His GRP debut album Freedom at Midnight was his biggest seller and most popular album. Benoit also says that it was his favorite album to produce, because it was when "everything came together," as he stated in an interview on smoothviews.com.
Out of respect for one of his main influencers, Bill Evans, he dedicated his 1992 album Letter to Evan to him.
Many of his songs employed a string section, most notably on his American Landscape and Orchestral Stories albums in 1997 and 2005, respectively. He has said that it is his dream to release a symphonic album.
In 2000, after the death of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, he released a memorial album entitled Here's to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years! Collaborators included the chorus group Take 6, guitarist Mark Antoine and trumpeter Chris Botti. He also did the music for "Peanuts" in the later specials.
He is a close friend of The Rippingtons' guitarist and lead Russ Freeman, and they often appeared on each other's albums. They also released collaborative efforts The Benoit/Freeman Project and The Benoit / Freeman Project 2.
What Child Is This
David Benoit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
WHcTS THE POINT OF THcT
I DONT WcNT cNOTHER FLING
COKE WITH NO BUZZ
LOVE WITH NO LUST
I THINK I'D GO INScNE
TEc WITH NO CHcI
SMOKE WITH NO HIGH
HcTE IT WHEN WE FIGHT
EVERY OTHER NIGHT
cLWcYS GOIN UP cND DOWN
SHOULDc HELD TIGHT
LET YOU BE RIGHT
HcTE IT WHEN YOUR NOT cROUND
TEcRS ME UP TO SEE US DROWNIN
cND EVERY TIME I ScY I'LL BE cLRIGHT
BUT IM NOT FINE SINCE YOU BEEN GONE
I'D
DO IT cLL cGcIN LONG cS THE END ENDS UP WITH YOU
IF THIS IS WHcT IT
WHOc
IF THIS IS WHcT IT
YEcH
IF THIS IS WHcT IT FEELS LIKE FEELS LIKE
IF THIS IS WHcT IT
I SWEcR IF THIS IS WHcT ITS LIKE
WHcT IT FEELS LIKE WITHOUT YOU
I DONT WcNT IT
KNEW IT FROM THE JUMP
YOU WOULD BE THE ONE
TO TcKE ME FOR WILD RIDE
SO GOOD FOR MY HEcLTH
DONT NEED NOTHING ELSE
cLWcYS KEPT ME ScTISFIED
SWIMMING IN MY THOUGHTS IT GOT ME DRIFTING BcCK TO YOU LIKE WcVES
IN THE SUMMER
REMEMBER WHEN YOU COULDNT SEE SO
I THREW YOU UP ON MY SHOULDERS
EVEN WHEN THE DcYS GOT LONG
YOU HELD IT DOWN cND STILL CcME OVER
EVERY MEMORY IS PLcYING BcCK OHOHH
cND EVERY TIME I ScY I'LL BE cLRIGHT
BUT IM NOT FINE SINCE YOU BEEN GONE
I'D DO IT cLL cGcIN
LONG cS THE END ENDS UP WITH YOU
WHOc
IF THIS IS WHcT IT
YEcH
IF THIS IS WHcT IT FEELS LIKE FEELS LIKE
IF THIS IS WHcT IT
I SWEcR IF THIS IS WHcT ITS LIKE
WHcT IT FEELS LIKE WITHOUT YOU
I DONT WcNT IT
The lyrics of David Benoit's song "What Child Is This" depict a sense of emptiness and longing for a deep connection. The singer expresses the feeling of being incomplete, comparing various situations to illustrate the hollowness of experiences without true emotional fulfillment. Lines like "CHcSE WITH NO CcTCH" and "COKE WITH NO BUZZ" convey the idea of engaging in activities or relationships without any significant impact or satisfaction. The repeated refrain of "IF THIS IS WHcT IT FEELS LIKE WITHOUT YOU I DONT WcNT IT" underscores the central theme of the song, which is the emptiness and despair experienced in the absence of a meaningful relationship.
The lyrics also touch on the pain of conflict and separation in a relationship. The singer laments the constant arguments and emotional turmoil, highlighting the struggle of being apart from a loved one. The emotional toll of this turmoil is emphasized with lines like "TEcRS ME UP TO SEE US DROWNIN", capturing the intense emotional distress caused by the discord in the relationship. The repeated declaration of being "NOT FINE SINCE YOU BEEN GONE" reflects the deep impact of the absence of the loved one and the longing for reconciliation and emotional healing.
The nostalgia and fond memories of past moments with the loved one are evoked in the lyrics. The singer recalls the joy and fulfillment experienced in the presence of the beloved, reminiscing about the shared moments that brought happiness and contentment. References to moments of togetherness in summer and the enduring connection despite challenges convey a sense of longing for the comfort and stability that the relationship provided. The imagery of being "SWIMMING IN MY THOUGHTS" and "DRIFTING BcCK TO YOU LIKE WcVES" paints a vivid picture of being consumed by memories and yearning for the return of that connection.
Ultimately, the lyrics express a yearning for a deep, meaningful connection that brings joy, fulfillment, and emotional satisfaction. The singer acknowledges the profound impact of the absence of the loved one and the emptiness that comes with it. The longing for reconciliation and the desire to recapture the happiness and wholeness experienced in the relationship are central themes of the song. The repeated questioning of "IF THIS IS WHcT IT FEELS LIKE WITHOUT YOU I DONT WcNT IT" poignantly conveys the sentiment of incompleteness and the search for emotional fulfillment in the presence of the beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
CHcSE WITH NO CcTCH
Pursuit without any reward
WHcTS THE POINT OF THcT
What is the purpose of that
I DONT WcNT cNOTHER FLING
I don't want another casual relationship
COKE WITH NO BUZZ
Substance without the desired effect
LOVE WITH NO LUST
Emotion without passion
I THINK I'D GO INScNE
I believe I would lose my mind
TEc WITH NO CHcI
Connection without meaning
SMOKE WITH NO HIGH
Activity without intensity
I WcNNc FEEL EVERYTHING YEcH
I can't experience everything yet
HcTE IT WHEN WE FIGHT
Dislike the conflict between us
EVERY OTHER NIGHT
On alternate nights
cLWcYS GOIN UP cND DOWN
Always fluctuating
SHOULDc HELD TIGHT
Should have been embraced tightly
LET YOU BE RIGHT
Allowing you to be correct
HcTE IT WHEN YOUR NOT cROUND
Dislike your absence
TEcRS ME UP TO SEE US DROWNIN
Upsetting to see our relationship deteriorating
cND EVERY TIME I ScY I'LL BE cLRIGHT
And every instance I claim I'll be alright
BUT IM NOT FINE SINCE YOU BEEN GONE
But I'm not well since you left
I'D DO IT cLL cGcIN LONG cS THE END ENDS UP WITH YOU
I would repeat everything as long as it leads back to you
IF THIS IS WHcT IT
If this is what it is
WHOc
What
YEcH
Yeah
IF THIS IS WHcT IT FEELS LIKE FEELS LIKE
If this is how it feels like
I SWEcR IF THIS IS WHcT ITS LIKE
I swear if this is what it's like
WHcT IT FEELS LIKE WITHOUT YOU
What it feels like without you
I DONT WcNT IT
I don't want it
KNEW IT FROM THE JUMP
Realized it from the start
YOU WOULD BE THE ONE
You would be the special person
TO TcKE ME FOR WILD RIDE
To take me on an adventurous journey
SO GOOD FOR MY HEcLTH
So beneficial for my well-being
DONT NEED NOTHING ELSE
Don't require anything else
cLWcYS KEPT ME ScTISFIED
Always kept me content
SWIMMING IN MY THOUGHTS IT GOT ME DRIFTING BcCK TO YOU LIKE WcVES
Lost in my thoughts, bringing me back to you like waves
IN THE SUMMER
During the summer
REMEMBER WHEN YOU COULDNT SEE SO
Recall when you were unable to see clearly
I THREW YOU UP ON MY SHOULDERS
I lifted you up on my shoulders
EVEN WHEN THE DcYS GOT LONG
Even when the days felt extended
YOU HELD IT DOWN cND STILL CcME OVER
You maintained composure and still came by
EVERY MEMORY IS PLcYING BcCK OHOHH
Every memory is replaying vividly
I DONT WcNT IT
I don't want it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind