Born James Oscar Smith on 8th December 1925 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. Smith was influenced by both gospel and blues. He first achieved prominence in the 1950s where his recordings became popular on jukeboxes before there were commonly used terms to describe his unique musical flavor. In the sixties and seventies he helped create the jazz style known as soul jazz.
Smith employed a unique technique to emulate a string bass player on the organ. Although he played walking bass lines on the pedals on ballads, for uptempo tunes, he would play the bass line on the lower manual and use the pedals for emphasis on the attack of certain notes. His solos were characterised by percussive chords mixed with very fast melodic improvisation with the right hand.
Smith was a prolific recording artist. He first recorded with the Blue Note label in 1956. His early albums with Blue Note sold very well, improving its financial viability and aiding the label's efforts to promote other artists. They include Home Cookin' , The Sermon!, Midnight Special, Prayer Meetin' , and Back at the Chicken Shack.
Smith signed to Verve Records label in 1963. Smith's albums with Verve include: The Cat, The Boss, Root Down, Peter & The Wolf, Any Number Can Win, The Incredible..., Bashin', Got My Mojo Workin', Christmas Cookin', and Organ Grinder Swing.
His influence has been felt across multiple generations and musical styles; nearly every subsequent jazz organist owes a large debt to Smith. The Beastie Boys (who sampled the bassline from Smith's "Root Down (and Get It)"—and saluted Smith in the lyrics—for their own hit "Root Down"), Medeski, Martin & Wood, and The Hayden-Eckert Ensemble are among the better known contemporary bands that pay tribute to Smith's sensibilities and sound. The Acid Jazz movement also reflects Smith's influences.
Smith died on 8th February 2005, in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
There are several other artists with this name: 1. an American jazz trumpeter, 2. an American jazz drummer, 3. a British guitarist for the band Foals, 4. blues guitarist Jimmy "Guitar" Smith.
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See Wikipedia for a disambiguation page for Jimmy Smith#Musicians.
Someone to Watch Over Me
Jimmy Smith Lyrics
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Still were often told, seek and ye shall find
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet
Hes the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of with regret
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
There's a somebody I'm longing to see
I hope that he turns out to be
Someone who'll watch over me
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I know I could always be good
Someone who'll watch over me
Although he may not be the man some
Girls think of as handsome
To my heart he carries the key
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me
The song Someone to Watch Over Me by Jimmy Smith is a timeless classic that speaks of the yearning for love and protection. The opening lines of the song, which say, "There's a saying old says that love is blind, still, we're often told, seek and ye shall find," speak of the belief that love can be elusive, but it is still worth searching for. The singer of the song is searching for a particular man, someone who can watch over her and keep her safe, and she is willing to go to great lengths to find him.
Throughout the song, the singer describes the man she is searching for as the "big affair I cannot forget" and "the only man I ever think of with regret." She longs to add his initial to her monogram and wonders where the "shepherd" is to watch over her as the "lost lamb." These lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone in search of a love that is strong and protective, and who is willing to do anything to find it.
The final lines of the song, "Although he may not be the man some girls think of as handsome, to my heart, he carries the key," are poignant and speak of the idea that love is more than just physical attraction. This song tells a story of longing, searching, and finally finding the love and protection that we all crave.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a saying old says that love is blind
Love is often irrational and illogical
Still were often told, seek and ye shall find
Despite the irrationality of love, people are still encouraged to actively pursue it
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
I am actively searching for a specific person whom I have been thinking about
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet
Despite searching in many places, I have yet to find the person I'm looking for
Hes the big affair I cannot forget
This person I am searching for is very important to me and I cannot stop thinking about them
Only man I ever think of with regret
I have no regrets about my feelings for this person, but regret not having found them yet
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
I want to include this person's initial in my personal branding or signature
Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?
I feel lost and in need of guidance to find the person I am searching for
There's a somebody I'm longing to see
I have a strong desire to see a specific person
I hope that he turns out to be
My hope is that once I find him, he will be
Someone who'll watch over me
Someone who will protect and care for me
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I feel vulnerable and lost without the person I am searching for
I know I could always be good
I have the potential to be a good person and partner
Someone who'll watch over me
Someone who will take care of me and support me
Although he may not be the man some
Even though this person I seek may not be considered attractive by others
Girls think of as handsome
Other women may not find him good-looking
To my heart he carries the key
To me, this person possesses the key to my heart
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
I urgently want this person to hurry up and be with me
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
I want this person to follow my guidance and be with me because I need him so much
Someone to watch over me
Ultimately, what I am looking for is someone to take care of me and watch over me.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind