Merrill's recording career has spanned six decades and she is popular with fans of jazz in Japan and Italy (where she lived for many years) as well as in her native United States. She has recorded and performed with some of the most notable figures in the American jazz scene.
Youth and early career in the states
Merrill was born in 1930 to Croatian immigrant parents. She began singing in jazz clubs in the Bronx at the age of fourteen. By the time she was sixteen, Merrill had taken up music full time. In 1952, Merrill made her recording debut when she was asked to sing "A Cigarette For Company" with the Earl Hines Band; the song was released on their Xanadu album. Etta Jones made her debut on the same album.
At this time she was married to musician Aaron Sachs. They divorced in 1956.
As a result of the exposure she received from "A Cigarette for Company" and two subsequent singles recorded for the Roost record label, Merrill was signed by Mercury Records for their new EmArcy label.
In 1954, Merrill recorded her first (and to date most acclaimed) LP, an eponymous record featuring legendary jazz trumpet player Clifford Brown and bassist/cellist Oscar Pettiford, among others. It was to be one of Brown's last recordings, as he was killed in a car accident just two years later. The album was produced and arranged by Quincy Jones, who was then just twenty-one years old. The success of Helen Merrill prompted Mercury to sign her for an additional four-album contract.
Merrill's follow-up to Helen Merrill was the 1956 LP, Dream of You, which was produced and arranged by bebop arranger and pianist Gil Evans. Evans' work on Dream of You was his first in many years. His arrangements on Merrill's laid the musical foundations for his work in following years with Miles Davis.
Success abroad
After recording sporadically through the late 1950s and 1960s, Merrill spent much of her time touring Europe, where she enjoyed more commercial success than she had in the United States. She settled for a time in Italy recording an album there, and doing live concerts with jazz notables Chet Baker, Romano Mussolini, and Stan Getz. Merrill returned to the U.S. in the 1960s, but moved to Japan in 1967 after touring there. Merrill developed a following in Japan that remains strong to this day. In addition to recording while in Japan, Merrill became involved in other aspects of the music industry, producing albums for Trio Records and hosting a show on a Tokyo radio station.
Later career
Merrill returned to the US in 1972 and has continued recording and regular touring since then. Her later career has seen her experiment in different music genres. She has recorded a bossa nova album, a Christmas album and a record's worth of Rodgers and Hammerstein, among many others.
Two albums from Merrill's later career have been tributes to past musical partners. In 1987, Merrill and Gil Evans recorded fresh arrangements of their classic Dream of You; the new recordings were released under the title Collaboration and became the most critically acclaimed of Merrill's albums in the 1980s.
In 1987 she co-produced a CD "Billy Eckstine sing with Benny Carter" and sing in duet with Mr.B two ballads.
In 1995 she recorded Brownie: Homage to Clifford Brown as a tribute to the late trumpeter.
One of Merrill's millennium released recordings draws from her Croatian heritage as well as her American upbringing. Jelena Ana Milcetic, a.k.a. Helen Merrill (2000), combines jazz, pop and blues songs with several traditional Croatian songs sung in Croatian.
Helen Merrill has been married three times, first to musician Aaron Sachs, second time to UPI vice president the late Donald J Brydon, and third to arranger-conductor the late Torrie Zito. She has one child, a son, Allan P Sachs, also a singer, who is professionally known as Alan Merrill.
Street of Dreams
Helen Merrill Lyrics
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Come on and trade in your old dreams for new
Your new dreams for old
I know where they're bought
I know where they're sold
Midnight, you've got to get there at midnight
And you'll be met there by others like you
Brothers as blue
Love laughs at a king
Kings don't mean a thing
On the street of dreams
Dreams broken in two can be made like new
On the street of dreams
Gold, sliver and gold
All you can hold is in the moonbeams
Poor, no one is poor
Long as love is sure
On the street of dreams
Midnight, look at the steeple, it's midnight
Unhappy people, it's ringing with joy
It's ringing with cheer
'Cause yesterday's gone
Tomorrow is near
Midnight, the heart is lighter at midnight
Things will be brighter the moment you find
More of your kind
Smiling on the street of dreams
Love laughs at a king
Kings don't mean a thing
On the street of dreams
Dreams broken in two can be made like new
On the street of dreams
Gold, sliver and gold
All you can hold is in the moonbeams
Poor, no one is poor
Long as love is sure
On the street of dreams
The lyrics to Helen Merrill's song "Street of Dreams" evoke a sense of longing for escapism to a place where dreams can be bought and sold. The song's refrain of "On the street of dreams" brings to mind a surreal, otherworldly place where anything is possible. The first stanza paints a picture of a weary traveler, laden with old dreams, seeking out a new start. The singer encourages the person to trade in their old dreams for something new, implying that change is necessary and attainable. The streets of dreams are where these new dreams can be found, and the singer knows where to find them. At midnight, others like the traveler will be out seeking the same new opportunities.
The second stanza speaks to the power of love over worldly things. The singer asserts that while kings may hold power and wealth, love is the true treasure that prevails on the street of dreams. Broken dreams and shattered hopes can be renewed on this street, where even the poorest soul can find their way. The third stanza reiterates the hopefulness of this place, where even the steeple rings with joy. The moment one finds their kind and their dreams, things will be brighter. The final refrain of the song reinforces the idea that on the street of dreams, love laughs at power, broken dreams can be made whole, and all can find solace in the magic of the moonbeams.
Line by Line Meaning
Midnight, you heavy laden, it's midnight
It's late at night and you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.
Come on and trade in your old dreams for new
Instead of holding onto old dreams that may not be achievable, let go and seek out new ones.
Your new dreams for old
Keep your new dreams close and don't go back to the old ones.
I know where they're bought
I know where you can find new dreams.
I know where they're sold
I know where you can get rid of old dreams to make room for new ones.
Midnight, you've got to get there at midnight
The best time to find your dreams is late at night.
And you'll be met there by others like you
You won't be alone in your search for new dreams.
Brothers as blue
Those searching for new dreams may be feeling sad or depressed.
Smiling on the street of dreams
Despite hardships, there is hope and positivity among those searching for new dreams.
Love laughs at a king
Love is more important than material possessions or status.
Kings don't mean a thing
One's social status does not determine their worth or happiness.
Dreams broken in two can be made like new
Even if your dreams seem shattered, they can still be revived and made into something new.
Gold, sliver and gold
Material possessions are not necessary for happiness.
All you can hold is in the moonbeams
The moon, a symbol of dreams and possibilities, offers everything we need.
Poor, no one is poor
One can still be rich in love and happiness, even if they do not possess material wealth.
Long as love is sure
As long as we have love and certainty, we have all we need.
Midnight, look at the steeple, it's midnight
It's late at night, but there is a sense of hope and guidance from the church steeple.
Unhappy people, it's ringing with joy
Even those who are unhappy can find joy through their search for new dreams.
It's ringing with cheer
The environment is filled with happiness and encouragement.
'Cause yesterday's gone
It's important to let go of the past and move forward in search of new dreams.
Tomorrow is near
There is hope and possibility in the near future.
Midnight, the heart is lighter at midnight
During late night moments of reflection, our hearts can feel lighter and more hopeful.
Things will be brighter the moment you find
Finding new dreams can brighten our outlook on life.
More of your kind
Finding others who share our values and dreams can make our journey even more meaningful.
Smiling on the street of dreams
Collective happiness and positive energy prevail on our journey to find new dreams.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sam Lewis, Victor Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind