Grey
Frank Sinatra and Orchestra Lyrics


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My car radio's playing a song
That makes me feel very strange
It's taken so long
Through the gradation of the grey scale
A landscape like I've never seen
As far as my eyes can see
Out on the road
I've seen so many shades, shades of grey
Now I'm back in the tunnel again
Every minute, every second
I can feel it getting closer




Speeding ahead
To where grey meets white

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Grey" by Frank Sinatra and Orchestra depict a person's journey on a road trip, listening to a song on the car radio that evokes a strange feeling. The song's melody and lyrics gradually transcend through different stages of the "grey scale," creating a beautiful landscape that the singer has never seen before, stretching as far as the eye can see. While on the road trip, the singer has encountered different shades of grey, including natural and man-made structures, creating a vivid image for the audience. However, the journey eventually comes to an end as they reach the end of the tunnel, where the shades of grey meet white. The song perfectly captures the experience of being lost in thought during a road trip, letting the mind wander as the scenic views flow by.


One of the interesting facts about the song "Grey" is that it was released in 1968 as part of Sinatra's album "Cycles." The song was written by Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb, who were also members of the famous group, Bee Gees. The melody of "Grey" was inspired by the Eastern music style of raga, which is a scale with a specific set of notes. Another interesting fact is that Frank Sinatra considered "Grey" to be the best song on the album "Cycles." Besides, the song was not released as a single but was performed by Sinatra many times during his live performances.


"Grey" has also been covered by various artists including Barbra Streisand in her 1971 album "Stoney End," Julie London in her 1969 album "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy," and The Manhattan Transfer in their 1997 album "Swing." The song's delicate combination of melody, lyrics, and style creates an atmospheric feel for the audience, immersing them in the journey and experience of the singer.


Chords for the song "Grey" are not known.


Line by Line Meaning

My car radio's playing a song
The singer is listening to a song on their car radio


That makes me feel very strange
The song evokes unusual emotions in the singer


It's taken so long
The journey referenced in the song has been a lengthy one


Through the gradation of the grey scale
The journey has involved traversing a range of grey shades


A landscape like I've never seen
The scenery is unfamiliar to the artist


As far as my eyes can see
The horizon is vast and expansive


Out on the road
The singer is traveling on a road


I've seen so many shades, shades of grey
The journey has exposed the artist to many different shades of grey


Now I'm back in the tunnel again
The journey has returned the artist to a dark and enclosed space


Every minute, every second
The passage of time is felt acutely by the artist


I can feel it getting closer
The end of the journey is approaching


Speeding ahead
The artist is moving quickly towards their destination


To where grey meets white
The end of the journey is where the grey shades meet white, suggesting a new beginning or clarity




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

PlanetRockJesus

As a kid who grew up with the Beatles as the main thing, I eventually came to appreciate Sinatra and so many others of my parents' generation. This video showcases the great Sinatra with the AWESOME Count Basie orchestra. I'm blown away. Sinatra was the biggest thing in music until Elvis, then it was the The Beatles. You young people... don't let this man's talent escape you.

lray1234

Well said!

jefft022

Your comment took me back. I grew up with the Beatles but was especially taken with Basie and Sinatra. My classmates did not appreciate the album's I brought to show and tell! But, I did grow to appreciate the Beatles!!

lray1234

@jefft022 the Sinatra Basie series doesn’t get enough mention as one of the greatest ever American records. The most swingin’ singer and the most swinging’ band leader.

jefft022

@lray1234 I loved Sinatra and I loved Basie, but together they were that much better! And of course...those arrangements were money!

Andrew Lilja

😊😊😊

7 More Replies...

mariogia

For me there’s no better Sinatra than this period - with Count Basie and Quincy Jones. Sinatra at the Sands being my fave Sinatra album… check it out if you don’t know it already. Swinging!

Le vie en rose

Basie, Sinatra and Quincy Jones....what else can you ask for! Legends.

daladyj707

It doesn't get any better than this - one of the great musical collabs - The Chairman of the Board, The Count, and Mr. Q. Love the sexy grooves. RIP Frank Sinatra and Count Basie.

Neil Ewart

I know he was a bit of a bad lad but what a performer! Best timing I have ever seen. Basie makes everything look easy and Quincey makes it all swing. Fantastic.

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