Cool Green
Jackie McLean Lyrics


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I cover the waterfront,
I'm watching the sea,
Will the one I love,
Be coming back to me?

I cover the waterfront,
In search of my love,
And I'm covered by,
A starless sky above.

Here am I,
Patiently waiting,
Hoping and longing,
Oh! How I yearn!
Where are you?
Are you forgetting?
Do you remember?
Will you return?

I cover the waterfront,
I'm watching the sea,




For the one I love,
Must come back to me.

Overall Meaning

The song "I Cover the Waterfront," originally written by Green and Heyman in 1932, has been covered by many artists, including Billie Holliday and Louis Armstrong. Jackie McLean's version is a soulful jazz rendition of the classic song, with his saxophone carrying the melody over a slow and steady bass line. The lyrics tell the story of a person who is waiting by the sea for their love to return. The singer is searching for their love and wondering if they will ever come back.


The line "I cover the waterfront" means that the singer is scanning the horizon of the sea, trying to see if their love is on the way back to them. The starless sky adds to the melancholy mood of the song. The singer is waiting patiently and hopefully, but they also show hints of worry and doubt. They question if their love remembers them and if they will ever return. The singer's deep longing and yearning for their love to come back is palpable throughout the song. The last line of the song is a poignant reminder of the singer's unwavering desire for their love to return to them.


Overall, "I Cover the Waterfront" is a song that captures the feelings of love, hope, and longing through its introspective lyrics and soulful melody.


Line by Line Meaning

I cover the waterfront
I search for my love


I'm watching the sea
I'm waiting for my love to return by sea


Will the one I love
I'm unsure if my love will return


Be coming back to me?
I hope my love will return to me


In search of my love
I search for my love


And I'm covered by
I'm enveloped by


A starless sky above.
A sky without stars leaves me with no direction


Here am I,
Here I am,


Patiently waiting,
Waiting patiently,


Hoping and longing,
Hoping and yearning,


Oh! How I yearn!
I have a strong longing for my love


Where are you?
I wonder where you are


Are you forgetting?
I fear that you may have forgotten me


Do you remember?
I hope you remember me


Will you return?
I hope you will come back to me


For the one I love,
My love


Must come back to me.
I need my love to return to me




Contributed by Nathan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

dorne

An underappreciated genius.

Mel Goldman

Tough. Beautiful. Many thanks.

LUCKY 472

MEAN JACKIE McLEAN

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