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 Very Thought Of You
Carmen McRae Lyrics
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The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
I'm living in a kind of daydream
I'm happy as a king
And foolish though it may seem
To me that's everything
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love
The lyrics of “The Very Thought of You” by Carmen McRae describe the intense emotions experienced when thinking about a loved one. The singer confesses that the mere idea of this person makes her forget about all her responsibilities and duties, getting lost in a daydream. She explains that even though this behavior might seem foolish to others, to her, it's everything. The love and happiness she feels when thinking of this person are enough to make her content.
The song's second verse delves into a deeper description of the effects this person has on her. The singer says that when she is away from her loved one, time feels slow and arduous. She sees their face everywhere she looks, from flowers to stars. The very thought of this person brings joy and comfort to her heart and makes her feel complete.
Overall, the lyrics of “The Very Thought of You” convey the theme of deep, intense love and the all-encompassing happiness that accompanies it. The mere idea of someone we love can have a profound effect on us, making us lose ourselves in daydreams and forget everything around us.
Line by Line Meaning
The very thought of you and I forget to do
When I think of you, everything else fades away and I become forgetful
The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
Things that are usually part of my routine become insignificant when I think of you
I'm living in a kind of daydream
My thoughts of you are so enchanting, they create a fantastical reality for me
I'm happy as a king
My joy when I think of you is as great as that of a king
And foolish though it may seem
Even though it may come across as silly or nonsensical
To me that's everything
Thinking of you is simply everything to me
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
Just the thought of you fills me with desire and yearning
You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
Time seems to crawl by until I can be in your presence
I see your face in every flower
Your beauty is reflected in every blooming plant
Your eyes in stars above
Even the stars remind me of your captivating gaze
It's just the thought of you
It's the mere idea of you that has such a profound impact on me
The very thought of you, my love
Just thinking of you brings me immense joy and happiness
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, CONSALAD CO., Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ray Noble
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mic kel
Magnificent, simple.