Born in Montreal, Canada, Peterson began learning trumpet and piano from his father at the age of five, but by the age of seven, after a bout of tuberculosis, he concentrated on the piano. Some of the artists who influenced Peterson during the early years were Teddy Wilson, Nat "King" Cole, James P. Johnson, and the legendary Art Tatum, to whom many have tried to compare Peterson in later years. In fact, one of his first exposures to the musical talents of Art Tatum came early in his teen years when his father played an Art Tatum record to him and Peterson was so intimidated by what he heard that he didn't touch the piano for over a week.
He soon developed a reputation as a technically brilliant and melodically inventive jazz pianist, and became a regular on Canadian radio. His United States introduction was at Carnegie Hall, New York City in 1949 by Norman Granz; owing to union restrictions his appearance could not be billed.
Some of his musical associates have included Lester Young, Ray Brown, Ben Webster, Herb Ellis, Ed Thigpen, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Louis Armstrong, Stéphane Grappelli, Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, Joe Pass, Count Basie, and Stan Getz. An important step in his career was joining impresario Norman Granz's labels (especially Verve records) and Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic package, with which he was able to play with the major jazz artists of the time. Granz was also his manager for most of Peterson's career. Some cognoscenti assert that Peterson's best recordings were made for the MPS label in the late 'sixties and early 'seventies. For some years subsequently he recorded for Granz's Pablo Records after the label was founded in 1973 and in more recent years for the Telarc label.
In 1993, Peterson suffered a serious stroke that weakened his left side and sidelined him for two years. However he overcame this setback and went back to touring, recording, and composing on a limited basis. In 1997 he received a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement and an International Jazz Hall of Fame Award. He died on December 24th, 2007 of kidney failure.
Air Mail Special
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Traveling south so wide and high
Sailing through the wide blue yonder
It's that air mail special on the fly
Listen to the motors humming
She is streaking through the sky
Like a bird that's flying homeward
Over plains and high dark mountains
Over rivers deep and wide
Carrying mail to California
It's that air mail special on the fly
Watch her circle for the landing
Hear her moan and cough and sigh
Now she's coming down the runway
It's that air mail special on the fly
The lyrics to Oscar Peterson's instrumental jazz piece "Air Mail Special" are both evocative and descriptive, taking the listener on a journey through the skies with a mail carrier on their daily route. The opening lines describe the early morning departure from New York and the sense of being "wide and high" as they soar through the "wide blue yonder." The second verse delves deeper into the experience of flying, with the humming of the motors and the feeling of gliding "like a bird that's flying homeward."
As the journey continues, the lyrics speak of flying over a range of terrain, including mountains and rivers, as the mail carrier heads westward toward California. The final verse brings the listener back down to earth, as the plane prepares to land, with the sound of its engine becoming more pronounced and the landing on the runway imminent.
Overall, the lyrics to "Air Mail Special" are a vivid and poetic portrayal of the experience of flying, offering both a sense of wonder and an appreciation for the everyday work of those who carry the mail across the sky.
Line by Line Meaning
Left New York this morning early
The song starts by describing how the air mail special had an early departure from New York City in the morning.
Traveling south so wide and high
The air mail special was traveling towards the southern region at a high altitude.
Sailing through the wide blue yonder
The air mail special was soaring through the expansive blue sky, with no obstructions in its path.
It's that air mail special on the fly
The chorus highlights that the song is about the air mail special, a special type of airplane used for carrying mail across vast distances.
Listen to the motors humming
The sound of the airplane motors humming can be distinctly heard as it travels through the sky.
She is streaking through the sky
The air mail special was moving quickly through the sky, leaving behind a visible trail or 'streak'.
Like a bird that's flying homeward
The airplane was flying with ease, much like a bird flying towards its home.
Over plains and high dark mountains
The air mail special flew over various terrains, including vast plains and rugged, mountainous terrain.
Over rivers deep and wide
The airplane flew over large rivers that were deep and wide, as it made its way towards California.
Carrying mail to California
This line emphasizes that the primary purpose of the air mail special was to deliver mail to California.
Watch her circle for the landing
The airplane could be seen circling the landing area, preparing for its descent.
Hear her moan and cough and sigh
As the airplane approached the runway, it emitted various sounds such as moaning, coughing, and sighing.
Now she's coming down the runway
The airplane was now making its descent onto the runway.
It's that air mail special on the fly
The chorus repeats, highlighting once again that the song is about the air mail special in flight.
Contributed by Maria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.