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.
Love Is Here To Stay
Carmen McRae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not for a year, forever and a day
The radio and the telephone
And the movies that we know
They're all just passing fancies
That in time may go
Oh, my dear, our love is here to stay
In time the Rockies may crumble
Gibraltar may tumble
They're only made of clay
Oh, our love is here to stay
Carmen McRae's "Love Is Here to Stay" is a beautiful declaration of love, expressing that the love shared by two people is everlasting and resilient against the passing of time. The opening lyrics state, "It's very clear our love is here to stay, Not for a year, forever and a day," emphasizing the point that their love is not fleeting but rather, it is a love that has stood the test of time, and will continue to last forever.
The song suggests that love is a constant, despite the transient nature of other aspects of life such as movies, the radio, and the telephone, which come and go. The lyrics proclaim that these things are merely "passing fancies" and that they will eventually fade away. In contrast, the love shared between two people is unwavering, and they shall stand the test of time.
In the final verse, the lyrics state, "In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble, They're only made of clay, Oh, our love is here to stay." This final verse emphasizes that nature and geographical features that are considered indestructible can eventually fade away. But even if the Rockies were to crumble or the Gibraltar to tumble, their love will remain unshaken.
Overall, the song is about two people standing firm in their love, irrespective of the world's vicissitudes, which serves as an inspiration to individuals encountering relationship struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
It's very clear our love is here to stay
It is quite evident that our affection is strong and lasting.
Not for a year, forever and a day
Our love is not just a short-term romance, but something that will endure indefinitely.
The radio and the telephone
Modern technologies like radio and telephone are just temporary, fleeting things.
And the movies that we know
Likewise, popular culture like movies are just transient forms of entertainment.
They're all just passing fancies
These things are all just temporary trends that will inevitably fade away.
That in time may go
Their fleeting nature means that they will eventually disappear into obscurity.
Oh, my dear, our love is here to stay
Despite the temporary nature of modern life, our love will endure.
Together we're going a long, long way
Our love will journey through life with us, and we will grow old together.
In time the Rockies may crumble
Even natural wonders like mountains may eventually be destroyed.
Gibraltar may tumble
Similarly, iconic landmarks like Gibraltar may eventually fall apart.
They're only made of clay
These impressive structures are not indestructible and will eventually deteriorate, like anything made from clay.
Oh, our love is here to stay
Despite the impermanent nature of the world around us, our love is enduring and eternal.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gleisonferres
It's very clear our love is here to stay
Not for a year, forever and a day
The radio and the telephone
And the movies that we know
They're all just passing fancies
That in time may go
Oh, my dear, our love is here to stay
Together we're going a long, long way
In time the Rockies may crumble
Gibraltar may tumble
They're only made of clay
Oh, our love is here to stay
🇧🇷