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.
Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And miss it each night and day
I know I'm not wrong, the feeling's getting stronger
The longer I stay away
Miss the moss-covered vines, tall sugar pines
Where mockingbirds used to sing
I'd love to see that old lazy Mississippi
The moonlight on the bayou
A Creole tune that fills the air
I dream about magnolias in bloom
And I'm wishin' I was there
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
When that's where you left your heart
And there's one thing more, I miss the one I care for
More than I miss New Orleans
The lyrics to Oscar Pettiford’s “Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?” express the heartfelt nostalgia and longing for the city of New Orleans. The song captures the essence and uniqueness of the city and its significance to those who have lived there. The first verse poignantly highlights the sense of missing the place day and night, which is indicative of the strong emotional attachment to it. The following lines convey a growing sense of longing, that the longer one stays away, the stronger the feeling becomes.
The second verse of the song speaks about specific characteristics of New Orleans that the singer misses, including the moss-covered vines, tall sugar pines and the humming of mockingbirds. It’s evident that the singer desires to be back in the city to experience the magnificence of the lazy Mississippi and feels a deep yearning for the Creole tune that fills the air. The singer, in his mind, conjures up images of the moonlight on the bayou and the stunning sight of magnolias in bloom, expressing a desire to return to the city where his heart has been left behind.
The final verse closes with the admission of the one thing the singer misses the most from New Orleans – the one he cares for. The song is fueled heavily by the theme of escapism and the hope of returning to a place where memories have been made, where routines have become a part of life, and where love lives on. Through its depiction of the city, the song continues to resonate with many people who have experienced the unique charm and the special place that New Orleans holds in their hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans
Have you experienced the feeling of longing for New Orleans?
And miss it each night and day
The longing is felt constantly, day and night.
I know I'm not wrong, the feeling's getting stronger
The longing for New Orleans is intensifying and the person is sure of its truth.
The longer I stay away
The feeling of longing increases with time spent away.
Miss the moss-covered vines, tall sugar pines
Miss the natural beauty of the city, like the vines and trees.
Where mockingbirds used to sing
Miss the sweet sounds of nature.
I'd love to see that old lazy Mississippi
Miss the sight of the Mississippi river, which has a calming effect.
Hurrying into Spring
Miss the changing season of Spring.
The moonlight on the bayou
Miss the peaceful and romantic setting of the bayou.
A Creole tune that fills the air
Miss the unique music and culture of New Orleans.
I dream about magnolias in bloom
Long to see the beautiful magnolias in full bloom.
And I'm wishin' I was there
The person wishes to physically be in New Orleans.
When that's where you left your heart
The city has special meaning and holds a significant place in the person's heart.
And there's one thing more, I miss the one I care for
In addition to the city, the person misses someone who is special to them.
More than I miss New Orleans
The person's longing for the individual is greater than their longing for the city.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eddie De Lange, Louis Alter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind