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.
How Deep Is The Ocean
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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I'll tell you no lie
How deep is the ocean?
How high is the sky?
How many times a day do I think of you?
How many roses are sprinkled with dew?
To be where you are?
How far is the journey
From here to a star?
And if I ever lost you, how much would I cry?
How deep is the ocean?
How high is the sky?
How far would I travel
To be where you are?
How far is the journey
From here to a star?
And if I ever lost you, how much would I cry?
How deep is the ocean?
How high is the sky?
How high is the sky?
The lyrics of the song "How Deep Is The Ocean" ask a series of questions that revolve around the theme of love and devotion. The opening lines pose a question that sounds like a rhetorical question, but as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the song is about expressing the depth of one's love for someone. The singer talks about how frequently he thinks about the person, the distance he would travel to be with them, and how much he would cry if he lost them.
The repetition of the questions throughout the song emphasizes the magnitude of the love in question. The metaphorical references to the ocean and the sky suggest the vastness of emotions that the singer is trying to convey. The final question, "How high is the sky?" is particularly striking, as it underscores the idea that love and emotions cannot be quantified or measured - they are boundless.
In summary, the song is an evocative and heartfelt expression of love that resonates with anyone who has experienced the intensity of emotion that comes with falling in love.
Line by Line Meaning
How much do I love you?
I want you to know the intensity of the love I have for you.
I'll tell you no lie
I'm completely honest about my feelings and will not hide anything from you.
How deep is the ocean?
I'm questioning if my love for you is as vast and profound as the ocean itself.
How high is the sky?
Similarly, I'm pondering if my love for you can be compared to the expanse and height of the sky.
How many times a day do I think of you?
I obsessively think of you every moment of the day and would like you to know the extent of my devotion.
How many roses are sprinkled with dew?
I'm trying to emphasize the magnitude of my love by asking questions with no specific answer.
How far would I travel
My love for you is boundless, and I'm ready to go any distance to be with you.
To be where you are?
I can't fathom being away from you, and being with you is all I desire.
How far is the journey
I'm again asking a question with no exact answer, highlighting the infinite nature of my love.
From here to a star?
Traveling to a star is an impossible task, but my love for you is so strong that I'd still make the effort.
And if I ever lost you, how much would I cry?
The thought of losing you is too painful to bear, and if it ever happened, I'd be irreparably broken.
How high is the sky?
I repeat this phrase to emphasize the depth of my emotions and my inability to quantify them accurately.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind