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.
Chicago
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chicago, Chicago, I will show you around
I love it
Bet your bottom dollar you'll lose the blues
In Chicago, Chicago
The town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down
On State Street that great street I just want to say
They do things they don't do on Broadway
I saw a man, he danced with his wife
In Chicago, Chicago my hometown
Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town
Chicago, Chicago, I'll show you around
I love it
Bet your bottom dollar you'll lose the blues
In Chicago, Chicago
The town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down
On State Street that great street I just want to say
They do things that they don't do on Broadway
They have the time the time of their life
I saw a man and he danced with his wife
In Chicago
Chicago
Chicago, that's my hometown
The lyrics to Oscar Peterson's song "Chicago" celebrate the vibrancy and excitement of the city of Chicago. Peterson describes the city as "that toddlin' town" and promises to "show you around" and "bet your bottom dollar you'll lose the blues" if you visit. He notes that the city has a reputation for being wild and untameable: "The town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down."
Peterson's love for Chicago is palpable in the lyrics. He particularly shines a light on State Street, which he calls "that great street" and notes that they do things there that they don't do on Broadway, hinting at Chicago's notorious reputation for underground clubs and speakeasies during the prohibition era. Perhaps the most touching moment in the song is when Peterson sees a man dancing with his wife and notes that it is "the time of their life." This moment captures the joy and excitement of the city and the simple pleasures that can be found there.
Line by Line Meaning
Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town
Chicago is a lively, energetic city
Chicago, Chicago, I will show you around
I will give you a tour of the city
I love it
I am fond of Chicago
Bet your bottom dollar you'll lose the blues
You will forget your worries when in Chicago
In Chicago, Chicago
In the city of Chicago
The town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down
Billy Sunday was not able to halt the city's fun and excitement
On State Street that great street I just want to say
State Street is an amazing location in Chicago
They do things they don't do on Broadway
Chicagoans have unique ways of having fun not found in other cities like New York's Broadway
They have a time, the time of their life
They enjoy themselves immensely
I saw a man, he danced with his wife
I witnessed a joyful moment of someone dancing with their significant other
In Chicago, Chicago my hometown
Chicago is where I grew up
Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town
Chicago is a lively, energetic city
Chicago, Chicago, I'll show you around
I will give you a tour of the city
Bet your bottom dollar you'll lose the blues
You will forget your worries when in Chicago
In Chicago, Chicago
In the city of Chicago
The town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down
Billy Sunday was not able to halt the city's fun and excitement
On State Street that great street I just want to say
State Street is an amazing location in Chicago
They do things that they don't do on Broadway
Chicagoans have unique ways of having fun not found in other cities like New York's Broadway
They have the time the time of their life
They enjoy themselves immensely
I saw a man and he danced with his wife
I witnessed a joyful moment of someone dancing with their significant other
In Chicago
In the city of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is an amazing city
Chicago, that's my hometown
Chicago is where I grew up
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHE SMITH, MARC D. SHEMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind