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.
The Song Is You
Keith Jarrett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A beautiful theme of every
Dream I ever knew.
Down deep in my heart I hear it play.
I feel it start, then melt away.
I hear music when I touch your hand,
A beautiful melody
Down deep in my heart, I hear it say,
Is this the day?
I alone have heard this lovely strain,
I alone have heard this glad refrain,
Must it be forever inside of me,
Why can't I let it go,
Why can't I let you know,
Why can't I let you know the song
My heart would sing?
That beautiful rhapsody
Of love and youth and spring,
The music is sweet,
The words are true
The song is you.
In the Keith Jarret Trio's rendition of The Song Is You, the lyrics explain an intense feeling of devotion towards someone special. The singer first mentions that they "hear music" when they look at their lover, a "beautiful theme of every dream" they've ever had. The music swells in the singer's heart and then fades away. When the singer touches their lover, they hear a "beautiful melody from some enchanted land," strengthening their feeling of love. Yet, the singer is also plagued by a sense of insecurity - they feel like they are the only ones who have heard this music, and ask themselves "Is this the day?" The singer then laments the fact that they can't seem to express their feelings to their lover, fully releasing the melody contained in their heart.
Overall, the interpretation of the lyrics for The Song Is You shows how powerful and intense love can be. The song suggests that love can be almost like a song that is constantly playing in the mind and heart of the lover, and that it can be both uplifting and painful. The singer is both captivated by the beauty of the feelings they have, but also restrained by their own insecurities and the worry that they may not be able to share their feelings fully.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear music when I look at you,
Every time I lay my eyes on you, I hear a beautiful tune that matches every single dream I've ever had.
A beautiful theme of every
The melody is gorgeous beyond doubt and is the central idea of every dream.
Dream I ever knew.
It is the melody that I have carried with me my entire life.
Down deep in my heart, I hear it play.
The music is so ingrained in me that I can hear it playing deep within me.
I feel it start, then melt away.
It slowly starts and then fades away just as slowly.
I hear music when I touch your hand,
Every time my hand brushes against yours, a beautiful melody starts to play.
A beautiful melody
This melody is enchanting and bewitching.
From some enchanted land.
It feels like it comes from some magical place.
Down deep in my heart, I hear it say,
From the depths of my heart, the music whispers.
Is this the day?
Is today the day when I finally reveal my feelings?
I alone have heard this lovely strain,
This tune that I hear is unique to me.
I alone have heard this glad refrain,
This melody is a happy one, and only I can hear it.
Must it be forever inside of me,
Does this music have to stay trapped inside me forever?
Why can't I let it go,
Why can't I just let this melody go and forget about it?
Why can't I let you know,
Why can't I just tell you how I feel?
Why can't I let you know the song
Why can't I tell you about the melody inside me?
My heart would sing?
This music is the song of my heart.
That beautiful rhapsody
It's an elaborate, beautiful musical composition
Of love and youth and spring,
It symbolizes an idyllic mix of love and youthfulness, and the happiness of spring.
The music is sweet,
The music is so tender and attractive.
The words are true
The lyrics are authentic and genuine.
The song is you.
This melody is all about you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar II Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michaelbrickley2443
Some people complain about Keith making noise while playing. That’s Keith. One of the greatest ever. Stopped playing anything electric after playing with Miles in the early 70’s and now hasn’t played in a while due to health issues. I’m grateful to have seen him solo and in small bands a few times. His idiosyncrasies only made me love him more. Shalom
@jazztemple2
Couldn't agree more, Michael. I have NO problem with his vocalizations at all! Shalom to you, too.
@sandraeckelhofer
best trio. Peacock, Dejohnette, wonderful.
KJ genius. unbelievable. love him.
@ernestoclar1359
In my opinion the best theme ever played by this incredible trio
@danibosnjak2902
Mr Jarrett change the way of understanding jazz music,he invented a new direction.this trio is most powerful combo after cosmic bands of Miles Davis
@kundalini76
Yes yes yes
@jiyujizai
💙🌱🙄🌸
@jiyujizai
🙄💙🌱💮
@derekkras
no no no
@user-hy9nh4yk3p
? Fare thee well