How Deep Is the Ocean?
Charlie Parker Lyrics


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How much do I love you?
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?
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 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?

Overall Meaning

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
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Comments from YouTube:

@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

😊

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