Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer.
Read Full Bio ↴Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer.

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.

Embraceable You
Oscar Peterson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you!
Embrace me, you irreplaceable you!

Just one look at you
My heart grew tipsy in me,
You and you alone
Bring out the gypsy in me!

I love all, the many charms about you!
Above all, I want my arms about you!

Don't be a naughty baby,

Come to papa, come to papa, do!
My sweet embraceable you!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Embraceable You" express the longing for an intimate embrace with the beloved. The title itself emphasizes the desire for a close, romantic relationship, using the word "embrace" which implies a full, tight hug. The first line begins with the singer directly addressing their beloved, using the adjective "sweet" to convey affection. The second line emphasizes their irreplaceable nature, implying that they are a unique and cherished individual.

The third and fourth lines express how the singer feels when they look at their beloved. The sight of them makes their heart flutter, and they feel as if they are a carefree gypsy, suggesting that they are swept up in a romantic and passionate feeling. The fifth and sixth lines speak to the singer's affection for their beloved, admiring all of their charms and desiring to wrap their arms around them.

The final two lines shift in tone, with the singer playfully urging their beloved to come to them. The use of "naughty baby" suggests a lighthearted, teasing relationship, while "come to papa" evokes a sense of protection and security. The final line of the song once again emphasizes the sweetness of their beloved.

Line by Line Meaning

Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you!
Hold me close, my darling, for you are the only one I desire and cannot replace.

Embrace me, you irreplaceable you!
Hold me tight, my one and only, for no other can compare to you.

Just one look at you
From the moment I laid eyes on you,

My heart grew tipsy in me,
My heart began to flutter with excitement,

You and you alone
You, and no one else,

Bring out the gypsy in me!
Evoke a sense of wanderlust and adventure within me.

I love all, the many charms about you!
I cherish every aspect of your personality and appearance.

Above all, I want my arms about you!
Of all my desires, my greatest wish is to hold you tightly.

Don't be a naughty baby,
Do not be mischievous or disobedient, my love,

Come to papa, come to papa, do!
Come to me, my sweet, and let me love and care for you.

My sweet embraceable you!
You are the one I long to hold in my arms and never let go.

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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