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.
Diga Diga Doo
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gear his heart beat a little tattoo
Diga diga doo diga doo doo
Diga diga doo diga doo
You love me and I love you
And when you love it is natural to
Diga diga doo diga doo doo
I'm so very diga diga doo by nature
If you don't say diga diga to your mate
You're gonna lose a papa.
So let those funny people smile
How can there be a Virgin isle
With diga diga doo diga doo doo
Diga diga doo diga doo
No one heeds the marriage laws
Yours is mine and mine is yours
With diga diga doo diga doo doo
Diga diga doo diga doo
The song "Diga Diga Doo" by Oscar Peterson tells the story of a Zulu man who is feeling blue, and his heart beats a little tattoo. The lyrics suggest that the man is in love, and the feelings of love are expressed through the use of the phrase "diga diga doo." The repetition of this phrase throughout the song makes it clear that it is an expression of joy, love, happiness, and excitement. Peterson describes himself as being "diga diga doo by nature," implying that he always feels this way when he is in love.
The lyrics further suggest that it is natural to feel this way when you are in love, and that if you don't express your love by saying "diga diga doo" to your mate, you are going to "lose a papa." The song also touches on the idea that love knows no boundaries, with the line "No one heeds the marriage laws, yours is mine, and mine is yours." The use of the phrase "diga diga doo" is almost infectious, as the song notes that even those who might not understand its meaning will find themselves smiling.
Interestingly, the phrase "diga diga doo" has its roots in a song called "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo," written by Duke Ellington in the 1920s. The phrase was a nonsensical scat phrase that was meant to be sung by the ensemble as an introduction to the song. Peterson's version of the song adds a layer of meaning to the phrase, turning it into an expression of joy, love, and excitement.
Line by Line Meaning
Zulu man is feelin' blue
A Zulu man is feeling sad and depressed
Gear his heart beat a little tattoo
His heart is beating rhythmically, implying that he is stressed or bothered by something
Diga diga doo diga doo doo
This phrase is more of a filler line, with no specific meaning on its own
Diga diga doo diga doo
Repeats the previous line for emphasis, still without specific meaning
You love me and I love you
The two people in the relationship love each other
And when you love it is natural to
Loving someone comes naturally and is expected in a relationship
Diga diga doo diga doo doo
Again, this phrase has no specific meaning but is used for rhythm and emphasis
Diga diga doo diga doo
Repeats the previous line, still without specific meaning
I'm so very diga diga doo by nature
The singer is naturally happy and carefree
If you don't say diga diga to your mate
If you don't express your love and happiness to your partner,
You're gonna lose a papa.
You may lose your partner or be seen as less desirable if you don't show affection
So let those funny people smile
Ignore the people who don't understand or appreciate your happiness
How can there be a Virgin isle
The idea of a pure, untouched island seems unreal or unlikely
With diga diga doo diga doo doo
Repeating the nonsensical phrase for emphasis
Diga diga doo diga doo
Repeats the previous line for emphasis
No one heeds the marriage laws
People do not always follow the expected rules or traditions in relationships
Yours is mine and mine is yours
The couple shares everything in their partnership
With diga diga doo diga doo doo
Repeating the nonsensical phrase for emphasis
Diga diga doo diga doo
Repeats the previous line for emphasis
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind