Best-known as the trumpet section leader in Doc Severinsen's Tonight Show B… Read Full Bio ↴Best-known as the trumpet section leader in Doc Severinsen's Tonight Show Band, Conte Candoli was a fine all-around jazz stylist most at home in the worlds of bop and West Coast cool jazz. Younger by four years than his similarly accomplished trumpet-playing brother Pete, Conte was born Secondo Candoli in Mishawaka, IN, on July 12, 1927. He first patterned himself after players like Harry James, Roy Eldridge, and Dizzy Gillespie, later discovering Miles Davis and Clifford Brown. His first job came at age 16, when brother Pete recommended him for a summer gig with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd; after graduating high school, he joined full-time. He went on to play with several other bands, including Stan Kenton, whom he left in 1954 to form his own band. After leading some recording dates, he soon found a more comfortable existence, moving to Los Angeles and taking session jobs in between gigs with Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars. After about four years, he left in 1960 to work with drummer Shelly Manne, while he and Pete both enjoyed top-dog status in the L.A. session community. In 1968, Candoli took a part-time gig with the Tonight Show Band and joined permanently in 1972, when the show officially moved to Burbank. During the '70s, he was also a member of Supersax, among other L.A. all-star outfits, and also continued his periodic collaborations with his brother. Candoli retired from the Tonight Show along with Johnny Carson in 1992, and continued to play until a battle with cancer slowed his activities. Candoli died in a convalescent home on December 14, 2001.

Flamingo
Conte Candoli Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Flamingo, like a flame in the sky
Flying over the island
To my lover nearby

Flamingo, with your tropical hue
For it's you I rely on
And the love that is true

The wind sings a song to you as you go
The song that I hear below
The murmuring heart

Flamingo, when the sun meets the sea
Say farewell to my lover
And hasten to me

Aah-ooh, aah-ooh, ooh-ooh
Flamingo
Flamingo

Flamingo, when the sun meets the sea
Say farewell to my lover
And hasten to me

Aah-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-aah

Overall Meaning

The song "Flamingo" by Conte Candoli and Lou Levy is a love song that tells a story of a lover admiring the beautiful Flamingo bird. The lyrics describe the Flamingo as a flame in the sky flying over an island, and the singer expresses reliance on the bird and the love that is true. The wind carries a song to the Flamingo, and the singer hears the murmuring heart that beats below. The song emphasizes the Flamingo's tropical hue and its significance to the singer's love story. As the sun meets the sea, the singer bids farewell to their lover, urging the Flamingo to hasten to them.

The lyrics of "Flamingo" convey the deep emotions of love and longing. The theme of separation and reunion gives the song a poignant quality. The Flamingo bird symbolizes the hope and desire for the lovers' reunion. The use of the word "murmuring heart" adds a layer of complexity to the song, suggesting that the singer is not only yearning for the physical presence of their lover but also for an emotional connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Flamingo, like a flame in the sky
The bird Flamingo is such a unique and bright creature that when it flies in the sky, it looks like a flame.

Flying over the island
The Flamingo bird with its extraordinary beauty and grace flies over the island with such elegance and poise.

To my lover nearby
The singer associates the Flamingo with his beloved who is also present nearby, and he admires both of their beauty.

Flamingo, with your tropical hue
The Flamingo bird has a unique blend of colors that are like a reflection of the tropical landscape.

For it's you I rely on
The singer is dependent on the Flamingo bird's presence to remind him of his true love and affection.

And the love that is true
The Flamingo bird reflects the true love that the singer has for his significant other.

The wind sings a song to you as you go
As the Flamingo bird moves with grace and elegance, the wind creates a poetic melody as if singing an ode in its honor.

The song that I hear below
The singer hears the melody of the wind as the Flamingo bird flies above him, creating a harmonious symphony.

The murmuring heart
The singer's heart beats with excitement and love as he watches the Flamingo bird flying above him.

Flamingo, when the sun meets the sea
When the sun sets in the sky, and it meets the ocean's horizon, the Flamingo bird assumes a significance role in the singer's life.

Say farewell to my lover
As the sun sets, the singer bids goodbye to his lover, knowing that the Flamingo bird is a reminder of his everlasting love towards this person.

And hasten to me
The singer calls upon the Flamingo bird to come to him quickly and be the messenger of his love for his beloved one.

Aah-ooh, aah-ooh, ooh-ooh
These sounds represent the singer's emotional state, which is a mix of excitement and passion.

Flamingo
The singer calls out to the Flamingo bird, who represents the embodiment of his love, to come to him.

Aah-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-aah
The singer continues to express his emotional state as he awaits the arrival of the Flamingo bird.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHICK COREA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS