In 1966, Baker was severely beaten (allegedly while attempting to buy drugs) after a gig in San Francisco, sustaining severe cuts on the lips and broken front teeth, which ruined his embouchure. Accounts of the incident vary, largely because of Baker's lack of reliable testimony on the matter. It has also been suggested that the story is a fabrication altogether, and that Baker's teeth had just rotted due to heavy substance abuse—two missing teeth can clearly be seen in a 1964 performance in Belgium, Chet Baker: Live in 64 and 79. From that time he had to learn to play with dentures.
Between 1966 and 1974, Baker mostly played flugelhorn and recorded music that could mostly be classified as early smooth jazz or mood music.
He died in 1988 in Amsterdam.
Honors
* In 1987, inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.
* 1989: elected to Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame by that magazine's Critics Poll
* In 2005 Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry and the Oklahoma House of Representatives proclaimed July 2, 2005 as “Chet Baker Day”.
* A group of Musicians from Northern Norway performed 'Chet Baker Tribute' at the Jazz Utsav in Bandra, Mumbai.
* Wordpress 2.8 version, released on June 10, 2009 has been called "Baker" in honor of the trumpeter.
It's Always You
Chet Baker Quartet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I watch 'til a star breaks through
Funny, it's not a star I see
It's always you
Whenever I roam through roses
And lately I often do
Funny, it's not a rose I touch
If a breeze caresses me
It's really you strolling by
If I hear a melody
It's merely the way you sigh
Wherever you are, you're near me
You dare me to be untrue
Funny each time I fall in love
It's always you
If a breeze caresses me
It's really you strolling by
If I hear a melody
It's merely the way you sigh
Wherever you are, you're near me
You dare me to be untrue
Funny each time I fall in love
It's always you
The Chet Baker Quartet's song "It's Always You" explores the idea of an enduring love that transcends time and space. The song describes how the singer's lover is ever-present in their life, even when they are not physically together. The lyrics use romantic imagery, such as stars and roses, to convey the depth of the singer's love for their partner.
The first two lines set the mood for the rest of the song by describing the time of day when the singer thinks of their love: "Whenever it's early twilight / I watch 'til a star breaks through". The star symbolizes their love, which breaks through the darkness and illuminates their life. However, the singer notes that it's not really a star they see, but their lover's image. The second stanza echoes this notion, but with the image of roses. The singer roams through roses but notes that it's not the flowers they touch, but their lover.
The third stanza describes how the singer's lover is always with them through the sounds and sensations of everyday life. From the sound of a breeze to the melody of a song, the singer feels their lover's presence constantly. The final stanza ends on a bittersweet note, with the singer noting that their love always reminds them that they could be unfaithful. Nonetheless, they cannot help but fall in love again and again with the same person, it's always their love that they crave.
Overall, the song is a beautiful tribute to the enduring power of love and how it can shape and permeate every aspect of one's life, even when the loved one is not physically present.
Line by Line Meaning
Whenever it's early twilight
Each day at dusk as the sun starts to set
I watch 'til a star breaks through
I gaze at the sky until a star appears
Funny, it's not a star I see
Interestingly, instead of a star, I always visualise your face
It's always you
It's always your entity that appears in my thoughts
Whenever I roam through roses
Whenever I walk in a garden full of roses
And lately I often do
And recently, it's become a frequent occurrence
Funny, it's not a rose I touch
Interestingly, when I touch a rose, I only feel your skin
It's always you
It's always your touch that I feel, even when I touch a rose
If a breeze caresses me
Whenever the wind touches me gently
It's really you strolling by
I feel your presence because it's as if you passed by me
If I hear a melody
If I listen to a tune that's melodious
It's merely the way you sigh
I feel it's you singing that song because it sounds just like the way you'd breathe
Wherever you are, you're near me
No matter wherever you are, you're always with me in spirit
You dare me to be untrue
You encourage me to behave dishonorably or in a way that isn't right
Funny each time I fall in love
Interestingly, every time when I fall in love
It's always you
It's always your persona that I fall in love with
Contributed by Riley R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kmilo408
Whenever it's early twilight
I watch 'til a star breaks through
Funny, it's not a star I see
It's always you
Whenever I roam through roses
And lately I often do
Funny, it's not a rose I touch
It's always you
If a breeze caresses me
It's really you strolling by
If I hear a melody
It's merely the way you sigh
Wherever you are you're near me
You dare me to be untrue
Funny, each time I fall in love
It's always you
@TinyMaths
Love the piano accompaniment in this. It goes in so many surprising directions. And of course Chet's silky smooth playing on the trumpet; and of course that voice which is like butter melting over freshly baked bread.
@juancheorion
This music has to come back. Luckily, more and more young people are learning about it thanks to Youtube and Spotify. Not everything is lost.
@mcd6000
I'm a teenager, and I found his music two years ago for a South Korean member group, very casual. I'm glad to find music who feeds my soul everytime I listen to it
@fatmaalmahrizi8190
Jazz never went away!
@ErikRicardoLC
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| | ａ ｗｉｌｄ 【ＳＰＡＮＩＳＨ ＣＯＭＭＥＮＴ】 | |
| | ａｐｐｅａｒｅｄ！ | |
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¡Ya siéntese, señora!
@cmilo1273
Jazz is never gone my friend. It’s a piece of history. I’m from the current generation. I’d love to make this type of music.
@jamien.5528
@JaTaJoV Agreed!
@feui1700
nothing can beat listening to a masterpiece for the first time
@mariomasciullo3927
One of the most important jazz man of the cool jazz: his voice Is very softly...and for me a great gift ti the jazz world!!! 🎷🎼
@kmilo408
Whenever it's early twilight
I watch 'til a star breaks through
Funny, it's not a star I see
It's always you
Whenever I roam through roses
And lately I often do
Funny, it's not a rose I touch
It's always you
If a breeze caresses me
It's really you strolling by
If I hear a melody
It's merely the way you sigh
Wherever you are you're near me
You dare me to be untrue
Funny, each time I fall in love
It's always you