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.
Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gee, baby ain't I good to you
There's nothing in the world
Too good for a girl that's good and true
Gee, baby ain't I good to you
Bought you a fur coat for Christmas
A diamond ring
A big Cadillac car
It's love that makes me treat you the way I do
Gee, baby ain't I good to you
What makes me treat you the way I do
Gee, baby ain't I good to you
There's nothing in the world
Too good for a guy that's good and true
Gee, baby ain't I good to you
Fur coat for Christmas
A diamond ring
A big Cadillac car
And everything
There's nothing in the world that I wouldn't do
Gee, baby ain't I good to you
What makes me treat you the way I do
Gee, baby ain't I good to you
There's nothing in the world
Too good for a girl that's good and true
Gee, baby ain't I good to you
Fur coat for Christmas
A diamond ring
Big Cadillac car
And everything
It's love that makes me treat you the way that I do
Gee, baby ain't I good to you
Gee, baby ain't I good to you
The lyrics to Oscar Peterson's song, "Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You" describe a man who is devoted to his romantic partner and believes he treats her well. The song describes the lavish gifts the man has given her, including a fur coat, diamond ring, and Cadillac car. Despite the display of financial wealth, the song suggests that love is what drives his actions. The repetition of the phrase "Gee, baby ain't I good to you" throughout the song reinforces the idea that the man is proud of his efforts to treat her well and wants her to recognize and appreciate them.
At the same time, there is an underlying question in the song as to why the man feels the need to prove his worth through material possessions. The repeated use of the phrase "There's nothing in the world too good for" implies that the gifts are necessary to show his love, but it also suggests that the man may feel insecure in his own worthiness. This underlying tension between love and materialism adds depth and complexity to the otherwise straightforward lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
What makes me treat you the way I do
Wondering what is the reason behind my actions towards you
Gee, baby ain't I good to you
Am I not treating you well enough, my dear?
There's nothing in the world
No material object or gesture
Too good for a girl that's good and true
Is too good for a good and loyal woman
Bought you a fur coat for Christmas
Purchased a luxurious coat as a present for you during the holiday season
A diamond ring
Jewelry symbolizing a commitment, love and affection
A big Cadillac car
A symbol of wealth and power for transportation
And everything
All the material possessions that you could ever want or need
It's love that makes me treat you the way I do
The reason behind my affectionate and generous behavior towards you is my love for you
There's nothing in the world that I wouldn't do
I am willing to do anything for you, my darling
Too good for a guy that's good and true
No gesture or reward is too great for a man who is loyal and honest
What makes me treat you the way I do
Why am I behaving towards you in such a gallant manner
Gee, baby ain't I good to you
Am I not the best to you, my sweetie?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Andy Razaf, Don Redman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@philipterzian4581
TRUE WASHINGTON STORY First heard this one evening in 1965 on Felix Grant's nightime 'Album Sound' program (WMAL AM), assiduously saved my allowance, caught a DC Transit bus downtown one afternoon and bought it at The Disc Shop in the Universal Building near the intersection of Connecticut and Florida avenues. Felix Grant, DC Transit, and The Disc Shop are now all gone but the LP -- having accompanied me to college and to residences in New England, Old England, the South, and Los Angeles -- remains safely in my possession 20 miles from where it was purchased.