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.
April in Paris
Kurt Elling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Holiday tables under the trees
Evening melodies
April in Paris, this is a feeling
That no one can ever reprieve
I never knew the charm of spring
I never met it face to face
I never knew my heart could sing
Till, April in Paris
Whom can I run to
what have you done to my heart
The song "April in Paris" by Kurt Elling is a romantic ballad that describes the beauty of Paris in the springtime. The lyrics paint an idyllic picture of chestnut trees blooming, holiday tables set up under the trees, and the sounds of evening melodies filling the air. The singer admits to never having experienced the charm of spring or felt their heart sing until they experienced April in Paris. However, the song takes a turn when the singer asks, "Whom can I run to? What have you done to my heart?" This implies that the beauty of Paris in the spring has caused the singer to fall in love and be vulnerable to heartbreak.
The lyrics capture the essence of the romantic allure that Paris has on visitors, especially in the spring. The blossoming of the chestnut trees in Paris is a highly anticipated event, and the celebration of it with holiday tables under the trees is a tradition that dates back to the early 20th century. The idea that April in Paris is a feeling that no one can ever reprieve is echoed by the countless tourists who flock to the city every spring to witness the spectacle themselves. The lines that follow, "I never knew my heart could sing, I never missed a warm embrace," suggest that the beauty of Paris in the spring is powerful enough to ignite a person's senses and make them yearn for love and affection.
Line by Line Meaning
April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom
The beautiful month of April in Paris is made even more enchanting by the sight of chestnut trees in full bloom.
Holiday tables under the trees
People gather together to enjoy meals and celebrate the season of spring, surrounded by the natural beauty of the outdoors.
Evening melodies
As the sun sets over Paris, music fills the air, adding to the already romantic atmosphere.
April in Paris, this is a feeling
The experience of being in Paris during the month of April evokes a special emotion that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
That no one can ever reprieve
This feeling is so unique and powerful that it cannot be duplicated or forgotten.
I never knew the charm of spring
Before experiencing April in Paris, the beauty and magic of springtime had never been fully appreciated.
I never met it face to face
Spring had always been an abstract concept, not fully realized until now.
I never knew my heart could sing
The joy and happiness felt during April in Paris is so profound that it feels like one's heart is singing.
I never missed a warm embrace
The comfort and tenderness of being held was never something that was consciously missed – until now.
Till, April in Paris
It wasn't until experiencing April in Paris that these previously unfelt emotions and sensations were realized.
Whom can I run to
Overwhelmed by the intensity of emotions felt in Paris, one may feel lost and unsure of where to turn for guidance or support.
what have you done to my heart
The feelings inspired by April in Paris are so transformative that one may feel like a completely different person, wondering how they could have ever lived without having experienced such beauty and wonder.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: E. Y. Harburg, Vernon Duke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind