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
This Bitter Earth
LaVerne Butler Lyrics
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What fruit it bears
What good is love
That no one shares
And if my life is like the dust
Ooh, that hides the glow of a rose
What good am I
This bitter earth
Can be so cold
Today you're young
But too soon, you're old
But while the voice within me cries
I'm sure someone may answer my call
And this bitter earth
Ooh, may not be so bitter after all
This bitter earth
What fruit it bears
What good is love
That no one shares
And if my life is like the dust
Ooh, that hides the glow of a rose
What good am I
Heaven only knows
This bitter earth
Can be so cold
Today you're young
But too soon, you're getting old
And while the voice within me cries
I'm sure someone may answer my call
And this bitter earth
Oh, may not be so bitter after all
Bitter after all
Bitter after all
In LaVerne Butler's song "This Bitter Earth," the vocalist reflects on the harsh realities of life, the fleeting nature of youth, and the importance of love and human connection. The bitter earth represents the harshness of life, and the fruit it bears reflects the idea that everything in life has consequences, both good and bad. Despite the beauty of love, the fact that no one shares it brings about the question of what good it is.
The singer begins to question her own existence and purpose in life. When she compares herself to the dust that hides the glow of a rose, she questions what good she is if her life is like that. The fleeting nature of youth is emphasized as the singer reflects on how quickly one can go from being young to growing old. Overarchingly, the singer is in search of something more, someone to answer their call for love and connection, and hopes that the bitterness of the earth may not have to be so bitter.
Line by Line Meaning
This bitter earth
The world can be a harsh and unpleasant place to live
What fruit it bears
The outcomes of our experiences can be sour and unwelcome
What good is love
Love is meaningless if there is no one to share it with
That no one shares
The feeling of love becomes pointless if it is not reciprocated
And if my life is like the dust
If my life is fleeting and insignificant
Ooh, that hides the glow of a rose
Obscures the beauty that should be visible
What good am I
What value do I possess
Heaven only knows
It is difficult to determine
Can be so cold
The world can be callous and unfeeling
Today you're young
You are full of vitality and possibilities today
But too soon, you're old
But time moves swiftly and soon, you become old and frail
But while the voice within me cries
Despite the hopeless situation, my subconscious remains hopeful
I'm sure someone may answer my call
Somebody might respond to my desperate plea for help
Oh, may not be so bitter after all
Perhaps situations will improve, and life may not taste so sour anymore
Bitter after all
Describing how life can still leave a disappointing or unpleasant taste
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Clyde Lovern Otis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind