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.
We
Carmen McRae Lyrics
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We may never meet again
Before we go
Make this moment live again
We won't say goodbye
Until the last minute
I'll hold out my hand
And my heart will be in it
For all we know
This might only be a dream
We come and we go
Like the ripples, like the ripples in the stream
So baby, love me, love me tonight
Tomorrow was made for some
Oh, but tomorrow
But tomorrow may never, never come
For all we know
Yes, tomorrow may never, never come
For all we know
Carmen McRae's song "For All We Know" is a tender expression of the fragility and uncertainty of life. The lyrics poignantly capture the fleeting nature of love and the unpredictability of the future. The opening line, "For all we know, we may never meet again," sets the tone for the song's bittersweet message. The singer is acutely aware that the present moment is all they have, and that nothing is guaranteed in life, including the next meeting.
The second verse heightens the sense of urgency with the imagery of ripples in a stream. Just as the ripples come and go, so too do people and their relationships. The singer implores their lover to seize the moment and "love me tonight," as "tomorrow may never come." The repetition of the phrase "for all we know" underscores the point that the future is uncertain and that life is precious and fleeting.
The bridge of the song offers a glimmer of hope, with the idea that the singer's feelings for their lover will endure, even if they never meet again. The final repetition of the phrase "for all we know" brings the song full circle, emphasizing once again the uncertainty of life and the importance of cherishing each fleeting moment.
Overall, Carmen McRae's "For All We Know" is a poignant meditation on the transience of life and the importance of living in the present moment. The lyrics elegantly capture the complex and often contradictory emotions of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
For all we know
Considering the circumstances of life and how little we really know about what the future holds.
We may never meet again
There is a possibility that we may not see each other again in the future.
Before we go
Prior to departing and going our separate ways, there is an opportunity to do something special in the present moment.
Make this moment live again
Take advantage of the moment and relive a memory in order to create a lasting experience.
We won't say goodbye
We will not express farewell until the very last moment of departure.
Until the last minute
Until it is absolutely necessary to leave, we will remain together.
I'll hold out my hand
I will offer my hand as a gesture of affection and fondness.
And my heart will be in it
The gesture of offering my hand is a genuine representation of how I truly feel.
This might only be a dream
Considering the possibility that this moment is not real and may be nothing more than an imaginary experience.
We come and we go
As human beings, we go through an endless cycle of arrival and departure, much like a stream's ripples.
Like the ripples, like the ripples in the stream
Human life can be compared to the ripples in a stream, as both are characterized by a repetition of ebb and flow.
So baby, love me, love me tonight
The present time is an opportunity to express genuine affection for one another.
Tomorrow was made for some
The future is an unknown reality and may not provide an opportunity for everyone.
Oh, but tomorrow
Despite not knowing what tomorrow may hold, it still exists as a possibility.
But tomorrow may never, never come
It is possible that the future will never arrive and no opportunity will present itself.
Yes, tomorrow may never, never come
It is important to acknowledge that the future is uncertain and plan for the present accordingly.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: J. COOTS, SAM M. LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bradly2007
As a teen first experienced Carmen McRae mid-sixties live in this voice, truly the greatest ever & her 60's albums totally awesome!
Carmen McRae
Timeless piece always lights our heart full of life
Will Psomiades
still holding on to this album since 1965
Edwin Mangum
Lovely song!
Larry Gallina
Pure perfect Carmen from her greatest years my my soooooooooo good‼️
Max Weissengruber
Song was written by the late Kenny Rankin. Recorded by him on an album arranged and produced by Don Costa.
Nora Johnson
don't know why I love this so much!!! KENNY RANKIN.......
Nora Johnson
thanks,dear Kenny Rankin! of blessed memory
Michael San Filippo
yes yes
CHRISTY T.S.
昨日は彼女の誕生日でしたね。
kenny Rankinの名曲/Haven't We Met?