Freelon had a part in the Mel Gibson movie What Women Want.
Prelude To A Kiss
Nnenna Freelon Lyrics
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A song in blue
Like a flower crying
For the dew
That was my heart serenading you
My prelude to a kiss
If you hear a song that grows
That was my heart trying to compose
A prelude to a kiss
Though it's just a simple melody
With nothing fancy
Nothing much
You could turn it to a symphony
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch
Oh how my love song gently cries
For the tenderness within your eyes
My love is a prelude that never dies
A prelude to a kiss
Though it's just a simple melody
With nothing fancy
Nothing much
You could turn it to a symphony
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch
Oh how my love song so gently cries
For the tenderness within your eyes
My love is a prelude that never dies
A prelude to a kiss
Nnenna Freelon's Prelude to a Kiss is a love song that speaks to the depth of emotions one feels for their lover. The opening line "If you hear a song in blue, like a flower crying for the dew" sets the tone for the song. The comparison of the song to a flower crying for the dew suggests a need, a yearning for something that completes it, much like the yearning for love. The song's essence is romantic and touchingly sentimental. The lyrics try to capture the depth and breath of the love emotion.
As the song progresses, the lyrics explain that the melody may sound simple, but it holds deep emotions. "Though it's just a simple melody with nothing fancy, nothing much" portrays the simplicity of the song's tune. In contrast, the song lyrics reveal that the composition represents the broad scope of the singer's emotions. The lyrics illustrate the beauty of a simple love song and how it can turn into an elaborate symphony - "You could turn it to a symphony, a Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch."
The lyrics explain that the love the singer has is a prelude that never dies, emphasizing the depth of emotion and meaning in the song. The words "Oh how my love song so gently cries for the tenderness within your eyes. My love is a prelude that never dies, a prelude to a kiss" summarize the whole essence of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
If you hear
If you listen
A song in blue
A melancholic tune
Like a flower crying
Like a blossom shedding tears
For the dew
Because it longs for the morning's moisture
That was my heart serenading you
My heart sings to you
My prelude to a kiss
My opening act to a kiss
If you hear a song that grows
If you hear a tune that flourishes
From my tender sentimental woes
From my gentle, emotional struggles
That was my heart trying to compose
My heart attempting to write
A prelude to a kiss
A leading piece to a kiss
Though it's just a simple melody
Although it's uncomplicated
With nothing fancy
Without anything elaborate
Nothing much
Not much else
You could turn it to a symphony
You have the ability to transform it into a complex piece
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch
A style similar to Schubert with nuances from Gershwin
Oh how my love song gently cries
Oh, how my love song softly weeps
For the tenderness within your eyes
Because of the tenderness in your gaze
My love is a prelude that never dies
My love is a timeless overture
A prelude to a kiss
An introduction to a kiss
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, IRVING MILLS, IRVING GORDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
w3ird 5tuff 666
Lyrics
If you hear
A song in blue
Like a flower crying
For the dew
That was my heart serenading you
My prelude to a kiss
If you hear a song that grows
From my tender sentimental woes
That was my heart trying to compose
A prelude to a kiss
Though it's just a simple melody
With nothing fancy
Nothing much
You could turn it to a symphony
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch
Oh how my love song gently cries
For the tenderness within your eyes
My love is a prelude that never dies
A prelude to a kiss
Though it's just a simple melody
With nothing fancy
Nothing much
You could turn it to a symphony
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch
Oh how my love song so gently cries
For the tenderness within your eyes
My love is a prelude that never dies
A prelude to a kiss
hemmojito
WOW.
I cherish those chords like a Bourbon.
Her voice like the comfort of lips
This arrangement and her interpretation... WOW
the phrasing of each syllable so carefully picked
the piano solo dancing on this melancholic tune
just WOW
so real
ladypodtron
Perfectly used in an episode of Mad Men I caught recently. I was completely blown away by this voice that I could not Identify. Wow, This girl can turn a tune! -And the the arrangement on this one is perfection.Now I am on a mission to find out more about Nnenna! Beautiful.
Edie Anderson
Enjoy, she's amazing!
gnhham
I saw her in concert at the Blue Moon Jazz Café in Philly on my birthday in 1993. It was ALL that! This album is not on iTunes!!! Ughh!!
westphillysoul
A couple years ago, I had the pleasure of listening to this gem for the first time on a sorority chapter's website.Honey, I searched for this song like my life depended on it!All I could find was Alicia Keys' version (didnt know this artist's name).So, I stopped my quest & figured I'd never find the song.Few months down the road I hear this on a rerun of Mad Men.Oh, the joy I felt inside!I feel like I should be sitting on a porch swing, drinking half & half as the crickets chirp. Ty 4 posting!
Brian Miller
Just heard this at the end of Mad Men S3 Ep 9. So captivating.
Mark Bevilacuqua
she's actually a contemporary singer. But it's done so well, I'd believe it if someone told me it was from a long time ago.
Jay W
the best version in my opinion
Tea and Muffins
Not the best, but a great contemporary version. Ella Fitzgerald was probably the best vocal interpreter of Duke Ellington, and her recording from her Duke Ellington Songbook is the standard.
DeclarinJam
Jay W cannot agree enough
w3ird 5tuff 666
Lyrics
If you hear
A song in blue
Like a flower crying
For the dew
That was my heart serenading you
My prelude to a kiss
If you hear a song that grows
From my tender sentimental woes
That was my heart trying to compose
A prelude to a kiss
Though it's just a simple melody
With nothing fancy
Nothing much
You could turn it to a symphony
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch
Oh how my love song gently cries
For the tenderness within your eyes
My love is a prelude that never dies
A prelude to a kiss
Though it's just a simple melody
With nothing fancy
Nothing much
You could turn it to a symphony
A Shubert tune with a Gershwin touch
Oh how my love song so gently cries
For the tenderness within your eyes
My love is a prelude that never dies
A prelude to a kiss