At the age of 13, Klugh was captivated by the guitar playing of Chet Atkins when he made an appearance on the Perry Como Show. He has since been a guest on several Atkins albums. Atkins, reciprocating as well, joined Earl on his Magic In Your Eyes album. Klugh was also influenced by Bob James, Ray Parker Jr, Wes Montgomery and Laurindo Almeida. His sound is a blend of these jazz, pop and rhythm' and blues influences, forming a potpourri of sweet contemporary music original to only him.
Klugh became a guitar instructor at the young age of 15, and was eventually discovered by Yusef Lateef. His career rapidly progressed to working with the likes of George Benson, George Shearing, Chick Corea, and many others. Like several other Detroit-bred entertainers, Klugh attended Mumford High School (Michigan).
For their album One on One, Klugh and Bob James received a Grammy award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1981. He has since received 13 Grammy nods, millions of record and CD sales, and continues touring worldwide to this day.
Mona Lisa
Earl Klugh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
Is it only cause you're lonely they have blamed you
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile
Do you smile to tempt a lover Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there, and they die there
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art.
Do you smile to tempt a lover Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there, and they die there
Are you warm, are you real Mona Lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art.
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa.
Earl Klugh's song "Mona Lisa" is a poignant ballad that tells the story of a woman who is misunderstood by society. The song is inspired by the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci, which depicts a woman with a mysterious smile. Earl Klugh's lyrics describe the painting as a reflection of the woman's loneliness and the way that others have judged her. He asks whether she is smiling to attract a lover or simply to hide a broken heart.
Klugh's lyrics also suggest that the woman has had many dreams and desires, but none of them have come true. He asks whether she is a real person or simply a beautiful work of art. The song is a reflection on the human condition, and the way that people are often judged based on their appearance or perceived motives rather than their true selves.
The lyrics have a bittersweet quality, as the singer expresses sympathy for the woman in the painting while also acknowledging that he cannot fully understand her. The song's melody is slow and melancholy, with Klugh's guitar providing a haunting accompaniment to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa men have named you
You have been given the name Mona Lisa by men.
You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
Your appearance is similar to that of the lady with a mysterious smile.
Is it only cause you're lonely they have blamed you
Have people wrongly accused you of being mysterious because you are lonely?
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile
People see something strange in your smile, which they associate with the name Mona Lisa.
Do you smile to tempt a lover Mona Lisa?
Do you use your smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Or do you use your smile as a way to cover up the pain of a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
Many people have come to you with their dreams.
They just lie there, and they die there
But those dreams remain unfulfilled and eventually fade away.
Are you warm, are you real Mona Lisa?
Are you a warm and genuine person, Mona Lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art.
Or are you simply a beautiful but emotionally distant work of art?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ray Evans, Jay Livingston
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thomas Mokoena
on Across the Sand
When I first heard this in 1994 I was in school on the radio by non other than ausi Makgotso (aka Mamontha Modise) will make sure that as the program starts I've tuned in and waiting for her to introduce herself, still my favorite.