Keith Jarrett (born May 8, 1945 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA) is an Amer… Read Full Bio ↴Keith Jarrett (born May 8, 1945 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA) is an American pianist and composer. He is considered one of the most important jazz pianists, renowned for his elaborate solo improvisations. As well as recording under his own name, he has recorded a number of albums as the Keith Jarrett Trio. In 2003, Jarrett received the Polar Music Prize, the first (and to this day only) recipient not to share the prize with a co-recipient, and in 2004 he received the Léonie Sonning Music Prize.

Jarrett began piano lessons at the age of two and played for the first time on stage at the age of seven. In 1962 he played a self-composed two-hour concert, without the benefit of any prior formal instruction in orchestration or composition. After working with a wide variety of musicians, beginning in 1966, including Chet Baker, Lee Konitz and Art Blakey, he founded his own band in 1968 with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian. In 1971-76 Dewey Redman (saxophone) joined the group and they played under the name of the "American Quartet". His work with Miles Davis between 1969 and 1971 gave his career an additional boost, as well as the opportunity to play solo concerts such as the "Köln Concert" (1975, Cologne, Germany), honoured by Time Magazine as album of the year.

Since the early 1970s, he has enjoyed a great deal of success, both artistic and commercial, in both classical and jazz music as a group leader and a solo performer. His improvisation technique combines jazz, classical, gospel, blues, and various ethnic-folk musics. He is considered by some, to be the "Bach" of jazz music; this title may have come from his recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations, which, although it received many awards, was not entirely approved by critics.

In the 1990s he suffered chronic fatigue syndrome only to take up the piano again in 1998. He worked in a trio form with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette until 2014.

Jarrett stated in a 2005 TV interview that his music is influenced by the teachings and philosophy of Georges I. Gurdjieff, whom he honoured in "Sacred Hymns" (ECM, 1980). This philosophy informs many of his non-musical beliefs as well.

In 2008, he was inducted into the Down Beat Hall of Fame in the magazine's 73rd annual readers' poll.

In 2010, to coincide with his 65th birthday he released his first studio album in 12 years - Jasmine. It reunited Jarrett with his old bassist colleague Charlie Haden; the two had not recorded together for over 30 years.

No Lonely Nights
Keith Jarrett Lyrics

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The little girl standing in the rain
On the corner of 42nd street
And she's all alone on the bad side of town
'Cause there was a little boy

That she loved with all her heart
But he's far away with another girl
Now she's searching for a friend

Just to hold her when she cries

In her lonely nights, lonely nights
Where no one seems to care
In her lonely nights, lonely nights
You better beware

But baby you try and you try
But it seems that it doesn't work
'Cause love is a game that they play
So baby hold on to your heart

When they tell you that they care
Yeah now that you know that the winner
Takes what he wants
But she's searching for a friend
Just hold her when she cries

In her lonely nights, lonely nights
Where no one seems to care
In her lonely nights, lonely nights
You better beware

And somewhere in the night
There's a little cry
A girl who says
Hey I want to die

There's no one here who really cares
But if there's someone here who understands
Just someone here who'll try to lend a hand
And bring her home tonight, tonight

In her lonely nights, lonely nights
Where no one seems to care
In her lonely nights, lonely nights
You better beware

Lonely nights...

Overall Meaning

The song "No Lonely Nights" by Keith Jarrett is a powerful ballad about the pain of unrequited love, isolation and the search for genuine human connection. The lyrics express the story of a young girl, standing alone in the rain and the bad side of town, searching for someone to hold her when she cries. The girl had once passionate feelings for a boy who left her for another girl. Now, she is left feeling lonely and vulnerable. The song is an emotional exploration of the pain and aching that comes from being on the wrong side of love.

The lyrics also touch on themes of the pain of heartbreak and the futility of trying to hold on to love that is no longer there. The lines "But love is a game that they play / So baby hold on to your heart" are particularly poignant. The song suggests that although love may be a game that people play, it is crucial that one remains true to oneself and hold on to their hearts. Ultimately, the lyrics express a yearning for human connection, for someone to understand the pain of isolation and loneliness, and to lend a hand and bring the girl home from her lonely nights.

Line by Line Meaning

The little girl standing in the rain
A small girl is alone and exposed to the rain

On the corner of 42nd street
She is at the intersection of 42nd Street

And she's all alone on the bad side of town
She is isolated in a dangerous area

'Cause there was a little boy that she loved with all her heart
She used to love a boy deeply

But he's far away with another girl
He moved on with someone else

Now she's searching for a friend
She is looking for a companion

Just to hold her when she cries
Somebody to comfort her when she is emotional

In her lonely nights, lonely nights
During times of deep isolation

Where no one seems to care
When she feels like she is being neglected

You better beware
Be cautious

But baby you try and you try
Despite effort

But it seems that it doesn't work
The outcome is not favorable

'Cause love is a game that they play
The concept of love can be played by individuals

So baby hold on to your heart
Protect your emotions

When they tell you that they care
Don't succumb to false promises

Yeah now that you know that the winner takes what he wants
The winner gets what they want in a love game

And somewhere in the night
During a dark period

There's a little cry
There are tears

A girl who says
A female child crying

Hey I want to die
She is feeling suicidal

There's no one here who really cares
Nobodys showing concern

But if there's someone here who understands
If there is someone who knows the pain

Just someone here who'll try to lend a hand
If someone puts themselves out to help her

And bring her home tonight, tonight
Take her back to safety

Lonely nights...
Repetition of the earlier motifs

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEWART HARRIS, KEITH STEGALL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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