McKenna began his career with the Boots Mussulli Band and then the Charlie Ventura band, followed by a stint with Woody Herman. After two years in the army, he returned to Charlie Ventura's band, then worked with Gene Krupa, Stan Getz, and Zoot Sims and Al Cohn. He often worked with Bobby Hackett, including some gigs at Eddie Condon's in Manhattan, playing what Hackett called "Whiskeyland Jazz." McKenna cited Nat King Cole as his biggest influence.
After moving to Cape Cod in 1966, McKenna began an extensive solo piano recording career, first with ABC Records, then Chiaroscuro Records in the 70s for and finally for Concord Jazz where he remained until he retired due to illness. McKenna died on October 18, 2008.
More information can be found on www.aahome.com/dave/.
On Green Dolphin Street
Dave Mckenna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A man, a maid, a kiss, and then goodbye
Romance was the theme
And we were the players
I never think of this without a sigh
Lover, one lovely day
Love came, planning to stay
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
When I recall the love I found on
I could kiss the ground on Green Dolphin Street
Lover, one lovely day
Love came, planning to stay
Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
When I recall the love I found on
On Green Dolphin Street
The lyrics of Dave Mckenna's song "On Green Dolphin Street" explore love and reminiscing on past experiences. The singer reflects on a romantic encounter they had with someone on Green Dolphin Street, which seems like a dream but they know really happened. The song describes how "love came, planning to stay", and the setting of Green Dolphin Street provided the perfect backdrop for unforgettable moments together. The singer recalls how memories of this love stay with them even when apart, and they long to return to Green Dolphin Street to relive those moments again. The song is nostalgic and haunting, capturing the bittersweet emotions of love and reminiscing.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems like a dream, yet I know it happened
Although it feels like a distant dream, I am certain that the events described in the song actually took place
A man, a maid, a kiss, and then goodbye
The brief encounter between two individuals, which concluded with a kiss, ended abruptly with a goodbye
Romance was the theme
The underlying concept of the story, as suggested by the word 'theme,' is that of a romantic experience
And we were the players
The two individuals involved in the experience were acting out the roles of lovers in this romantic drama
I never think of this without a sigh
The memory of this romantic experience always evokes a sense of longing and a deep emotional response within the artist
Lover, one lovely day
Addressing the person he is singing to, the singer begins the chorus with a term of endearment and reminisces about the day when love first arrived
Love came, planning to stay
The arrival of love was not just a fleeting moment, but rather a planned and intentional act meant to last
Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The location of the romantic encounter was set on Green Dolphin Street, which acted as the backdrop for the entire experience
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
The romantic experience was so unforgettable that it has remained vividly etched in the artist's memories, being remembered as a series of unforgettable nights
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
Despite the physical distance between the two individuals, their memories of this romantic encounter still resonate deeply within the artist's heart
When I recall the love I found on
The singer is reminiscing about the love he found during the romantic encounter, which still holds a special place in his heart
I could kiss the ground on Green Dolphin Street
The artist's intense feelings of love and gratitude for the romantic encounter are so powerful that he feels he could express them physically by kissing the ground on Green Dolphin Street
On Green Dolphin Street
Closing out the chorus, the singer repeats the location of the romantic encounter as a final reminder
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: BRONISLAW KAPER, NED WASHINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind