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.
I Didn
Charlie Parker Lyrics
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Yesterday, perhaps
Danced with Jim and Paul
And kissed some other chaps
Once I was young
But never was naive
I thought I had a trick or two
Up my imaginary sleeve
And now I know I was naive
I didn't know what time it was
Then I met you
Oh, what a lovely time it was
How sublime it was too
I didn't know what day it was
You held my hand
Warm like the month of May it was
And I'll say it was grand
Grand to be alive, to be young
To be mad, to be yours alone
Grand to see your face, feel your touch
Hear your voice say, "I'm all your own"
I didn't know what year it was
Life was no prize
I wanted love and here it was
Shining out of your eyes
I'm wise and I know what time it is now
Grand to be alive, to be young
To be mad, to be yours alone
Grand to see your face, feel your touch
Hear your voice say, "I'm all your own"
I didn't know what year it was
Life was no prize
I wanted love and here it was
Shining out of your eyes
I'm wise and I know what time it is now
The song "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" by Charlie Parker is about a person who reminisces about their youth and how they thought they knew everything about life, but then they met someone who changed their mind. The first two verses describe the singer's past, where they danced and kissed others but were never naive. They thought they had a few tricks up their sleeve, but now they realize they were naive. The following two verses describe how the singer met the person who changed their perspective. The person they met was lovely and sublime, and they held the singer's hand, making them feel warm like it was the month of May.
The chorus repeats the same lines, where it was grand to be alive, young, and mad, to see the person's face, feel their touch, and hear their voice say they're all their own. Then the song repeats the last two verses twice, emphasizing the fact that the singer didn't know what they were missing before, but now they've found love, and they're wise enough to know what time it is.
The song's message is that sometimes we think we know everything about life, but sometimes it takes meeting someone who makes us see things differently. We become wiser, knowing what truly matters in life. This bittersweet song speaks to the realization of how ignorant we can be in our youth of what is important in our future lives, and we miss the love we could have discovered.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I was young
There was a time when I was young
Yesterday, perhaps
It feels like it was only yesterday
Danced with Jim and Paul
I used to dance with my friends Jim and Paul
And kissed some other chaps
I also kissed some other guys
But never was naive
Despite my young age, I was never naive
I thought I had a trick or two
I believed I was clever
Up my imaginary sleeve
I had some ideas that only existed in my imagination
And now I know I was naive
In hindsight, I realize that I had a lot to learn
I didn't know what time it was
I was unaware of the time
Then I met you
But then I met you
Oh, what a lovely time it was
It was such a wonderful time
How sublime it was too
It was also very beautiful
You held my hand
You took my hand in yours
Warm like the month of May it was
It was a warm feeling, like in the month of May
And I'll say it was grand
I will say it was magnificent
Grand to be alive, to be young
It was great to be alive and young
To be mad, to be yours alone
To be crazy in love and yours only
Grand to see your face, feel your touch
It was wonderful to see your face and feel your touch
Hear your voice say, "I'm all your own"
Hearing you say that I was yours only was amazing
Life was no prize
Life was not great
I wanted love and here it was
But I found love, it was in you
Shining out of your eyes
Love was reflected in your eyes
I'm wise and I know what time it is now
Now I am wiser and I understand the true nature of time
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: LORENZ HART, RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Darius Keith
My blessed youthful introduction to Jazz in 1963 at the tender age of 15. My 7th grade music teacher began the transition by opening my mind to Gershwin but, my favorite high school friend, Dennis, baritone sax in out stellar swing band, awakened me to the real deal one afternoon when he shared his dad’s record of Charlie Parker with Strings. This masterpiece changed my wholly music land scape! Still one of the best old classics for me on all time!
Jimmy Johnston
Mitch Miller plays his square straight man to Bird’s swinging genius. Parker was so proud of his work on this album. What a loss although his legacy is infinite!
Thanks for sharing!
vova47
Three cheers for the man who made this album possible -- the great Norman Granz!!
vova47
My favorite Charlie Parker album! Thanks for the lovely pictures!
Noreen Jackson
What a lovely rendition of this tune. So heartfelt and always one of my favorite recordings of Bird.
Charlie rum ole boi!
First heard this over 35 years ago on an old Verve compilation album. Love it just as much now. But time has made it even more nostalgic and magic.
Noreen Jackson
What a lovely rendition of this tune. So heartfelt and always one of my favorite recordings of Bird. This one makes me cry.
Anonymous
To me, this is the definitive version. I love Bird. So beautiful...
AZ2
@catman916 Totally agree with you. This album touches the soul from beginning to end. It's a national treasure.
John Camacho
If you don’t think Charlie Parker was the best saxophonist ever listen to Charlie with strings; no one better.