Never have two musicians seemed so alike in temperament yet differed so muc… Read Full Bio ↴Never have two musicians seemed so alike in temperament yet differed so much in their approach to making music as Chet Baker and Bill Evans. While both were peerless masters of their instruments and shared a rich, evocatively lyrical playing style that bordered beguilingly on the introspective, Baker and Evans were polar opposites when it came to the discipline of performance.

Though both were heroin addicts, the musically-trained Evans never let it interfere with his meticulously precise flights of invention while the self-taught Baker became increasingly erratic and inconsistent. They ventured into a recording studio together on just three occasions, with largely disappointing results, their potentially combustible collaboration failing to ignite and all too frequently sounding workmanlike and uninspiring.

The Complete Legendary Sessions corrals the 15 tracks that resulted from those sessions – previously issued on two 1959 albums: Chet, and Chet Baker Plays the Best of Lerner and Loewe – together for the first time, with a vocals-free Baker concentrating on his horn playing.

Occupying the first 10 tracks (absent from the LP release, Early Morning Mood appears here as a welcome bookend) Chet turns in satisfyingly laidback but unexciting performances. Sparks of energy are provided by Herbie Mann’s flute, the baritone sax of Pepper Adams, Connie Kay and Philly Joe Jones on percussion, guitarist Kenny Burrell and bass man Paul Chambers, who all go about their business with a winningly insouciant confidence.

Album opener Alone Together continues to cast a shimmering, dark-hued spell half a century later, Baker breathing long, lingering, hypnotic lines that flex and flow with understated panache. The prevailing mood is melancholic and down-tempo, with the virtually somnambulant Baker and overly cautious Evans remaining curiously semi-detached from each other throughout.

The Lerner and Loewe material offers livelier fare, but Baker remains strangely subdued and understatement continues to be Evans’s default even in the love-lit delirium of I Could Have Danced All Night. A bonus cover of Almost Like Being in Love sways rather than swings, with Bob Corwin stepping in for Evans.

As a glimpse of what might have been had these two been on form, this tantalises and frustrates in equal measure.

Show Me
Chet Baker & Bill Evans Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't talk of stars, burning above
If you're in love, show me
Tell me not dreams, filled with desire
If you're on fire, show me

Never do I ever want to hear another word
There isn't one, I haven't heard
Here we are together in what ought to be a dream

Say one more word and I'll scream

Sing me no song, read me no rhyme
Don't waste my time, show me
Please don't implore, beg on the seats
Don't make all the speech, show me

Here we are together in the middle of the night
Don't talk of spring, just hold me tight
Anyone who's ever been in love'll tell you that
This is no time for a chat

Haven't your arms, hungered for mine?
Please don't explain, show me, show me
And don't wait until wrinkles and lines
Pop out all over my brow, show me now

Never do I ever want to hear another word
There isn't one, I haven't heard
Here we are together in what ought to be a dream
Say one more word and I'll scream

Haven't your lips longed for my touch?
Don't say how much, show me, show me

Don't wait until wrinkles and lines
Pop out all over my brow, show me now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Show Me" by Chet Baker & Bill Evans revolve around the idea of action being louder than words when it comes to love. The singer expresses their frustration with empty promises and desires someone who can prove their love through their actions. They dismiss notions of romanticism like talking about stars and dreams, imploring the other person to stop wasting time and just show them how they feel. The lines "Here we are together in what ought to be a dream / Say one more word and I'll scream" indicate that the singer is tired of being in a passive state and wants the other person to take some initiative.

The second verse continues this theme, with the singer emphasizing that physical affection is what they desire from their partner. They want their arms to hunger for each other and their lips to long for each other's touch. The last two lines, "Don't wait until wrinkles and lines / Pop out all over my brow, show me now" show that the singer wants to feel loved while they are still young and beautiful. Overall, the song is a plea for genuine love and connection that goes beyond mere words and romantic ideals.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't talk of stars, burning above
Don't try to impress or woo me with grandiose or poetic statements about love or the universe.

If you're in love, show me
Instead, demonstrate your feelings through your actions, behaviors, and interactions with me.

Tell me not dreams, filled with desire
Don't waste my time with fantasies, aspirations, or longings that you don't plan to pursue or act on.

If you're on fire, show me
If you truly desire me or are passionate about something, express it in tangible ways that I can experience and feel.

Never do I ever want to hear another word
I'm tired of hearing vague or empty words that don't match up to actions or intentions.

There isn't one, I haven't heard
I've heard every possible lovey-dovey phrase or cliche, and they no longer impress me.

Here we are together in what ought to be a dream
Instead of talking about how wonderful it is to be together, let's make it a reality and actually enjoy each other's company without distractions or interruptions.

Say one more word and I'll scream
If you keep talking instead of doing, I'll become frustrated, annoyed, or even angry.

Sing me no song, read me no rhyme
Don't try to serenade or flatter me with poetic or musical expressions of love.

Don't waste my time, show me
Again, actions speak louder than words, so don't waste my time or energy with superficial or insincere gestures.

Please don't implore, beg on the seats
Don't get down on your knees or plead for my affection, as it comes across as desperate or manipulative.

Don't make all the speech, show me
Instead of talking or explaining about your feelings, prove them to me through your deeds, behaviors, or attitudes.

Here we are together in the middle of the night
Let's live in the moment and enjoy our time together, even if it's late or dark outside.

Don't talk of spring, just hold me tight
Don't distract me from our physical or emotional intimacy by talking about the future or other irrelevant topics.

Anyone who's ever been in love'll tell you that
This is a common truism or cliche about the power or nature of love, but what matters is our own personal experience and connection.

This is no time for a chat
Let's not waste this precious moment with idle or superficial conversations or distractions.

Haven't your arms, hungered for mine?
Do you feel the same way I do about our physical and emotional connection, and are you willing and able to act on it?

Please don't explain, show me, show me
Don't rationalize or justify anything, just demonstrate your love and affection through your body language, touch, or presence.

And don't wait until wrinkles and lines
Don't postpone or delay expressing your love or pursuing your desires, as time is short and unpredictable.

Pop out all over my brow, show me now
Demonstrate your love or passion for me before it's too late, and don't wait for physical or emotional signs of aging to motivate you.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE TEX

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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