After leaving Shreveport, she moved to New Orleans, where she studied music at the University of New Orleans and become a fixture in the city's Dixieland and bebop venues. Butler worked with such distinguished locals as Alvin Batiste, Ellis Marsalis, Henry Butler (no relation), and James Black before deciding to move to the New York area in 1984. Butler studied with Jon Hendricks after arriving in New York and later earned her living as an English teacher while tackling the Manhattan club world.
The early to mid-'90s found Butler signed to Chesky, for which she provided her bop-oriented debut album, No Looking Back (1992), and her lighter, more relaxed sophomore release, Day Dreamin' (1994). After leaving Chesky, Butler planned to record an album for Herbie Mann's Kokopelli label in 1997, but her plans fell through when the company experienced financial problems. 1999 saw the release of her third album, Blues in the City.
Wikipedia: LaVerne Butler
Born To Be Blue
LaVerne Butler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But they are such a chosen few
And clover being green
Is something I've never seen
'Cause I was born to be blue
When there's a yellow moon above me
They say it's moonbeams I should view
Are something I can't behold
'Cause I was born to be blue
When I met you
The world was bright and sunny
When you left, the curtain fell
I wanna laugh
But nothing strikes me funny
Now my world's a painted pastel, well
I guess I'm luckier than some folks
I've known the thrill of lovin' you
And that alone is more than I was created for
'Cause I was born to be blue
When I met you
The world was bright and sunny
Then you left, the curtain fell
Oh how I'd like to laugh
But nothing strikes me funny
Now my world's a faded pastel, well
I guess I'm luckier than some folks
'Cause I've known the thrill of lovin' you
And that alone is more than I was created for
'Cause I was born to be blue
'Cause I was born to be blue
The lyrics of LaVerne Butler's song "Born To Be Blue" convey a sense of resignation and acceptance of the singer's lot in life, which is to experience pain and sadness without the ability to see the beauty and joy in life. The first stanza articulates the idea that some people are born lucky and live lives of luxury and comfort, but the singer is not one of those chosen few. The metaphor of clover being green signifies the good fortune and wealth of those fortunate individuals, which the singer has never experienced. Instead, she was born to be blue, which represents sadness and despair, a characteristic of her existence that she cannot seem to shake.
The second stanza describes the inability of the singer to appreciate the beauty of a yellow moon, which is usually associated with romanticism and wonder. This inability to appreciate the beauty in life again reinforces her bleak outlook. The third stanza highlights the contrast between the singer's past happiness when she met her lover and her current state of despair after he left. The world that was once bright and sunny is now filled with muted pastel colors, emphasizing the dullness and sadness of her world.
In the final stanza, the singer comes to the realization that even though she has not had a life of luxury, she has known the thrill of loving someone. Her love for her lover is more than enough to give her life meaning, even if it comes with great pain. The repetition of the phrase "I was born to be blue" throughout the song serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes life deals people a difficult hand, but it is still possible to find happiness and meaning despite the tough circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Some folks were meant to live in clover
There are some lucky people who were destined to live in luxury
But they are such a chosen few
However, only a select few possess that kind of fortune
And clover being green
Clover is often associated with abundance or wealth, as it is green in color
Is something I've never seen
Unfortunately, I have never had the chance to experience this kind of opulence
'Cause I was born to be blue
My fate, on the other hand, is to be melancholic or sad
When there's a yellow moon above me
Even when there are beautiful things like a yellow moon in the sky
They say it's moonbeams I should view
People suggest that I should appreciate the beauty of these things
But moonbeams being gold
However, since moonbeams are often depicted as golden
Are something I can't behold
I unfortunately cannot actually see or experience their splendor
'Cause I was born to be blue
Being down or dejected seems to be my lot in life
When I met you
When I found you and fell in love
The world was bright and sunny
The world was a wonderful and happy place
When you left, the curtain fell
However, when you departed, everything fell apart
I wanna laugh
I want to find joy and happiness again
But nothing strikes me funny
Unfortunately, I can't seem to find anything amusing or enjoyable
Now my world's a painted pastel, well
The world seems to be dull or faded, lacking the vibrant colors of before
I guess I'm luckier than some folks
Despite everything, I still consider myself more fortunate than some
I've known the thrill of lovin' you
I have had the pleasure of experiencing the joy of loving you
And that alone is more than I was created for
This alone is enough to make my life meaningful and worthwhile
'Cause I was born to be blue
Even though I am naturally disposed to sadness or melancholy
'Cause I was born to be blue
I can still find happiness and meaning in the love that we shared
Lyrics © O/B/O CAPASSO
Written by: Mel Torme, Robert Wells
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind