Parker is commonly considered the greatest bebop jazz musician. In terms of influence and impact, his contribution to jazz was so great that Charles Mingus commented that if Bird were alive today, he would think he was living in a hall of mirrors. Bird's talent is compared almost without argument to such legendary musicians as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, and his reputation and legend as one of the best saxophonists is such that some critics say he was unsurpassed.
A founding figure of bebop, Parker's innovative approach to melody, rhythm and harmony have exerted an incalculable influence on jazz.. Several of Parker's songs have become standards of the repertoire, and innumerable musicians have studied Parker's music and absorbed elements of his style.
Parker became an icon for the Beat generation, and was a pivotal figure in the evolving conception of the jazz musician as an uncompromising artist and intellectual, rather than just a popular entertainer. At various times, Parker fused jazz with other musical styles, from classical (seeking to study with Edgard Varese and Stefan Wolpe) to Latin music (recordings with Machito), blazing paths followed later by others.
Parker was known for often showing up to performances without an instrument and borrowing someone else's at the last moment. At more than one venue he played on a plastic Grafton saxophone; later, saxophonist Ornette Coleman used this brand of plastic sax in his early career. On one particular occasion before a concert in Toronto, Canada, he had sold his saxophone to buy drugs, and at the last minute, he, Dizzy Gillespie and other members of Charlie's entourage went running around Toronto trying to find a saxophone. After scouring all the downtown pawnshops open at the time, they were only able to find a Grafton, which Parker proceeded to use at the concert that night. This concert is documented on the album Jazz at Massey Hall. The album is considered one of the greatest live recordings in Jazz history.
Parker's battles with alcoholism and heroin addiction ranged from his teenage years until his death from pneumonia and a bleeding ulcer at thirty-four. The toll that the drug had taken on his relatively young body was quite profound - a doctor examining Parker's body estimated him to be around sixty years old.
During his lifetime, tribute was paid to Parker when a new nightclub in New York was named Birdland in his honour in 1949.Three years later, George Shearing wrote "Lullaby of Birdland", which was named for both Parker and the nightclub.
Other phenomena also occurred in the United States after the death of Parker, particularly the use of the term "Bird lives" in graffiti throughout New York hours after his death, and later as the title of a contemporary art piece of the same name, created by sculptor Robert Graham in 1999. Despite its widespread use, Ted Joans is usually credited with its inception.
How Deep Is the Ocean?
Charlie Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll tell you no lie
How deep is the ocean?
How high is the sky?
How many times a day do I think of you?
How many roses are sprinkled with dew?
To be where you are?
How far is the journey
From here to a star?
And if I ever lost you, how much would I cry?
How deep is the ocean?
How high is the sky?
How far would I travel
To be where you are?
How far is the journey
From here to a star?
And if I ever lost you, how much would I cry?
How deep is the ocean?
How high is the sky?
How high is the sky?
The lyrics to Charlie Parker's song "How Deep Is the Ocean?" are about expressing love and devotion. The singer poses a series of questions to his loved one in order to convey the depth and intensity of his feelings. He begins by saying that he won't lie about the extent of his love. Then, he asks how deep the ocean is and how high the sky is, emphasizing the vastness of his affection. He also wonders how often he thinks of his lover and how many roses are covered in dew, suggesting that his thoughts and love are constant and plentiful. He then ponders how far he would travel to be with his love and how far the journey would be if he were to reach a star. Finally, he asks, if he were to ever lose his love, how much he would cry and repeats the question about the depth of the ocean and the height of the sky as a way to emphasize his love.
Overall, the lyrics to "How Deep Is the Ocean?" are a romantic expression of the intensity of the singer's love. The use of imagery such as the deep ocean, high sky, and roses sprinkled with dew adds power and emotion to the words. The repetition of the question about the depth of the ocean and the height of the sky brings the song to a strong finish, emphasizing the unyielding nature of the singer's feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
How much do I love you?
To what extent do I feel affection for you?
I'll tell you no lie
I will not deceive you in my response
How deep is the ocean?
What is the measure of the vastness of the sea?
How high is the sky?
What is the scale of the limitlessness of the atmosphere?
How many times a day do I think of you?
How frequently do thoughts of you cross my mind?
How many roses are sprinkled with dew?
What is the count of flowers drenched in droplets of water?
How far would I travel
What is the distance I would traverse
To be where you are?
In order to be in your presence?
How far is the journey
What is the measure of the distance that must be crossed
From here to a star?
From this location to a celestial entity?
And if I ever lost you, how much would I cry?
If our bond were severed, how intense would my sorrow be?
How deep is the ocean?
What is the measure of the vastness of the sea?
How high is the sky?
What is the scale of the limitlessness of the atmosphere?
How far would I travel
What is the distance I would traverse
To be where you are?
In order to be in your presence?
How far is the journey
What is the measure of the distance that must be crossed
From here to a star?
From this location to a celestial entity?
And if I ever lost you, how much would I cry?
If our bond were severed, how intense would my sorrow be?
How deep is the ocean?
What is the measure of the vastness of the sea?
How high is the sky?
What is the scale of the limitlessness of the atmosphere?
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SaxismyaxeSOTW
One of the most profoundly beautiful ballad solos that Parker, or anyone, ever performed. A truly masterful recording.
@parkerkilen3526
Of all songs, this easily one of Charlie Parker’s best, in my opinion. Charlie Parker is a true legend and perhaps the greatest saxophone player in history!
@olebirgerpedersen
Mostly all his ballads are tiny miracles. One of the best I ever heard is " My heart tells me" . Not to forget " Meandering " and all the other different improvisations over " Embraceable you ".
@teto85
No "Perhaps" about it.
@Max-do7me
One of the greatest improvisers/instant composers regardless of the instrument and one of the greatest contributors in creating not just a new sound, but a new style. A style giving more freedom while being mathematically precise and entailing a reformed rhythmic structure as well, a new kind of swinging, so to speak. The latter a fact that, in my opinion, is often underrated or even overlooked, although it is an integral part of that new fabric called Bebop. As a matter of fact, the melodic, harmonic and rhythmic innovations are interdependent. Parker was a master in every aspect.
@DrJoshman
It doesn't get better than this.
@teto85
It does not. Bird Lives.
@mariolongo7369
Charlie ... always ready to fly!🐦🎷
@edwardadkinson496
the greatest alto player the world has ever heard, there will never be another BIRD.......
@raefblack7906
😊