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.
The Good Life
Carmen McRae Lyrics
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Seems to be the ideal
Yes, the good life lets you hide
All the sadness you feel
You won't really fall in love
For you can't take the chance
So be honest with yourself
It's the good life
To be free and explore the unknown
Like the heartaches
When you learn you must face them alone
Please, remember, I still love you
And in case you don't know
Well, just wake up
Kiss the good life "hello"
In Carmen McRae's song "The Good Life", the singer explores the idea of happiness and the concept of the "good life". She suggests that this idea is full of fun and seems to be the ideal, but is instead a mask for the sadness that people feel. The good life lets you hide all the sadness you can feel. Moreover, it seems like the good life is perfect as it frees you from any responsibility and allows you to explore the unknown. However, she reveals that this perfect life cannot bring true love and intimacy; for you can't take the chance, you cannot take risks or expose yourself to pain. She advises that honesty with oneself is essential, and trying to fake romance won't work. It's better to be honest and accept that you can face heartaches alone like the rest of the people who seemingly lead perfect lives. In the end, the singer admits that she still loves someone who believes and chooses to live the good life. Thus, she tells the person to remember her love, wake up, and kiss the good life a "hello."
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the good life, full of fun
Life is great when you're having a good time
Seems to be the ideal
This is the perfect life
Yes, the good life lets you hide
Having a good life helps you avoid your problems
All the sadness you feel
Even though you have problems, they seem hidden away
You won't really fall in love
You're scared to love someone, because you're scared of getting hurt
For you can't take the chance
You don't want to take any risks
So be honest with yourself
Always be truthful and never lie to yourself
Don't try to fake romance
Don't pretend to be in love to please others
It's the good life
Life is always great when you are having a good time
To be free and explore the unknown
Experience things that are new and push your own boundaries
Like the heartaches
Understand that there will still be emotional pain
When you learn you must face them alone
Sometimes you will be alone in your struggles
Please, remember, I still love you
I still care about you, please don't forget
And in case you don't know
If you're not aware, let me tell you
Well, just wake up
Open your eyes to the reality of life
Kiss the good life "hello"
Embrace the fun, free and ideal life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOSHUA JACKSON, TONI NIELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind