Lover Man
Gillespie Dizzy Feat. Vaughan Sarah Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't know why
But I'm feelin' so sad
I long to try
Somethin' I've never had

Never had no kissin'
Oh, what I've been missin'
Lover man
Oh, where can you be?

The night is cold
And I'm so all alone
I'd give my soul
Just to call you my own

Got the moon above me
But no one to love me
Lover man
Oh, where can you be?

I've heard it said
That the thrill of romance
Can be
Like a heavenly dream

I go to bed
With the prayer
That you'll make love to me
Strange as it seems

One day we'll meet
And you'll dry all my tears
And whisper sweet
Little things in my ears

A huggin' and a kissin'
Oh, what I've been missin'
Lover man
Oh, where can you be?





Lover man
Where can you be?

Overall Meaning

The song "Lover Man" is about the loneliness and longing for a lover that the singer is feeling. She expresses sadness and a desire to try something she has never had before, specifically, kissing. The absence of physical affection and a partner to love her makes her feel completely alone, even with the moon shining above her. The singer believes that the thrill of romance, a heavenly dream, could cure her loneliness. She prays every night for her lover to come and make love to her. The lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability, desperation, and a longing for love.


In the song, the singer refers to her ideal lover as her "Lover Man." The song has been covered by many artists, including Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Adele. One interesting fact about the song is that it was originally written in 1941 by Jimmy Davis, Roger ("Ram") Ramirez, and James Sherman. Although it was a minor hit for Davis, the song became more popular after Billie Holiday released her own version in 1945.


Another interesting fact is that the song has been interpreted by some as a code for homosexuality. In this interpretation, "Lover Man" would be a woman, and the singer would be expressing her longing for a female partner. However, this interpretation is disputed, and the song is more commonly understood as expressing a longing for a male partner. The lyrics have been used in many films, including the 1994 movie "Bullets Over Broadway."


The chords for "Lover Man" are as follows:


Verse:
Cmaj7 B7b9 | Em7 A7b9 | Dm G7 | Cmaj7 |


Chorus:
Fmaj7 E7 | Am7 D7 | Gm7 C7 | Fmaj7 |


Bridge:
Dm7 G7 | C7 | Dm7 G7 | C7 | Fmaj7 E7 | Am7 D7 | Gm7 C7 | Fmaj7 |


Outro:
Gm7 C7 | Fmaj7 | Gm7 C7 | Fmaj7 | Gm7 C7 | Fmaj7 | Gm7 C7 | Fmaj7 E7 | Am7 D7 | Gm7 C7 | Fmaj7 ||


Line by Line Meaning

I don't know why
I am unsure of the reason for my current emotional state


But I'm feelin' so sad
Despite my uncertainty, I am experiencing a great deal of sorrow


I long to try
I have a strong desire to experience something new


Somethin' I've never had
A new experience that I have not yet encountered


Never had no kissin'
I have never had the opportunity to experience romantic intimacy


Oh, what I've been missin'
I am acutely aware of the void in my life where romance should be


Lover man
I seek a romantic partner who can fill this void in my life


Oh, where can you be?
I am questioning where I can find the romantic partner that I seek


The night is cold
The current time is late and the temperature is low


And I'm so all alone
I am by myself without any companionship


I'd give my soul
I am willing to make a significant sacrifice


Just to call you my own
In exchange for a romantic relationship with you


Got the moon above me
I have the celestial body known as the moon visible in the sky


But no one to love me
Despite this natural beauty, I lack any affection from a romantic partner


I've heard it said
I have been told that


That the thrill of romance
The excitement of an intimate relationship


Can be
Has the potential to be


Like a heavenly dream
Comparable to something divinely-inspired and surreal


I go to bed
When I am preparing to sleep for the night


With the prayer
I am making a wish or request


That you'll make love to me
I am hoping for romantic intimacy with the person I seek


Strange as it seems
Despite how unrealistic it may appear


One day we'll meet
At some point in the future, we will encounter each other


And you'll dry all my tears
You will console me and alleviate my sadness


And whisper sweet
You will speak tenderly and affectionately


Little things in my ears
In a way that feels intimate and personal


A huggin' and a kissin'
Engaged in romantic and physical affection


Oh, what I've been missin'
Once again expressing my longing for this type of relationship


Lover man
Reiterating my search for a romantic partner


Oh, where can you be?
Continuing to question where I can find this person




Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LORENZ HART, RICHARD RODGERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@37BopCity

This is what I call a PERFECT recording. A golden moment in time that could never be repeated the same way, live in a studio with the greatest names in jazz history, simple, direct, no artifice, no pretence, straight ahead perfection. I never get tired of listening to this.

@adnilrummut105

amazing fascinating ... this is what I call my home

@micmac99

This is regarded as Miss Vaughan's breakout song, that really launched her legendary career. The 78 must be worth at least hundreds.

@Astromyxin

Just went and looked through my mom's massive 45 collection, and she totally has this!

@gcurioso1974

Sarah Vaughn maravillosa !!!

@maick-tomg.602

Oh, so great !! What a golden voice !!

@cambridgeMandarin

She was so vocally gifted, just as Ella said - her breath and pitch control were bullet-proof so she had no need to use technique to cover problems.

@viggosimonsen

Love Dizzy's tritone subs from these early bebop years. They really add a fresh new coloration to the ballads. Just a few years earlier, one would never had heard a horn player play like that - in any jazz context.

@pullmanjunction5854

Viggo - I know what a tritone substitution is. I take it you are not referring to the chords though. Can you be a little more specific - which passages are examples of Dizzy using tritone subs in his playing?

@monicabella7894

A pity that he used tritone.

More Comments

More Versions