In the 1950s, Mellé's paintings and sculptures were shown in New York galleries and he created the cover art for albums by Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins. Mellé played the tenor and baritone saxophone with George Wallington, Max Roach, Tal Farlow, Oscar Pettiford, Ed Thigpen, Kenny Dorham and Zoot Sims.
As a film and television composer, Mellé was one of the first to use electronic instruments (which he built himself), either alone or as an added voice among the string, wind, brass, and percussion sections of the orchestra. He was the first to compose a main theme for a television series arranged entirely for electronic instruments (Rod Serling's Night Gallery).
His film credits span 125 motion pictures including My Sweet Charlie, That Certain Summer, The Andromeda Strain, The Judge and Jake Wyler, several Columbo TV movies, Frankenstein: The True Story, The Six Million Dollar Man and Kolchak: The Night Stalker.
Melle died of a heart attack at his home in Malibu, California.
Lullaby of Birdland
Gil Mellé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always hear when you sigh
Never in my wordland
Could there be ways to reveal
In a phrase how I feel
Have you ever heard two turtle doves
Bill and coo when they love?
Music we make with our lips when we kiss
And there's a weepy old willow
He really knows how to cry
That's how I'd cry in my pillow
If you should tell me farewell and goodbye
Lullaby of Birdland whisper low
Kiss me sweet and we'll go
Flyin' high in Birdland
High in the sky up above
All because we're in love
The song "Lullaby of Birdland" by Gil Melle is a romantic and poetic ode to the feeling of being in love. The lyrics describe the musical magic that occurs when two people in love come together. The mention of the "Lullaby of Birdland" refers to how the singer of the song hears this lovely tune whenever their lover lets out a contented sigh. This bird-themed lullaby is reminiscent of two turtle doves that coo and make love. The music made when the two lovers kiss is described as "magic" and "we make with our lips."
The lyrics go on to describe the metaphorical weeping of a willow tree, which knows how to cry. The song's narrator imagines themselves crying into a pillow if their lover were to say goodbye. But the song is optimistic and hopeful, ending on a high note as the singer encourages their lover to whisper low, kiss them sweetly, and fly high in Birdland. This last line is an expression of the joys and heights that love and passion can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
Lullaby of Birdland, that's what I
The soothing sounds of Birdland is what I hear
Always hear when you sigh
I hear it every time you breathe out heavily
Never in my wordland
In my world, there is no way
Could there be ways to reveal
To show or make known
In a phrase how I feel
How I feel in a few words
Have you ever heard two turtle doves
Did you ever listen to two lovebirds
Bill and coo when they love?
Murmur sweet nothings when they are in love?
That's the kind of magic
That is the enchantment
Music we make with our lips when we kiss
The melody we create with our mouths while kissing
And there's a weepy old willow
There is a melancholic old willow tree
He really knows how to cry
He truly knows how to shed tears
That's how I'd cry in my pillow
That's how I would weep into my pillow
If you should tell me farewell and goodbye
If you say goodbye to me
Lullaby of Birdland whisper low
Soothe me with the murmurs of Birdland
Kiss me sweet and we'll go
Kiss me tenderly and we will leave
Flyin' high in Birdland
Soaring in the heights of Birdland
High in the sky up above
Far above the sky
All because we're in love
All because we are in love
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Shearing, George David Weiss
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind