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.
Hidden Jewel
Kurt Elling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
there's more to pain than pain
And if diamonds take a million years
we must learn to overcome the same strain
Wanting what's new means one thing:
asking what's old to die
And what's true before we move to grow
I knew a girl - she refused to come out fighting
She could have moved the planets with her hand like
counting grains of sand.
Dig her daily shuffle on down the street on slovenly feet
Dig the love within her waiting,
with an undiscovered purpose.
You couldn''t help but think about her as a missing person - someone important had caused her heart to fear
So she withered, like a raisin in the sun - needing will, needing vision, needing hope and not doubt
Needing shelter from a loveless existence
She'd mustered all her little courage just to face the day -
it was rainy and gray
And we all could see her, trying to free her
Looking out to find the person who had taken innocence and blessedness and carried them away -- who'd given all of it away to those who couldn't see her beauty.
And Prince Charming never came.
And, if he had, shed have spit into his eye &
left him wondering why anyway.
Charming princes never carry half as much as they can carry off.
I see it every day.
Pretty soon she drove us all away -
for her there could be no other way.
The lyrics of Kurt Elling's song "Hidden Jewel" explore the complexities of love, pain, and the search for purpose in life. The opening lines suggest that there is more to love and pain than what meets the eye, and that to truly understand these emotions, one must learn to overcome the same strains that have been present for centuries. Elling then goes on to speak about a girl he knew, who had the potential to move mountains but instead chose to live a life devoid of purpose. Despite her potential, she lived a loveless existence, likely due to the fact that her heart had been broken in the past.
The lyrics suggest that it is the fear of being heartbroken again that caused this girl to wither away, and although she mustered the courage to face the day, her hopelessness was palpable. There is a sense of longing in the lyrics as Elling speaks about this girl and her undiscovered purpose in life. The reference to Prince Charming suggests that she was waiting for someone to save her but ultimately realized that no one was coming to her rescue.
Overall, "Hidden Jewel" is a powerful exploration of the human condition and the difficult emotions that we all face at some point in our lives. It is a song about hope and the search for purpose, even when it seems as though all is lost.
Line by Line Meaning
There's more to love than loving
Love is not limited to just an emotion, it has many forms and aspects that go beyond just the act of loving.
there's more to pain than pain
Pain is not a simple sensation, it too can take various forms and have different meanings for different people.
And if diamonds take a million years
Even the most beautiful and valuable things take time and effort to create.
we must learn to overcome the same strain
We must learn to overcome the difficulties and challenges we face in order to create something valuable or meaningful.
Wanting what's new means one thing:
The desire for something new or different often requires the abandonment or replacement of something old or familiar.
asking what's old to die
In order to make way for something new, we must be willing to let go of or move on from something old or familiar.
And what's true before we move to grow
In order to grow or change, we must first acknowledge and embrace what is already true or valuable in our lives.
passes over in a moment of sighing
What is valuable or meaningful can be lost or forgotten in a fleeting moment of sadness or frustration.
I knew a girl - she refused to come out fighting
The artist knew a girl who was unwilling or unable to stand up for herself or fight for what she wanted or deserved.
She could have moved the planets with her hand like counting grains of sand.
The girl had immense power or potential, but was either unaware of it or chose not to use it.
Dig her daily shuffle on down the street on slovenly feet
The girl had a distinct or noticeable way of moving or walking that may have been seen as lazy or careless.
Dig the love within her waiting, with an undiscovered purpose.
Despite her outward appearance or behavior, the girl had a deep capacity for love or compassion that had not yet been realized or fulfilled.
You couldn't help but think about her as a missing person - someone important had caused her heart to fear
The singer and others saw the girl as someone who was missing or lost, possibly due to a traumatic experience or relationship that had caused her to withdraw or retreat.
So she withered, like a raisin in the sun - needing will, needing vision, needing hope and not doubt
The girl's spirit or energy had diminished, and she needed strength or motivation to regain her sense of purpose, direction, and optimism.
Needing shelter from a loveless existence
The girl needed refuge or protection from a life or environment that lacked love or support.
She'd mustered all her little courage just to face the day - it was rainy and gray
The girl had to summon all her strength and bravery just to get through each day, especially on difficult or dreary days.
And we all could see her, trying to free her
Others around the girl could see that she needed help or support to break free from her struggles or challenges.
Looking out to find the person who had taken innocence and blessedness and carried them away -- who'd given all of it away to those who couldn't see her beauty.
The girl was searching for someone or something that had robbed her of her purity or goodness and given it to those who did not appreciate or recognize her true worth or beauty.
And Prince Charming never came.
The girl's hopes or expectations for a savior or hero to rescue or save her were not fulfilled, leaving her feeling disappointed or disillusioned.
And, if he had, shed have spit into his eye & left him wondering why anyway.
Even if the girl had found a 'Prince Charming', she would have rejected or rebelled against his help or affection, as it did not fulfill her true needs or desires.
Charming princes never carry half as much as they can carry off.
The girl saw through the façade or superficiality of 'Prince Charming' figures, recognizing that their actions or words did not match their true character or intentions.
I see it every day.
The artist observes this phenomenon or pattern of disappointment or disillusionment with 'Prince Charming' figures all too often.
Pretty soon she drove us all away - for her there could be no other way.
The girl's struggles or challenges may have pushed away those who tried to help or support her, as she felt that no one could truly understand or relate to her experiences or feelings.
Writer(s): Robert Michael Watson, Kurt Elling Copyright: Second Floor Music
Contributed by Daniel F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.