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.
Begin the Beguine
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It brings back the sound of music so tender
It brings back a night of tropical splendor
It brings back a memory ever green
I'm with you once more under the stars
And down by the shore an orchestra's playing
And even the palms seem to be swaying
To live it again is past all endeavor
Except when that tune clutches my heart
And there we are, swearing to love forever
And promising never, never to part
What moments divine, what rapture serene
Till clouds came along to disperse the joys we had tasted
And now when I hear people curse the chance that was wasted
I know but too well what they mean
So don't let them begin the beguine
Let the love that was once a fire remain an ember
Let it sleep like the dead desire I only remember
When they begin the beguine
Oh yes, let them begin the beguine, please make them play
Till the stars that were there before return above you
Till you whisper to me once more, "Darling, I love you"
Then we suddenly know what heaven we're in
When they begin the, begin the, begin the beguine
When they begin the, begin the, begin the beguine
When they begin the beguine
The lyrics to Oscar Peterson's song, "Begin the Beguine," describe a nostalgic experience when hearing a particular tune. The melody is so beautiful that it transports the listener to a tropical night of splendour, where an orchestra is playing down by the shore. The palm trees seem to sway along with the music, and the memory of this night is evergreen in the singer's mind. The song brings back a tender sound of music, and with it, the singer is back with the love of his life under the starry sky, promising never to part. The moments divine and rapture serene soon dissipate like clouds, leaving behind only the memory of the lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
When they begin the beguine
When the orchestra starts playing the beguine, it reminds the singer of a past memory.
It brings back the sound of music so tender
The music is soft and gentle in tone, evoking feelings of romance and longing.
It brings back a night of tropical splendor
The memory associated with the music takes place in a beautiful, exotic location.
It brings back a memory ever green
The memory is one that is always fresh and vivid in the artist's mind.
I'm with you once more under the stars
The music makes the artist feel as if they are reunited with a special someone, and they are together under the night sky.
And down by the shore an orchestra's playing
The orchestra is situated near the water, adding to the ambiance of the setting.
And even the palms seem to be swaying
The music is so powerful that even the trees appear to be moving in time with the beat.
To live it again is past all endeavor
The artist feels that it is impossible to fully relive the memory associated with the song.
Except when that tune clutches my heart
However, when they hear the song, it brings back intense emotions and feelings associated with the memory.
And there we are, swearing to love forever
In the memory, the artist and their loved one declared their undying love for one another.
And promising never, never to part
The two made a solemn vow to never be separated from each other.
What moments divine, what rapture serene
The artist reflects on how wonderful and blissful the memory was.
Till clouds came along to disperse the joys we had tasted
Sadly, the happiness of the memory was eventually disrupted by some outside force or circumstance.
And now when I hear people curse the chance that was wasted
The singer understands when others regret missed opportunities or lost chances in their own lives.
I know but too well what they mean
Because of the pain the singer has experienced, they can sympathize with others who have also suffered loss.
So don't let them begin the beguine
While the memory associated with the song is bittersweet, the artist does not want to risk having more heartache by reminiscing again.
Let the love that was once a fire remain an ember
Instead, the artist wants to let the memory be a small reminder of a past love, rather than a full-blown rekindling of their old flame.
Let it sleep like the dead desire I only remember
The memory is best left untouched, similar to the way in which an old flame is better left in the past.
Oh yes, let them begin the beguine, please make them play
Despite their reservations, the singer cannot resist the allure of the song and the memories it evokes.
Till the stars that were there before return above you
They hope that by listening to the song again, they can recapture the magic of the past and be reunited with their loved one.
Till you whisper to me once more, "Darling, I love you"
The artist longs to hear those three magical words from their partner once again.
Then we suddenly know what heaven we're in
When they are reunited with their loved one, the artist feels like they are in a state of pure bliss and ecstasy.
When they begin the, begin the, begin the beguine
Repetition of the song's title emphasizes the power and importance of the beguine and the memories it evokes.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Memory Lane Music Group (Domestic)
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind