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.
IMAGINATION
Erroll Garner Lyrics
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Can you tell me what you see
There's a thousand voices whispering
Songs and you're the melody
So I imagine my heart with you
See what imagination can do
It's not hard to conceive
Many, many days our shadows passed
Seeing visions of a new bright horizon
Set the morning light
And that morning light is you
So I imagine my heart with you
See what imagination can do
It's not hard to conceive
love ecstasy imagining you, imagining me
The beauty we both can see
You're the dream I prayed would come along
To make my fantasy
Day and night you live inside my heart
You're the flame of love to me
The lyrics of Erroll Garner's song "Imagination" are a romantic and dreamy exploration of the power of one's imagination. The song begins with a reference to a magic mirror that can search the heart and reveal its secrets. The singer asks the mirror what it sees, and imagines that it hears a thousand voices whispering songs, with the singer's beloved as the melody.
The singer then goes on to describe how imagination can bring one closer to love and ecstasy, even if the beloved is not physically present. The singer imagines a bright horizon, and the morning light personified by the beloved. The singer acknowledges the power of imagination to create a beautiful world where both the singer and the beloved can be together in love and harmony.
The song ends with a declaration of love for the beloved, who is described as the dream come true and the flame of love. Overall, "Imagination" is a heartfelt tribute to the power of the human imagination to create a world of love and beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
Magic mirror come and search my heart
Asking introspection to come into play and reach into the depths of one's heart.
Can you tell me what you see
Requesting the answer to be revealed.
There's a thousand voices whispering
Referring to many thoughts that are being suppressed.
Songs and you're the melody
Referring to a person being the center of the thoughts.
So I imagine my heart with you
The artist is conveying the thoughts and delusions they harbor.
See what imagination can do
Exemplifying the power of delusionary fantasies.
It's not hard to conceive
Renforcing the ease and accessibility of indulging in such fantasies.
Love ecstasy imagining you with me
Referring to the euphoria achieved while delving into such fantasies.
Many, many days our shadows passed
Signifying the length and depth of the relationship described.
Seeing visions of a new bright horizon
Alluding to the future that this relationship holds.
Set the morning light
Reflecting the start of a new day.
And that morning light is you
Referring to the person as the shining light ahead.
It's not hard to conceive
Renforcing the ease of such fantasies.
love ecstasy imagining you, imagining me
Referring to the mutual joy of shared delusions.
The beauty we both can see
Their shared goal of this imaginary utopia.
You're the dream I prayed would come along
Referring to the person being the ideal match to their fantasy.
To make my fantasy
Their fantasy being their reality.
Day and night you live inside my heart
Referring to the person having a permanent place within their heart and mind.
You're the flame of love to me
Personification of love the person provides to the singer.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANKA WOLBERT, RONNIE MOERINGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind