Eva Cassidy was the third of four children born to Hugh and Barbara Cassidy. From an early age, she displayed artistic and musical talent. When she was nine years old, her father taught her to play the guitar, and she began to play and sing at family gatherings.
While a student at Bowie High School, she did sing with a local band, called Stonehenge, and received considerable praise.
At the age of eighteen, Cassidy began her professional career, singing and playing guitar in a Washington, D.C., area band, called Easy Street. This band performed in a variety of styles, at weddings, corporate parties, and pubs.
During the summer of 1983, Cassidy sang and played guitar, six days per week, at Wild World, in Maryland. Her brother Dan was also a member of this working band.
Throughout the 1980s, Cassidy worked with a number of other bands, including the soul and Motown-oriented band The Honeybees, and the techno-pop band Characters Without Names, later called Method Actor.
During this period, Cassidy also worked as a propagator at a plant nursery and as a furniture painter in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1986, she met (bassist and recording engineer) Chris Biondo, who encouraged her and helped her find work as a backup singer for various acts. In 1990, Biondo and Cassidy hired the so-called "Eva Cassidy Band", composed of Chris Biondo, Lenny Williams, Keith Grimes and Raice McLeod, and she began to perform frequently in the Washington area.
In 1992, Biondo played a tape of Cassidy's voice for Chuck Brown. Best known as the "Godfather of Go-go", Brown is also a jazz and blues vocalist. This led to the first commercial recording of Cassidy, the duet album with Chuck Brown, The Other Side; which featured performances of classic songs such as "Fever", Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" and Cassidy's signature tune "Over the Rainbow". The album was released and distributed by Liaison Records, the label that also released Brown's Go-go albums. The duet CD attracted the attention of various record companies, but the offers all required Cassidy to pigeonhole herself within a single style (e.g., pop or jazz), something she adamantly refused to do.[citation needed]
In 1993 Eva Cassidy was first honored by the Washington area music community when she was awarded two Wammie awards for "Female Vocalist Roots/Traditional R&B" and "Vocalist Jazz/Traditional." The next year she was chosen to perform for the awards ceremony.
In January 1996, Cassidy recorded the album Live at Blues Alley, about which The Washington Post later commented that "she could sing anything and make it sound like the only music that mattered". [1] Cassidy was unhappy with her singing on the album, because she had a bad cold on the night of the recording; she began recording a studio album which was eventually released as Eva by Heart posthumously in 1997.
During a promotional event for the Live at Blues Alley CD in July 1996, Cassidy noticed an ache in her hips, which she attributed to stiffness from painting murals. The pain persisted, and, a few weeks later, Cassidy was diagnosed with melanoma. By the time of her diagnosis, the cancer had spread throughout her body. Cassidy's health rapidly deteriorated, and her final performance was in September 1996. At the performance, she had used a walker to reach the stage, sang "What a Wonderful World" in front of an audience of friends, and was subsequently admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital.[citation needed]
Eva Cassidy died on November 2, 1996, at the age of 33. She was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Washington Area Music Association.
Anniversary Song
Eva Cassidy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you play your piano, as the evening sun slowly sets
I never thought I'd get this old dear
Never had a reason to live so long
And the Lord's been like my shadow, even when I was wrong
No, I never thought it would turn out this way
A birthday, with apologies for all the tears and regrets
For these years when you forget
I never thought I'd get this old dear
Never had a reason to live so long
And the Lord's been like my shadow, even when I was wrong
No, I never thought it would turn out this way
So sing with me softly, as the day turns to night
And later I'll dream of paradise with you
I love you and goodnight
The lyrics in "Anniversary Song" by Eva Cassidy are filled with reflection and gratitude as the singer commemorates a special day. The song opens with the singer requesting the pianist to play their piano as the evening sun slowly sets, which sets a contemplative and emotional tone. The singer reflects on their life and expresses their surprise at their own longevity, remarking that they never thought they would live to see this day. They acknowledge the presence of the Lord in their life, even in moments of wrongdoing, illustrating their faith in God, which seems important to them. The lyrics also show that the singer is apologetic for the times they have caused pain and sorrow in a loved one's life.
The second verse of the song continues with the theme of reflection, but this time with a focus on the memories of the past. The singer mentions their birthday, possibly alluding to the fact that they may be getting older and finding a sense of closure, closure accompanied by a feeling of comfort that they have survived everything up until this point. The mention of treasured poetry kept for years when memory fails implies a deep and enduring love, along with the notion that the relationship is also conditional and fragile.
In the end, the singer requests the pianist to sing along with them as they dream of paradise, expressing their love and bidding a goodnight. The profundity of the song lies in its simplicity, perseverance, and vitality through every nuance, making the listeners resonate with its melody and themes.
Line by Line Meaning
Today, has been a special day, an anniversary of request
Today is a remarkable day, an anniversary of your wish.
That you play your piano, as the evening sun slowly sets
You'll be playing the piano, as the sun sets slowly.
I never thought I'd get this old dear
I never expected to age so much.
Never had a reason to live so long
There was never a motive for me to live this long.
And the Lord's been like my shadow, even when I was wrong
The Lord has always been with me, even when I was incorrect.
No, I never thought it would turn out this way
No, I never envisioned life to end up like this.
A birthday, with apologies for all the tears and regrets
This is a birthday with apologies for all the tears and regrets.
And I've always saved your poetry
I have always kept your poetry safe.
For these years when you forget
For these years when you forget them, I kept your poems safe.
So sing with me softly, as the day turns to night
As the day fades into night, sing along with me gently.
And later I'll dream of paradise with you
Later, I'll dream of being in heaven with you.
I love you and goodnight
I love you, and goodnight.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: STEVEN DIGMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tjryou
Today has been a special day
An anniversary, a request
That you play your piano
As the evening sun slowly sets
I never thought I'd get this old dear
Never had a reason to live so long
And the lord's been like my shadow
Even when I was wrong
No I never thought it would turn out this way
The birthday with apologies
For all the tears and regrets
And I've always saved your poetry
For these years when you forget
I never thought I'd get this old dear
Never had a reason to live so long
And the lords been like my shadow
Even when I was wrong
No I never thought it would turn out this way
So sing with me softly
As the day turns to night
And later I'll dream
Of paradise with you
I love you
And goodnight
@eddyfinkful
유택주
유택주
9 months ago
Today has been a special day
An anniversary, a request
That you play your piano
As the evening sun slowly sets
I never thought I'd get this old dear
Never had a reason to live so long
And the lord's been like my shadow
Even when I was wrong
No I never thought it would turn out this way
The birthday with apologies
For all the tears and regrets
And I've always saved your poetry
For these years when you forget
I never thought I'd get this old dear
Never had a reason to live so long
And the lords been like my shadow
Even when I was wrong
No I never thought it would turn out this way
So sing with me softly
As the day turns to night
And later I'll dream
Of paradise with you
I love you
And goodnight
@papilan4820
Today has been a special day
An anniversary, a request
That you play your piano
As the evening sun slowly sets
[Chorus]
I never thought I'd get this old dear
Never had a reason to live so long
And the Lord's been like my shadow
Even when I was wrong
No I never thought it would turn out this way
A birthday with apologies
For all the tears and the rest
And I've always saved your poetry
For those years when you forget
[Chorus]
So sing with me softly
As the day turns to night
And later I'll dream of paradise with you
I love you and good night
@user-ym8re5rt1e
(Ukrainian version):
Цей день - це особливий день.
Він мовби ювілей, знак долі.
В який ти мені грав,
Й день вечорів поволі...
Не було й мрій
З старим побути другом.
Жодних підстав, щоб жити мала.
Та Господь був добрим духом
І направляв, як помилялась.
Не було й мрій,
О друже мій,
Про це.
Річниця, повна вибачень,
Що сльози лила й сум, що був.
В моїм серці все те миле
Із тих років, коли забув.
Не було й мрій
З старим побути другом.
Жодних підстав, щоб жити мала.
Та Господь був добрим духом
І направляв, як помилялась.
Не було й мрій,
О друже мій,
Про це.
Я твій спів
Люблю тихий,
Як уже вечоріє.
Я потім помрію
Про наш рай.
І знай,
Кохаю.
Добрих снів!
@maureenmahoney8931
+Steven Garfinkel I hope this helps you make sense of this beautiful song.
Today
has been a special day. An anniversary, A request.That you play your piano, as the evening sun slowly sets.
Chorus
I never thought I’d get this old dear. Never had a reason to live so long,And the Lord’s been like my shadow, even when I was wrong. No I never thought it Would turn out this way!
The birthday with apologies for all the tears and regrets and I’ve always saved
your Poetry for these years when you forget!
Chorus
I never thought I’d get this old dear. Never had a reason to live so long,And the Lord’s been like my shadow, even when I was wrong. No I never thought it Would turn out this way!
So sing with me softly as the day turns to night and later I’ll dream of paradise With you. I love you and good night!
@williambrennan8197
First time hearing this song. Not a cover. One of the few songs written for Eva to sing. Perfection.
@raulleyton3919
I played this beautiful song at my mum's funeral yesterday.... My mum deserved a song as beautiful as she was... I love you mum. I will always have you in my heart... Thank you Eva for giving us the gift of your talent... So sorry you left us se early, too. GOD BLESS
@joycegoonetilleke936
So very beautifull sung and what a wonderful voice ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Thank you Eva Cassidy 🤗🌹🌹🌻🌷🌺💮🌸🏵️🌼
@lovvingd
Hello Joyce
How are you doing today?
@LordByron444
Dear father in heaven, if you allow me to walk through the gates of heaven, would you allow Eva to greet me please? I need to hug her. 🙏
@angelaarnold3740
For You Keith 💕 I Will Love You Forever. I Miss You. Angela. ❤❤❤
@susanbay7421
Eva Cassidy has the voice of an Angel.
@joiisler3012
She Is an Angel.🕊❣️
@susanreeder4401
I was lucky enough to see her LIVE at Fleetwoods in Alexandria! I’m from DC area. I didn’t know who she was.. she completely blew me away! As a huge fan of Judy Garland’s… when she started singing Rainbow I was very protective.. but WOW!! I got goosebumps and she won me over! Got a signed cd. Voice of an angel
@margaretmyles1523
Absolutely love this my funeral song when I pass beautiful pity she had to pass to before she was made popular rip angel ❤️