeling of enchantment and wonder was present all around
There were angels dining at the Ritz
Even celestial beings were drawn to witness the special occasion
And a nightingale sang in Berkley Square
Adding to the atmosphere was the sweet song of a nightingale singing in the square
I may be right, I may be wrong
I am unsure, but I have a conviction that I am willing to stand by
But I'm perfectly willing to swear
I am so sure of what I felt that night that I am willing to take an oath
That when you turned and smiled at me
In that moment when you looked my way and beamed a smile in my direction
A nightingale sang in Berkley Square
It was as if the nightingale was singing just for us, adding to the beauty and wonder of the night
The moon that lingered over London town
The moon that hovers over the city of London
Poor puzzled moon, he wore a frown
The moon seemed confused or perplexed and had a facial expression suggesting as much
How could he know we two were so in love?
The moon could not have realized the depth of our affection for each other that night
The whole darn world seemed upside down
Everything felt topsy-turvy, as if we were living in a different reality
The streets of town were paved with stars
The city streets themselves seemed to shine and sparkle with celestial beauty
It was such a romantic affair
The entire event was a highly romantic and magical experience
And, as we kissed and said goodnight,
As our lips met and we bid each other farewell
A nightingale sang in Berkley Square
The nightingale continued to offer its enchanting song, perhaps bidding us its own farewell
I know 'cause I was there
I can attest to the truth of this entire story and the magic of that unforgettable night
Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: ERIC MASCHWITZ, MANNING SHERWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind