Byrd primarily looked up to Django Reinhardt. He moved to Washington, D.C., to study classical guitar with the renowned Sophocles Papas. He later moved to Italy where he studied with Andrés Segovia. In the early 1960's he was on a State Department tour in South America where he was introduced to a new music, the bossa nova, which was the musical passion of Brazil beginning in the late 50's. Jazz saxophonist Stan Getz had been in Brazil about six months earlier than Byrd, also on a State Department tour, where he, too, was exposed to the bossa nova. A short time later Getz called Byrd in D.C. and suggested the idea that they collaborate on a bossa nova album. That album was the introduction of bossa nova to North America.
He is perhaps most well known as a collaborator with Stan Getz on the Jazz Samba album, which featured many themes of bossa nova, and of course, samba.
In My Room
Charlie Byrd Lyrics
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High on a hill it calls to me
to be where little cable cars
climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air,
I don't care!
My love waits there in San Francisco,
above the blue and windy sea.
your golden sun will shine for me!
I left my heart in San Francisco.
High on a hill it calls to me
to be where little cable cars
climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air,
I don't care!
My love waits there in San Francisco,
above the blue and windy sea.
When I come home to you, San Francisco,
your golden sun will shine for me!
The lyrics of Charlie Byrd Trio's song I Left My Heart In San Francisco express the deep love and attachment that the singer feels for San Francisco. The song is about a person who has left their heart behind in the city and is longing to be reunited with it. The singer describes San Francisco as being high on a hill, where cable cars climb halfway to the stars. This vivid imagery portrays the city as being magical and almost otherworldly.
The singer reveals that although the morning fog may chill the air, they do not care because their love waits for them in San Francisco above the blue and windy sea. The ending of the song reveals that the singer plans to come back to San Francisco, and when they do, the city's golden sun will shine for them. The overall effect is a romantic and sentimental plea for the city to call the singer back home.
Line by Line Meaning
I left my heart in San Francisco.
I have an emotional attachment to the city of San Francisco.
High on a hill it calls to me
I feel drawn to the city because of its elevation and beauty.
to be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars!
I am attracted to the charm of San Francisco's iconic cable car system.
The morning fog may chill the air,
San Francisco's weather may not always be perfect.
I don't care!
But despite that, I still have a strong desire to be there.
My love waits there in San Francisco,
Someone I love is in San Francisco.
above the blue and windy sea.
The person I love is in a beautiful location in the city.
When I come home to you, San Francisco,
When I return to San Francisco.
your golden sun will shine for me!
I will enjoy my time there, even if the weather isn't perfect.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Douglas Cross, George Cory
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind