Burrell made his first recording in 1951, with Dizzy Gillespie. After moving from Detroit to New York City in 1956, he recorded with a wide range of prominent musicians, including John Coltrane, Benny Goodman, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, Billie Holiday, Milt Jackson, Quincy Jones, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine, and Cedar Walton. He also led his own groups since 1951.
In the 1970s he began leading seminars about music, particularly Duke Ellington's (Burrell has a music degree from Wayne State University). A highly popular performer, he has won several jazz polls in Japan and the United Kingdom as well as the United States.
He has recorded about 40 LPs, including Midnight Blue (1961), Blue Lights, Guitar Forms, Sunup To Sundown (1990), Soft Winds (1993), Then Along Came Kenny (1993), and Lotus Blossom (1995).
Burrell now serves as Director of Jazz Studies at UCLA.
I Surrender Dear
Kenny Burrell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sworn enemy of love
Kept my lips from saying
Things I was thinking of.
But now my pride you've humbled,
I've cast it to the winds,
Broken, beaten, sick at heart
My confession begins.
We've played the game of stay away
But it cost more that I can pay.
Without you I can't make my way,
I surrender, dear.
I may seem proud, I may act gay,
It's just a pose, I'm not that way,
'Cause deep down in my heart I say
I surrender, dear.
Little mean things we were doing
Must have been part of the game,
Lending a spice to the wooing,
But I don't care who's to blame.
When stars appear and shadows fall,
Why then you'll hear My poor heart call,
To you my love, my life, my all
I surrender, dear.
We've played the game of stay away
But it cost more that I can pay.
Without you I can't make my way,
I surrender, dear.
I may seem proud, I may act gay,
It's just a pose, I'm not that way,
'Cause deep down in my heart I say
I surrender, dear.
Little mean things we were doing
Must have been part of the game,
Lending a spice to the wooing,
But I don't care who's to blame.
When stars appear And shadows fall,
Why then you'll hear My poor heart call,
To you my love, my life, my all
The lyrics of Kenny Burrell’s “I Surrender Dear” portrays the journey of the singer who comes to realize the futility of trying to hide his/her true feelings out of pride, and eventually surrenders to the depth of emotion that love comes with. The song describes a love relationship that has been characterized by the “game of stay away”. The singer bemoans the fact that this game has caused him/her more than he/she can bear, and the realization dawns that the absence of the loved one has made it impossible to make headway in life. The singer acknowledges that despite the front of pride and gayness put up, deep down, he/she longs for the return of the loved one, and admits that the little mean things done during the wooing phase was part of the game, but he/she does not care about who is to blame.
The lyrics echo the pain and difficulties of being vulnerable in relationships, but recognizes the fact that for a relationship to work, one must be ready to surrender pride and ego for the sake of love. The singer acknowledges that the end goal of love is to feel loved, and this can only be achievable by surrendering everything that hinders the smooth flow of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Pride, sad, splendid liar,
I may have a reputation for being proud and happy, but it is all a mask to hide my true feelings of sadness and the fact that I am a liar when it comes to love.
Sworn enemy of love
I have been fighting love and resisting it at all costs.
Kept my lips from saying Things I was thinking of.
I have kept quiet about my feelings and thoughts regarding love and you.
But now my pride you've humbled, I've cast it to the winds, Broken, beaten, sick at heart My confession begins.
I have become vulnerable, lost my pride, and am now ready to confess my love to you.
We've played the game of stay away But it cost more that I can pay. Without you I can't make my way, I surrender, dear.
We have been playing hard to get, but it has become too costly for me to continue. I need you in my life, and I am surrendering to you.
I may seem proud, I may act gay, It's just a pose, I'm not that way, 'Cause deep down in my heart I say I surrender, dear.
Even though I may appear proud and happy on the outside, it is just a facade. In reality, I am ready to submit to you entirely.
Little mean things we were doing Must have been part of the game, Lending a spice to the wooing, But I don't care who's to blame.
The little mean things we were doing were probably part of the courtship game, but I don't really care who is at fault.
When stars appear and shadows fall, Why then you'll hear My poor heart call, To you my love, my life, my all I surrender, dear.
Whenever the stars come out and darkness sets in, you will hear my heart calling out for you. You are my love, life, and everything, and I am completely surrendering to you.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music
Written by: GORDON CLIFFORD, HARRY BARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind