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.
Three Little Words
Carmen McRae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh what I'd give for that wonderful phrase
To hear those three little words
That's all I'd live for the rest of my days
And what I feel in my heart
They tell sincerely
No other words can tell it half so clear-early
Three little words
Which simply mean I love you-ou
And what I feel in my heart
They tell sincerely
No other words can tell it half so clear-early
Three little words
Eight little letters
Which simply mean I love you
Simply mean I-I love you-ou
The song "Three Little Words" by Carmen McRae is a romantic love song about the power and simplicity of the words "I love you." The singer expresses a desire to hear this wonderful phrase, to live for the rest of her days, and describes how these three little words sincerely convey the depth of her feelings in a way that no other words can. The eight little letters that make up the phrase have the power to communicate something so clear and pure, that they hold immense value and importance. The song appears to be a declaration of love, a longing for a romantic relationship, and the deep desire for emotional connection.
Through the song "Three Little Words," Carmen McRae expresses the depth of emotion and significance that love can hold. The song's beautifully written lyrics convey a sense of longing and yearning for the expression of love, and also the truth that sometimes profound human emotions can be expressed with just a few simple words. It is a powerful message of hope that true love can be found, and that when it is found, it can be expressed with nothing more than the utterance of those three little words - "I love you."
Line by Line Meaning
Three little words
The phrase 'I love you' is just three little words, but they hold so much weight and meaning.
Oh what I'd give for that wonderful phrase
The singer wants nothing more than to hear the three little words 'I love you' from someone she cares about.
To hear those three little words
Hearing the words 'I love you' would bring the singer immense joy and fulfillment.
That's all I'd live for the rest of my days
The singer's life would feel complete and purposeful if she could hear those three little words and know that she is loved.
And what I feel in my heart
The singer's emotions are strong and genuine, coming from a deep place inside her.
They tell sincerely
Her feelings are honest and conveyed with complete sincerity.
No other words can tell it half so clear-early
Nothing else can express the depth of her feelings as clearly as the simple, powerful phrase 'I love you.'
Eight little letters
The phrase 'I love you' is made up of just eight letters, yet they carry so much weight and meaning.
Which simply mean I love you-ou
Despite its simplicity, the phrase 'I love you' holds a world of meaning and emotion that cannot be captured by any other words.
Simply mean I-I love you-ou
The phrase 'I love you' is simple yet profound, capturing the depth and intensity of the singer's feelings in just a few words.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind