Berlin, who was Jewish, was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, he composed over 3,000 songs. Many of his songs, including "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and "There's No Business Like Show Business," left an indelible mark on American music and culture. He produced 17 film scores and 21 Broadway scores, in addition to his individual songs.
I Love A Piano
Irving Berlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How I ran to the man when his hand swayed
Clarinets were my pets and a slide trombone I thought was simply divine
But today when they play, I could hiss them
Every bar is a jar to my system
But there's one musical instrument that I call mine
I love to hear somebody play
Upon a piano, a grand piano
It simply carries me away
I know a fine way to treat a Steinway
I love to run my fingers o'er the keys, the ivories
And with the pedal I love to meddle
When Padarewski comes this way
I'm so delighted if I'm invited
To hear that long haired genius play
So you can keep your fiddle and your bow
Give me a P I A N O, oh, oh
I love to stop right beside an upright
Or a high toned Baby Grand
When a green Tetrazine starts to warble
I grow cold as an old piece of marble
I allude to the crude little party singer
Who don't know when to pause
At her best I detest the soprano
But I run to the one at the piano
I always love the accomp'niment and that's because
Not only music from Broadway
I'm so delighted if I'm invited
To hear a long haired genius play
In Irving Berlin's song "I Love A Piano," the singer expresses their love for the piano while also noting their disdain for other musical instruments. The lyrics describe the singer's childhood love for bands and various instruments, but how they now find them grating except for the piano, which still captivates them. The singer expresses their delight in listening to someone play the piano and especially enjoys when a famous pianist like Padarewski is playing. The singer even goes as far as to say they'd rather listen to the crudest of party singers if they were accompanied by a pianist.
The lyrics of "I Love A Piano" suggest that the piano is something special compared to other instruments. The way the singer describes other instruments only emphasizes their love for the piano even more. The piano is lauded for being able to "carry them away" and for how they know "a fine way to treat a Steinway." The piano, to the singer, is the only instrument that can truly move them. This song seems to capture something about the piano's unique appeal, and it's a testament to what it can convey that other instruments cannot.
Line by Line Meaning
As a child I went wild when a band played
As a child, I would become uncontrollably excited when a band was performing.
How I ran to the man when his hand swayed
I would enthusiastically approach the conductor when he waved his hands.
Clarinets were my pets and a slide trombone I thought was simply divine
I adored clarinets so much that I considered them my pets and the slide trombone was something I thought was heavenly.
But today when they play, I could hiss them
However, now when they perform, I could loathe it.
Every bar is a jar to my system
I get physically uncomfortable at every measure.
But there's one musical instrument that I call mine
Nevertheless, there's one musical instrument that I adore.
I love a piano, I love a piano
I'm deeply fond of pianos.
I love to hear somebody play
I adore listening to someone perform on a piano.
Upon a piano, a grand piano
Especially with a grand piano.
It simply carries me away
It takes me to another place.
I know a fine way to treat a Steinway
I know how to properly care for and play a Steinway piano.
I love to run my fingers o'er the keys, the ivories
I enjoy the tactile sensation of running my fingers over the keys.
And with the pedal I love to meddle
I enjoy playing around with the sustain pedal.
When Padarewski comes this way
If Padarewski happens to be nearby.
I'm so delighted if I'm invited
I'd be thrilled if given the chance to attend.
To hear that long haired genius play
To listen to that incredibly talented pianist perform, with their long hair flowing.
So you can keep your fiddle and your bow
I don't care for violins or other string instruments.
Give me a P I A N O, oh, oh
Give me a piano.
I love to stop right beside an upright
I enjoy stopping beside an upright piano.
Or a high toned Baby Grand
Or a sophisticated and high-quality baby grand.
When a green Tetrazine starts to warble
Whenever a novice singer, Tetrazine, starts to sing.
I grow cold as an old piece of marble
I feel cold and unimpressed.
I allude to the crude little party singer
I'm referring to the uneducated and unrefined singer at the party.
Who don't know when to pause
Who doesn't know when to stop singing.
At her best I detest the soprano
Even the best soprano singer I don't care for.
But I run to the one at the piano
However, I really enjoy the accompaniment from the musician playing the piano.
I always love the accomp'niment and that's because
I always love the accompaniment, and the reason being is that
Not only music from Broadway
It's not limited to just Broadway music.
I'm so delighted if I'm invited
I would be thrilled if given the opportunity to attend.
To hear a long haired genius play
To listen to an incredibly talented pianist with long hair perform.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Primož Vidovič
What a magnificent rendition! Great style.
Sheri Bauer
@johnrosa800 Thanks for heads up on the sound and thanks for the thumbs up on the performance. It's a great tune-rhyming is so incredibly clever. I've got the best pianist playing it!
jcc7386
I love the part around the 3:00 mark when Mayorga "walks" the piano down. That's the way ragtime, or Irving Berlin's ragtimeish sound, is intended to be played. Berlin, Joplin, want us to have fun with the music and improvise a little bit, to our respective tastes. Great song, great rendition!
kifliter1
Heard Lincoln Mayorga, 35 years ago, doing West Side Story on a "Direct Cut Disc" - Fantastic ! Regards, Chris
Erick Klüser
Very Good... Congrats !!!
Larry Forbes
Wonderful! What is the piano?
Angelzofblue
1915 the year my father was born...Berlin was great..we always had a piano in our house.. It was great and made many memories that I still have..
sislau
I listened to and watched the whole thing without issue. I wonder if, for this one try, your computer was just having trouble downloading. Did you ever come back and try again?
Sheri Bauer
@AnneBowen1 Thanks for the comment. I'm not experiencing difficulties with the sound or visuals, but will inquire if others are. Sorry! sheri