Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American j… Read Full Bio ↴Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th Century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable.[1] McRae drew inspiration from Billie Holiday, but established her own distinctive voice. She went on to record over 60 albums during her career, and enjoying a rich musical career, performing and recording in the United States, Europe, and Japan.

Misty
McRae Carmen Lyrics

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Look at me, I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree;
And I feel like I'm clingin' to a cloud,
I can't understand
I get misty, just holding your hand.
Walk my way,
And a thousand violins begin to play,
Or it might be the sound of your hello,
That music I hear,

I get misty, the moment you're near.
Can't you see that you're leading me on?
And it's just what I want you to do,
Don't you notice how hopelessly I'm lost
That's why I'm following you.
On my own,
When I wander through this wonderland alone,
Never knowing my right foot from my left
My hat from my glove
I'm too misty, and too much in love.

Too misty,
And too much in love

Overall Meaning

The McRae Carmen's song Misty was released in 1954, and it has achieved great popularity due to its mesmerizing melody and relatable lyrics. The opening lines of the song convey the feeling of being helpless and lost, and they compare it to a kitten stuck in a tree. The vocalist goes on to describe how being around the person they love makes them feel like they are holding onto a cloud, and they get misty just by holding their hand. This image is paired with the beautiful sound of a thousand violins that seem to play as soon as the person they love walks in the same direction.

The artist expresses how they are hopelessly lost and being led on by the person they love. They are unable to decipher their emotions, and they don't want the person they love to stop leading them on. They desperately try to catch their attention and make them understand how lost they are without them. They wander through a wonderland alone, and their love is the only thing that seems to make sense. The vocalist finishes the song by declaring that they are too misty and too much in love.

Overall, 'Misty' is a beautiful song that captures the feeling of being lost in love and feeling helpless without someone. The music adds to the mysterious and dreamy feeling of the lyrics, and it's no wonder this song has stood the test of time.

Line by Line Meaning

Look at me, I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree;
I feel vulnerable and in need of your help.

And I feel like I'm clingin' to a cloud,
I feel weightless and overjoyed being with you.

I can't understand
I don't know why I am feeling this way, but I know I like it.

I get misty, just holding your hand.
My love for you is so intense that even just holding your hand makes me dizzy.

Walk my way,
Please come closer to me.

And a thousand violins begin to play,
Everything around us seems magical and beautiful.

Or it might be the sound of your hello,
Even your simple greeting can make my heart skip a beat.

That music I hear,
My heart is full of love and happiness when I am with you.

I get misty, the moment you're near.
Your presence makes me feel like I am in a dream.

Can't you see that you're leading me on?
I know you have an effect on me, and I am enjoying every moment of it.

And it's just what I want you to do,
I want to follow your lead and stay with you.

Don't you notice how hopelessly I'm lost
I feel lost in love and I don't want to find my way back.

That's why I'm following you.
I want to be with you and follow wherever you go.

On my own,
Without you, I feel lost and incomplete.

When I wander through this wonderland alone,
Being without you makes everything around me seem less beautiful.

Never knowing my right foot from my left
Without you, I feel directionless and aimless.

My hat from my glove
Even simple things like knowing which is my hat or glove seem difficult when you're not with me.

I'm too misty, and too much in love.
My love for you is so strong that it clouds my judgment and all my senses.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Erroll Garner, Johnny Burke

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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