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.
All by Myself
Carmen McRae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never needed anyone
And makin' love was just for fun
Those days are gone
Livin' alone
I think of all the friends I've known
But when I dial the telephone
All by myself
Don't wanna be, all by myself anymore
All by myself
Don't wanna live, all by myself anymore
Hard to be sure
Sometimes I feel so insecure
And love so distant and obscure
Remains the cure
All by myself
Don't wanna be, all by myself anymore
All by myself
Don't wanna live, all by myself anymore
When I was young
I never needed anyone
And makin' love was just for fun
Those days are gone
All by myself
Don't wanna be, all by myself anymore
All by myself
Don't wanna live, all by myself anymore
All by myself
Don't wanna be, all by myself anymore
All by myself
Don't wanna live, all by myself anymore
The song "All By Myself" by Carmen McRae begins in a reflective tone with the singer reminiscing about old times when she was young and carefree. She acknowledges that in those times, she did not need anyone and relationships were just for fun. However, she is now alone, and she thinks about all the friends she has had in her life, but when she tries to reach out, she finds herself alone as nobody answers her calls. The first verse of the song hints at the experience of loneliness that comes with aging and the realization that the world has changed so much.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was young
In my youth
I never needed anyone
I was independent and didn't rely on other people
And makin' love was just for fun
Sex was a casual activity for me
Those days are gone
I have changed and grown beyond my youthful habits
Livin' alone
Being solo
I think of all the friends I've known
I reminisce about my past friendships
But when I dial the telephone
But when I try to call them
Nobody's home
No one is answering
All by myself
Being on my own
Don't wanna be, all by myself anymore
I don't want to be alone anymore
Hard to be sure
It's difficult to be certain
Sometimes I feel so insecure
I can feel doubt and uncertainty
And love so distant and obscure
And finding love is difficult and unclear
Remains the cure
Love is still the answer
All by myself
Being on my own
Don't wanna be, all by myself anymore
I don't want to be alone anymore
Don't wanna live, all by myself anymore
I don't want to go on living without companionship
All by myself
Being on my own
Don't wanna be, all by myself anymore
I don't want to be alone anymore
Don't wanna live, all by myself anymore
I don't want to go on living without companionship
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: RICHARD STARKEY, VINCENT JR PONCIA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gapekgadiete1132
Very beautiful song. Reminds one that you are no longer young. Hence she sings about things we can't reverse
@sinanakay1632
Müzeyyen Senar is the Turkish version of Carmen McRae.
@sebastianorlando7275
alguien conoce el nombre del pianista de la canción?
@timjazznlterbals6629
Marshall Otwell
@sebastianorlando7275
@Timjazznl ter Bals gracias!