Bittersweet
John Coltrane (1926 - 1967) Lyrics
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And a shadow is cast on devotion.
She's the one that I adore
Qween of my silent suffocation.
Break this bittersweet spell on me,
Lost in the arms of destiny.
Bittersweet.
I won't give up; I'm possessed by her.
I'm bearing a cross; she turned into my curse.
Break this bittersweet spell on me,
Lost in the arms of destiny,
Bittersweet, I want you (how I wanted you)
And I need you ( how I needed you)
Break this bittersweet spell on me,
Lost in the arms of destiny.
Break this bittersweet spell on me,
Lost in the arms of destiny.
Bittersweet.
The lyrics of John Coltrane's song Bittersweet are emotional and deep, expressing the artist's struggle with a love that has become a burden. He begins by acknowledging that he has been consumed by this emotion, and yet it is causing him pain and sadness. The image of a "ghost of love" and a "shadow cast on devotion" creates a dark and haunting mood, evoking the sense of a lost love that still haunts him even after it has gone.
However, the object of the artist's affection is not portrayed as a villain or enemy but rather a "Queen of my silent suffocation," indicating that she too may be wrestling with similar feelings of anguish and regret. The artist's plea to break this bittersweet spell suggests that he is torn between his desire for this love and his frustration with the pain it has caused him. Ultimately, the song expresses the complex emotions and difficult choices that come with the experience of love, both its joys and its sorrows.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm giving up the ghost of love
I am relinquishing the idea of falling in love.
And a shadow is cast on devotion.
This decision causes a veil of uncertainty and doubt on my loyalty.
She's the one that I adore
I have an intense infatuation towards her.
Queen of my silent suffocation.
Her presence suffocates me in a way that only I can feel.
Break this bittersweet spell on me,
I am trapped in a situation with mixed feelings, and I need to break free from it.
Lost in the arms of destiny.
I feel like fate has a grip on me and my situation.
Bittersweet.
The situation is a mixture of pleasure and pain.
I won't give up; I'm possessed by her.
My obsession with her is so intense that I refuse to let go.
I'm bearing a cross; she turned into my curse.
My love for her has become burdensome and distressing.
Bittersweet, I want you (how I wanted you)
Despite the turmoil, I still desire her deeply.
And I need you (how I needed you)
I require her influence and presence to feel complete.
Break this bittersweet spell on me,
The emotional struggle has become unbearable, and I need a way out.
Lost in the arms of destiny.
I feel like my fate is connected to her, and I cannot escape it.
Break this bittersweet spell on me,
The struggle is ongoing, and I need a resolution.
Lost in the arms of destiny.
My circumstances feel predetermined, and I cannot control them.
Bittersweet.
A complex mix of emotions and circumstances that are hard to navigate.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: DARRELL BROWN, JENNIFER HANSON, NICK BROPHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@camking88
This is so cool to see those Black History photos from my home state of North Carolina. I'm not from Charlotte, I'm from a small town called Rocky Mount. I never really liked it here in Rocky Mount, but I started to get a sense of pride in my city when I found out Thelonious Monk was also from here. Cool song too, very nice to hear early Coltrane before he made his legend. I'll be sure to check out your website. Thanks for this.
@noutrane
And thanks for uploading this amazing rarity, I've seen it in discographies for decades!
@AmericanaSam
I'm so glad somebody...finally...commented on this video. It was quite a labor of love to do.. The Excelsior Club is still there on Beatties Ford Road, but sadly most of the places and people are now gone. It's only when I get to display some of these photos and artifacts, at the 2nd Ward /Brooklyn neighborhood picnic and reunion in early August, that I can ever get any photo ID's on these people. But memories are fading.... Thanks for stopping by!
@camking88
You're quite welcome. It is people like you and videos like this that make Youtube my favorite website. It is important that these people/places be documented before, as you say, memories fade. Thanks again for taking your time to work on this video/project.
@Tecun85
This is a very beautiful track. Β Haunting and mellowβ¦do you have any other Gay Crosse tracks? Β
@noutrane
Gay Crosse And His Good Humor Six :
James Robertson, trumpet; John Coltrane, alto, tenor sax; Gay Crosse, tenor sax, vocals; Charles Ross, piano; John Latham, bass; Charles "Specs" Wright, drums.
Philadelphia, PA, January 19, 1952
@AmericanaSam
So glad you like it!
@twelve_thirteen
Sweet
@juanitasmith7470
Composed by Hale Smith
@noutrane
Any chance of uploading the flip side which should be Fat Sam From Birmingham (with Crosse on vocals)? .. N