Born in Oakdale, New York on Long Island, Monheit began singing professionally while attending Connetquot High School. At 17, she began studying at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City under the tutelage of Peter Eldridge. At the age of 20, as a senior, she won the first runner-up prize at the 1998 Thelonious Monk Institute Vocal Competition. In 1999, she received her Bachelor's degree in music.
Monheit's voice has been compared to that of Ella Fitzgerald, whom she lists as one of her influences. Songs she has recorded range from jazz standards to MGM/RKO musicals of the 1930s-1950s and Brazilian rhythms such as "Começar de novo".
Monheit released her debut album, Never Never Land in October 2000 and it became an instant success. This was followed shortly by her second album, Come Dream With Me (May 2001) and her third, In The Sun (October 2002).
Her fourth album, Live at the Rainbow Room, was released in December 2003. A similarly-titled DVD was released to complement the CD.
Her fifth album, Taking a Chance on Love, was released in September 2004. It debuted at the #1 spot on Billboard's traditional jazz chart and entered Billboard's top 100 pop chart the first week it was released. The album included the song Over the Rainbow, which had been included in her previous release recorded at the Rainbow Room, and also in the soundtrack for the film, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.
The Taking a Chance on Love DVD was released in March 2005 and contains performances from the Brecon Jazz Festival in Wales, UK. Monheit released her sixth album, The Season, in October 2005. Her first holiday-themed album, it debuted in the top 10 on Billboard's jazz chart. Monheit told jazzreview.com that it was inspired by Ella Fitzgerald's holiday album, Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas.
The singer recently signed a recording contract with Concord Records. Her most recent album, Surrender, debuted at #1 on Billboard's jazz chart.
Like A Lover
Jane Monheit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slowly rises and kisses you awake
Your smile is soft and drowsy
As you let it play upon your face
Oh, how I dream
I might be like the morning sun to you
Sighs and ripples its fingers through your hair
Upon your cheek it lingers
Never having known a sweeter place
Oh, how I dream
I might be like the river wind to you
Oh, I envy a cup that knows your lips
Let it be me, my love
And a table that feels your fingertips
Let it be me, let me be your love
Bring an end to the endless days and nights
Without you
Like a lover, the velvet moon
Shares your pillow and watches while you sleep
Its light arrives on tiptoe
Gently taking you in its embrace
Oh, how I dream
I might be like the velvet moon to you, you, you
How I envy a cup that knows your lips
Let it be me, my love
And a table that feels your fingertips
Let it be me, let me be your love
Bring an end to the endless days and nights
Without you, you, you, you, you
Like a lover, the velvet moon
Shares your pillow and watches while you sleep
Its light arrives on tiptoe
Gently taking you in its embrace
Oh, how I dream
I might be like the velvet moon to you
The song Like A Lover by Jane Monheit is a passionate and romantic expression of the singer's desire to be close to her beloved in every possible form. As the morning sun kisses her lover awake, the singer dreams of being like the warm and gentle sun to her beloved. She wants to caress her lover's face and fill her heart with warmth and love.
Similarly, the river wind sighs and ripples through her beloved's hair, and the singer wishes to be like the wind, caressing and lingering on her cheek, reminding her of her beloved's touch. The velvet moon is also a symbol of the singer's longing to be close to her beloved, sharing their pillow and watching over her as she sleeps. The singer dreams of being like the moon, gently taking her beloved in its embrace and filling her with love and warmth.
The lyrics express the singer's deep desire to be with her beloved and to fill every aspect of her life with love and care. She expresses envy towards the cup that knows her beloved's lips and the table that feels her fingertips, wishing it could be her who is so close and intimate with her beloved. Overall, the song is a beautiful representation of the intensity and depth of pure love.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a lover, the morning sun
The morning sun slowly rises and kisses you awake
Slowly rises and kisses you awake
The morning sun makes you emerge from sleep gently and lovingly
Your smile is soft and drowsy
Your smile is lovely, yet sleepy, showing you are at peace with yourself and the world around you
As you let it play upon your face
You allow the morning sun to shine on your face and enjoy its warm embrace
Oh, how I dream
I wish keenly for something unlikely or difficult to happen
I might be like the morning sun to you
I hope to be the one who brings you out of sleep and into a new day with love and tenderness
Like a lover, the river wind
Just like a lover, the river wind sighs and gently caresses your hair
Sighs and ripples its fingers through your hair
It breathes life into you by touching your hair with tenderness and care, creating gentle waves around you
Upon your cheek it lingers
It stays for a while and softly touches your skin, creating a wonderful sensation of peace and serenity
Never having known a sweeter place
The river wind has never experienced a more caring and loving place than your cheek
Oh, I envy a cup that knows your lips
I feel jealous of a cup for having the privilege of touching your lips and being close to you
Let it be me, my love
I want to be the lucky one to share this simple and intimate moment with you
And a table that feels your fingertips
I envy a table that feels your touch, so close and intimate that it brings about pleasant feelings of admiration and attraction
Bring an end to the endless days and nights
I want our time together to bring an end to the never-ending cycle of loneliness and darkness that engulfs my life
Without you
Without you, my life seems dull and incomplete
Like a lover, the velvet moon
The velvet moon is a celestial lover that watches over you while you sleep
Shares your pillow and watches while you sleep
It holds a secret place next to you, admiring your beauty and caring for your dreams
Its light arrives on tiptoe
Its light approaches silently, in order to not disturb you while you sleep
Gently taking you in its embrace
It surrounds you with a soft, warm and tranquil light, almost as if it's holding you close in a loving embrace
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN BERGMAN, DORIVAL TOSTES CAYMMI, MARILYN BERGMAN, NELSON MOTTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind