Carmen Mercedes McRae (1920-1994) was a U.S. jazz singer, songwriter, and p… Read Full Bio ↴Carmen Mercedes McRae (1920-1994) was a U.S. jazz singer, songwriter, and pianist.

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.

Just the Way You Are
Carmen McRae Lyrics

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Don't go changing to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore

I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times; I'll take the bad times

I'll take you just the way you are

Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care

I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are

I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you?

I said I love you and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart

I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are

Overall Meaning

"Just the Way You Are" by Carmen McRae is a heartfelt love song that emphasizes the importance of acceptance and unconditional love in a relationship. The lyrics express the singer's desire for her partner to stay true to themselves and not change for the sake of pleasing her. She reassures them that she has always been satisfied with who they are and that she never wants them to feel the need to be someone else.

The song highlights the singer's commitment to their partner, stating that she wouldn't leave them in times of trouble and that they have come a long way together. She acknowledges that every relationship has its ups and downs but assures her partner that she is willing to accept both the good and the bad times.

The lyrics also convey the singer's unconditional love and admiration for her partner. She cherishes the simplicity of their connection and states that she doesn't desire intellectual conversations or constant efforts to impress. Instead, she just wants someone she can talk to and be herself with.

Ultimately, the song emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself in a relationship and accepting each other's flaws and imperfections. It celebrates a love that is honest, genuine, and enduring.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't go changing to try and please me
Do not change yourself in order to make me happy

You never let me down before
You have always been reliable and trustworthy

Don't imagine you're too familiar
Do not assume that you know everything there is to know about me

And I don't see you anymore
And I no longer perceive you in the same way

I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
I would not abandon you when things get difficult

We never could have come this far
We could not have reached this point in our relationship

I took the good times; I'll take the bad times
I have embraced both the happy and challenging moments

I'll take you just the way you are
I accept you completely, without any desire for change

Don't go trying some new fashion
Do not attempt to adopt a different style or trend

Don't change the color of your hair
Do not alter your hair color

You always have my unspoken passion
You consistently ignite my unexpressed desire

Although I might not seem to care
Even though it may appear that I am indifferent

I don't want clever conversation
I do not desire intellectual debates or witty discussions

I never want to work that hard
I am not interested in putting in excessive effort

I just want someone that I can talk to
I simply want someone with whom I can have meaningful conversations

I want you just the way you are
I desire you exactly as you are, without any changes

I need to know that you will always be
It is crucial for me to feel certain that you will remain

The same old someone that I knew
The familiar person I have grown to know and love

What will it take till you believe in me
What do I need to do for you to have faith and trust in me

The way that I believe in you?
Just like I deeply believe in you, without hesitation

I said I love you and that's forever
I expressed my love for you, and it will last eternally

And this I promise from the heart
And I sincerely pledge this from the depths of my being

I could not love you any better
There is no way I could love you more profoundly

I love you just the way you are
I adore and cherish you precisely as you are

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Billy Joel

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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