Erroll Garner (1921–1977) was a U.S. jazz pianist and composer, whose disti… Read Full Bio ↴Erroll Garner (1921–1977) was a U.S. jazz pianist and composer, whose distinctive and melodic style brought him both popular acclaim and the admiration of his peers.

Erroll Louis Garner was born on 15th June 1921 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and began playing the piano at the age of three. At the age of seven he began appearing on radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh with a group called the Candy Kids. By the age of eleven he was playing on the Allegheny riverboats. At the age of fourteen in 1937 he joined local saxophonist Leroy Brown.

He played locally in the shadow of his older pianist brother, Linton Garner, and moved to New York in 1944. He briefly worked with the bassist Slam Stewart, and though not a bebop musician, in 1947 he played with Charlie Parker on the famous "Cool Blues" session. Although his admission to the Pittsburgh music union was initially refused because of his inability to read music, they eventually relented in 1956 and made him an honorary member. Garner is credited with having a superb memory for music; after attending a concert by the Russian pianist Emil Gilels, Garner returned to his apartment and was able to play a large portion of the performed music.

His 1955 recording Concert by the Sea ranks among his very best work. Ironically this recording of a performance at an army base in Carmel, California, featuring Eddie Calhoun on bass and Denzil Best on drums, was made using relatively primitive sound equipment, but Garner's inventiveness and swing made its point in each tune. Other notable works include 1951's Long Ago and Far Away and 1974's Magician, both of which see Erroll perform a number of classic standards in his own style. Often the trio was expanded to add Latin percussion, usually a conga, with electric results.

What made Erroll easy to recognise were his trademark introductions, that seemed to make no sense but broke dramatically into his exposition of the tune he was to play, and the guitar strumming sound of his left hand, playing crotchet accompaniment to his rich-sounding right hand. This approach suggests that he was influenced by the iconic rhythm guitar work of Count Basie's long time guitarist, Freddie Green. But discerning listeners could find that while his even-four left hand was a fixture, it was far from being the only rhythmic approach he took to playing.

Body and Soul
Erroll Garner Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My heart is sad and lonely
For you I sigh, for you dear only
Why haven't you seen it
I'm all for you body and soul

I spend my days in longing
And wondering why it's me you're wronging
I tell you I mean it

I'm all for you body and soul

I can't believe it
It's hard to conceive it
That you'd turn away romance
Are you pretending
It looks like the ending
Unless I could have just one more chance to prove, dear

My life a wreck you're making
You know I'm yours for just the taking
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul

My life a wreck you're making

You know I'm yours for the very taking
I'd gladly surrender myself to you body and soul

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Body and Soul" describe a lover's agony over unrequited love. The singer's heart is sad and lonely because they yearn for their beloved. The singer expresses their love and devotion, telling their beloved that they are "all for you body and soul." The singer questions why their love interest has not noticed the depth of their love, lamenting that they spend their days longing and wondering why they are being wronged. The singer can hardly believe that their love interest would turn away from romance, and they plead for just one more chance to prove themselves. They describe their life as a wreck, admitting that they are completely at the mercy of their beloved, surrendering themselves body and soul.

The lyrics of "Body and Soul" speak to the universal experience of unrequited love, and they are set to a melancholic melody that emphasizes this sense of longing and heartbreak. The song is tragic, but it also conveys a certain beauty in the intensity of the singer's love. The pain of unrequited love is one that many people can relate to, and "Body and Soul" captures that feeling perfectly.

Line by Line Meaning

My heart is sad and lonely
I am feeling miserable and alone

For you I sigh, for you dear only
I long for you and no one else but you

Why haven't you seen it
Why haven't you noticed my love for you

I'm all for you body and soul
I am completely devoted to you, both physically and emotionally

I spend my days in longing
I spend my time yearning for you

And wondering why it's me you're wronging
And questioning why you are mistreating me

I tell you I mean it
I am sincere in my feelings for you

I'm all for you body and soul
I am completely devoted to you, both physically and emotionally

I can't believe it
I am having trouble believing it

It's hard to conceive it
It's difficult to imagine

That you'd turn away romance
That you would reject my love