Though Gerry Mulligan is primarily known as one of the leading baritone saxophonists in jazz history - playing the instrument with a light and airy tone ushering in the era of cool jazz - he was also a notable arranger, working with Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis, Stan Kenton, and others.
Mulligan's pianoless quartet of the early 1950s with trumpeter Chet Baker is still regarded as one of the more important cool jazz groups.
My Funny Valentine
Gerry Mulligan Quartet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You make me smile with my heart,
Your looks are laughable, un-photo-graphical,
Yet you´re my favorite work of art
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak, are you smiling?
Not if you care for me.
Stay little valentine, stay!
Each day is Valentine´s Day
Each day is Valentine´s Day
Gerry Mulligan's "My Funny Valentine" employs cleverly worded lyrics to paint a vivid picture of a person who is not necessarily outwardly attractive but who still makes the singer's heart skip a beat. The opening lines "you're my funny Valentine, sweet comic Valentine, you make me smile with my heart" capture the essence of the song's message. The recipient of the song is not conventionally beautiful, but there's something in their personality that leaves the singer feeling happy and content. The second set of lines, "your looks are laughable, un-photo-graphical, yet you're my favorite work of art," further enforces the notion that physical beauty is not the most important aspect of a person.
The bridge of the song features some pointed questions designed to test the recipient's confidence. "Is your figure less than Greek? Is your mouth a little weak? When you open it to speak, are you smiling?" The singer seems to be saying that while the recipient may not be a conventional beauty, he or she makes up for it in other ways. The song's final verse, "but don't change a hair for me, not if you care for me. Stay little Valentine, stay! Each day is Valentine's Day," emphasizes that the singer values the recipient exactly as they are and doesn't want them to try to change in any way.
Line by Line Meaning
Your my funny Valentine, sweet comic Valentine
You are an endearing and amusing person to me, my dear Valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your presence brings me great joy and happiness that I feel deeply
Your looks are laughable, un-photo-graphical
Your physical appearance may not conform to traditional beauty standards, but that doesn't matter to me
Yet you´re my favorite work of art
Despite your perceived flaws, you are still incredibly beautiful and special to me
Is your figure less than Greek?
Are you not conventionally attractive in terms of body shape?
Is your mouth a little weak?
Do you have any physical imperfections, such as a slightly crooked smile or imperfect teeth?
When you open it to speak, are you smiling?
Do you have a positive and cheerful demeanor that shines through when you speak, even if you have a physical imperfection?
But don´t change a hair for me, not if you care for me.
I love you for who you are and don't want you to change anything about yourself just to please me
Stay little valentine, stay!
I want you to continue being my Valentine and stay in my life forever
Each day is Valentine´s Day
Every day with you feels like Valentine's Day because of the love and happiness you bring me
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lilmazzo
So this is where the sample is from. Amazing 👌
@duckofmoun1847
Une référence !
@user-he9ms6wd7p
지금 미국에 와 뉴저지 에서 새벽잠을 깨서 어제 그의LP를 두장 구해서 유투브 에 곡을 찾아 이곡을 감상하는데 아주 좋습니다...😅😂
@wilfriedwachter2458
Ich habe zu meinem 11. Geburtstag (1966) einen Plattenspieler, 5 Englisch-Lern-Schallplatten und eine Single vom Grabbeltisch bekommen -- und das war genau diese EP des New Gerry Mulligan Quartet mit "As catch can", "My funny Valentine" und "Festive minor"! Zu der Zeit war ich großer Beatles- und Stones-Fan, und meine Mutter hatte keine Ahnung, was sie da erstanden hatte ("Der Typ auf der Hülle sah so ein bißchen wild aus.") Das war meine erste Berührung mit Jazz: Diese wunderschönen, ineinander verschlungenen Melodie-Bögen von Art Farmers Trompete und Gerry Mulligans Bariton-Saxophon haben mich umgehauen!
@johnreifenberg5887
Art Farmer is superb. And one of Gerry's prettiest, moving phrases.
@bloodySunday77
The best cover of My Funny Valentine that I have ever heard. The chords and the arrangement of the sax and the trumpet "talking" to each other and blending so beautifully makes it a masterpiece. Also, it's one of the first jazz songs I adored & tried to learn note by note on my flute something like 25 years ago.
@MrJazzohjazz
one of my favorite solos by Gerry .... wonderful work by Bill Crow .... bought this LP in 60 and sill listen to it ..... hard to believe it is almost 60 years old
@samuelllanos1
Simply, masterful!!!!!!
@jerryj920
Classic. NGO...Never Gets Old. Blessings
@tonytamez3500
I sleep to this. This is so beautiful