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.
If I Had You
Kenny Burrell Lyrics
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I could be glad all of the while
I could change the grey skies to blues
If I had you
I could leave the old days behind
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I could start my life all a new
If I had you
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I could cross the burning desert
If I had you by my side
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
There is nothing I couldn't do
If I had you
I could show the world how to smile
I could be glad all of the while
I could change the grey skies to blues
If I had you
I could leave the old days behind
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I could start my life all a new
If I had you
I could climb the snow capped mountains
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I could cross the burning desert
If I had you by my side
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
There is nothing I couldn't do
In "If I Had You," Kenny Burrell sings about how his life would be different if he had the love of his life by his side. Burrell sings that he would be able to show the world how to smile, be glad all the time, and change the grey skies to blue if he had the love of his life with him. He mentions that if he had this person, he could leave the old days and pals behind and start fresh. Additionally, he could climb mountains, sail oceans, cross deserts, and do anything he wanted because he would have his love with him. The song closes with Burrell stating that he could be a king or anything else he wanted to be if he had the love of his life by his side.
The song has a very positive vibe and emphasizes the importance of love and companionship in a person's life. It suggests that having that special someone by your side can make even the most challenging and difficult situations in life seem approachable with a positive outlook. The song is bright and upbeat, and Burrell’s sentiments are sung with conviction, which makes it an uplifting tune.
The song was first recorded in 1956 by Kenny Burrell and has since been covered by various jazz singers, including Billie Holiday and Nat King Cole. The song is regarded as one of Burrell's classics and is still popular today. Its timeless theme has made it a jazz standard, and its encouraging nature has made it an excellent fit for various inspirational events.
Line by Line Meaning
I could show the world how to smile
I would have the power to bring happiness and positivity to the world
I could be glad all of the while
My life would be filled with joy and contentment
I could change the grey skies to blues
I would have the ability to turn gloomy circumstances into bright and colorful ones
If I had you
All of these things are only possible if I had the love and support of someone special like you
I could leave the old days behind
I would have the courage and motivation to move on from past troubles and hardships
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I would be willing to sacrifice my current friendships for a chance at a happier, more fulfilling life with you
I could start my life all a new
I would have the opportunity to begin a fresh start and create a new life for myself
I could climb the snow capped mountains
I would be brave enough to conquer any difficult challenge, no matter how daunting
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I would be adventurous and willing to explore the unknown
I could cross the burning desert
I would have the strength and perseverance to overcome any obstacle
If I had you by my side
Again, all of these things are made possible through the love and support of a special someone like you
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
I would have the confidence and self-assurance to take on any role, no matter how grand or challenging
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
My status or social standing would not matter as long as I have the love and support of someone like you
There is nothing I couldn't do
With your love and support, there is no limit to what I could achieve in life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GORDON MILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind