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.
Squeeze Me
Kenny Burrell Lyrics
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Want you to know it really is pleasin'
Want you to know I ain't for no teasin'
Treat me sweet and gentle when you say goodnight
Just squeeze me but please don't tease me
I get sentimental when you hold me tight
Just squeeze me but please don't tease me
Singing the blues away each day
Counting the rights and waiting for you
I'm in the mood to let you know
I never knew I loved you so
Please say you love me too
When I get this feelin' I'm in ecstasy
So squeeze me but please don't tease me
Treat me sweet and gentle when you say goodnight
Just squeeze me but please don't tease me
I get sentimental when you hold me tight
Just squeeze me but please don't tease me
Missing you since you went away
Singing the blues away each day
Counting the rights and waiting for you
I'm in the mood to let you know
I never knew I loved you so
Please say you love me too
When I get this feelin' I'm in ecstasy
So squeeze me but please don't tease me
"Squeeze Me" by Kenny Burrell is a love song that talks about the magical effect of being held tightly and squeezed affectionately by a loved one. The singer communicates the intensity of their emotions, a love so deep that they long for the physical touch of the one they adore. The lyrics indicate that the singer is vulnerable and sensitive, needing sweetness, gentleness, and reassurances of love. The anticipation of being held brings the singer ecstasy, comforting feelings that chase away emotional distress, leaving them blissful and fulfilled.
The lyrics also reveal a somber tone as the singer expresses their sadness over the absence of their beloved. The singer is expressing their longing and deep yearning for the person they love. The chorus shows the urgency and intensity of the singer's need for comfort by their loved one, and the promise of reciprocating the love they receive. These verses paint a picture of the singer's insecurities, worries, and fears, which only their lover's embrace can dispel.
In summary, "Squeeze Me" is an emotional and touching love song that highlights the need for understanding, emotional support, and physical comfort in a relationship. The song is an excellent representation of the complexities of human emotions in love and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Want you to know I go for your squeezin'
I want to make it clear to you that I am attracted to your physical touch
Want you to know it really is pleasin'
I want you to understand that it is truly pleasurable for me when you touch and hold me
Want you to know I ain't for no teasin'
I want you to be aware that I am not interested in playful teasing, but rather true physical interaction
Treat me sweet and gentle when you say goodnight
When we part ways for the night, please treat me with kindness and gentleness
Just squeeze me but please don't tease me
Although I want you to hold me, please do not do so teasingly
I get sentimental when you hold me tight
I become emotional and sensitive when you embrace me with a firm grip
Missing you since you went away
I have been feeling a strong sense of loss since the time when you left
Singing the blues away each day
To cope with my feelings of sadness, I sing melancholic songs as a form of release
Counting the rights and waiting for you
As I await your return, I focus on the happy aspects of our relationship
I'm in the mood to let you know
I feel strongly inclined to express my emotions to you
I never knew I loved you so
I only recently came to the realization of just how deeply I care for you
Please say you love me too
I yearn for you to reciprocate my feelings and express your own love for me
When I get this feelin' I'm in ecstasy
When I am overcome with these emotions, it feels like a state of blissful happiness and fulfillment
So squeeze me but please don't tease me
Again, I implore you to hold me, but to do so sincerely without any teasing
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Duke Ellington
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind