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.
Blue Moon
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
Blue moon, you knew just what I was there for
You heard me saying a prayer for
Someone I really could care for
And then there suddenly appeared before me
The only one my arms will ever hold
I heard somebody whisper "Please adore me"
And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold!
Blue moon!
Now I'm no longer alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
The song "Blue Moon" by Oscar Peterson is a classic jazz standard that is often interpreted as a romantic ballad. The opening lyrics, "Blue moon, you saw me standing alone," suggest a sense of loneliness or isolation. The singer is standing beneath the moon, which is often associated with love and romance, but they are without a dream in their heart and a love of their own. The blue moon "knew just what [they] was there for" and heard the singer praying for someone to care for.
The second verse continues to build on this theme of longing and eventual fulfillment. The singer sees the person they have been praying for and their arms are finally no longer empty. The moon, which was once blue and cold, is transformed into a beautiful golden color, representing the warmth and passion of love. The final refrain repeats the idea that the singer is no longer alone, and that they have finally found the dream and love that had been missing.
Overall, "Blue Moon" is a song about finding love and overcoming loneliness. The lyrics suggest that, even when we feel alone and hopeless, there is always the possibility of meeting someone who will fill our hearts with love and bring warmth to our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue moon you saw me standing alone
The moon witnessed my solitude
Without a dream in my heart
I had no aspirations or hopes
Without a love of my own
I had no one to love and care for
Blue moon, you knew just what I was there for
The moon understood my intention
You heard me saying a prayer for
The moon listened as I prayed for
Someone I really could care for
A person to love and cherish deeply
And then there suddenly appeared before me
Out of nowhere, someone was standing in front of me
The only one my arms will ever hold
The one I will embrace forever
I heard somebody whisper "Please adore me"
I heard a request to love and cherish
And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold!
It felt like a magical moment when the moon turned golden
Blue moon!
The moon that witnessed my transformation
Now I'm no longer alone
I found the one to share my life with
Without a dream in my heart
I realized that I don't need aspirations when I have love
Without a love of my own
I now have someone to love and cherish
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind