Kurt Elling (born November 2, 1967) is an American jazz vocalist.

El… Read Full Bio ↴Kurt Elling (born November 2, 1967) is an American jazz vocalist.

Elling graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota in 1989. He then enrolled in The University of Chicago's Divinity School and remained a student there until January 1992, when he left school one credit short of graduation.

In the last decade, Elling has released seven albums for the Blue Note label. He has also performed and recorded with many musicians, including David Amram, Bob Belden, Joanne Brackeen, Oscar Brown, Jr., Billy Corgan, Orbert Davis, George Freeman, Buddy Guy, Jon Hendricks, Charlie Hunter and Rex Richardson.

As of late 2005, Elling's current band includes Rob Amster on bass, Laurence Hobgood on piano, and Kobe Watkins on drums. He is regularly featured at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge at 4802 N. Broadway in Chicago.

Elling has won the Down Beat and JazzTimes critics’ polls three years in a row in the Best Male Singer category. He is also Vice Chair of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the 17,000-member service organization that produces the annual Grammy Awards.

A Time for Love
Kurt Elling Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

A time for summer skies
For hummingbirds and butterflies
For tender words that harmonize with love

A time for climbing hills
For leaning out of windowsills
Admiring daffodils above

A time for holding hands together
A time for rainbow coloured weather
A time of make believe that we've been dreaming of

As time goes drifting by
The willow bends and so do I
But all my friends whatever skies above
I know a time for spring
A time for fall
But best of all
A time for love

A time for holding hands together
A time for rainbow coloured weather
A time of make believe that we've been dreaming of

As time goes drifting by
The willow bends and so do I
But all my friends whatever skies above
I know a time for spring
A time for fall

But best of all
A time for love

Overall Meaning

Kurt Elling's song "A Time For Love" is a beautiful ode to love and its different seasons throughout life. The song beautifully paints a picture of the different times and seasons in our lives where love is most prevalent. The opening line sets the tone for the entire song, “A time for summer skies, for hummingbirds and butterflies, for tender words that harmonize with love.” The singer reminds us that during the summer, the sky is blue, and there are small creatures such as hummingbirds and butterflies that enjoy the warmth and beauty. It is a time where words become even more gentle and harmonize with the love that is felt.

The song continues to describe different times in our lives, like climbing hills and leaning out of windowsills, and admiring daffodils. These simple experiences offer a chance to reflect on the beauty of life and love. The lyrics also suggest that love is not just about holding hands, but also about experiencing the world together with rainbow-colored weather, make-believe, and shared dreams. While the willow bends and time goes drifting by, the singer reminds us that the best of all seasons is love and the connections we share with others. Overall, the song is a timeless reminder that love can be found in any season of life and that staying connected with those we love is the most important aspect of any season.

Line by Line Meaning

A time for summer skies
A moment for endless sunny days and the limitless sky

For hummingbirds and butterflies
The season of the buzzing birds and winged insects that brings joy and serenity

For tender words that harmonize with love
A space for compassionate expressions that resonate with the essence of love

A time for climbing hills
A phase for exploring challenging paths and overcoming obstacles

For leaning out of windowsills
A period to peek out through the window and observe the wonders of nature

Admiring daffodils above
Appreciating the beauty of the flowers that bloom above

A time for holding hands together
A moment for two people to join hands and bond

A time for rainbow coloured weather
An era for vibrant and colorful weather that enhances the joy of living

A time of make believe that we've been dreaming of
A space for imaginary thoughts and wonderful dreams

As time goes drifting by
As time passes slowly and inevitably

The willow bends and so do I
Both life and I bend and adapt to circumstances