Joshua Bell is an internationally-acclaimed American violinist known for th… Read Full Bio ↴Joshua Bell is an internationally-acclaimed American violinist known for the versatility of his musical understanding as well as his technical skill. He has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras under such conductors as Charles Dutoit. A master of the classical repertoire, Bell has expanded his career to contemporary music and genres such as folk and jazz. He has won Grammy Awards and an Academy Award for his work with John Corgliano on The Red Violin.

Bell was born on December 9, 1967 in Bloomington, Indiana. He studied under Josef Gingold as a child and at Indiana University. Since appearing with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra at age fourteen, Bell has become a classical music superstar. In addition to his violin performances, he has begun to pursue a career as a composer and conductor. Bell has written cadenzas for the violin concertos of Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart. He plays the 1713 Gibson ex Huberman Stradivarius.

www.joshuabell.com

"I am my harshest critic. I don't feel any pressure from critics. I'm hardest on myself." -- Joshua Bell

Maria
Joshua Bell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The most beautiful sound I ever heard
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria
All the beautiful sounds of the world in a single word
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria
Maria, Maria, Maria

I've just met a girl named Maria
And suddenly that name

Will never be the same
To me
Maria!

I've just kissed a girl named Maria
And suddenly I've found
How wonderful a sound
Can be!
Maria!

Say it loud and there's music playing
Say it soft and it's almost like praying
Maria
I'll never stop saying Maria!
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria
Maria

Say it loud and there's music playing
Say it soft and it's almost like praying
Maria, I'll never stop saying Maria!

The most beautiful sound I ever heard
Maria!

Overall Meaning

The song Maria by Joshua Bell is about the sudden shift in perspective that a man experiences after meeting a woman named Maria. The lyrics describe how the mere utterance of her name can evoke a range of emotions and sensations, from the most beautiful sound in the world to a feeling that is almost akin to praying. The repetition of her name throughout the song emphasizes the power of Maria’s presence and its impact on the singer of the story.

The song is an ode to the transformative, life-changing impact that meeting someone special can have. It is also a celebration of love and the profound connections that can be forged when two people are drawn together. Through the use of descriptive lyrics and a catchy, upbeat melody, the song captures the essence of the joy and excitement that comes with falling in love and discovering a kindred spirit.

Line by Line Meaning

The most beautiful sound I ever heard
A song about a girl named Maria, who represents the most beautiful sound the singer has ever heard.

Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria
The repetition of the name 'Maria' emphasizes how much the name means to the singer.

All the beautiful sounds of the world in a single word
The name 'Maria' encompasses all the beauty and sound of the world in one word.

I've just met a girl named Maria
The singer has just met a girl named Maria, which has changed his life.

And suddenly that name
After meeting Maria, the name has taken on new meaning for the singer.

Will never be the same
The name 'Maria' will never be the same, as it now represents the wonderful girl the singer has met.

To me
The name 'Maria' now means something special to the singer.

I've just kissed a girl named Maria
The singer has just kissed Maria and the experience has been wonderful.

And suddenly I've found
The kiss with Maria has brought a new discovery to the singer.

How wonderful a sound
The singer realizes how wonderful the sound of Maria's name is, especially after sharing a kiss.

Can be!
The singer emphasizes the beauty of the sound of Maria's name after kissing her.

Say it loud and there's music playing
When the name 'Maria' is said loudly, it brings a sense of joy and music to the singer.

Say it soft and it's almost like praying
When the name 'Maria' is said softly, it takes on a spiritual quality for the singer, almost like a prayer.

Maria, I'll never stop saying Maria!
The singer will never tire of saying Maria's name, as it has become a special part of his life.

Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria
The repetition of Maria's name reinforces its importance to the singer.

The most beautiful sound I ever heard
The singer repeats the opening line of the song, emphasizing again how beautiful the sound of Maria's name is to him.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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