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.
I Hear Music
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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The murmur of a morning breeze up there
The rattle of the milkman on the stair
Sure that's music, mighty fine music
The singing of a sparrow in the sky
The perking of the coffee right nearby
You, my angel, phoning me
I hear music, mighty fine music
And anytime I think my world is wrong
I get me out of bed and sing this song
That's my favorite melody
You, my angel, phoning me
I hear music, mighty fine music
And anytime I think my world is wrong
I get me out of bed and sing this crazy song
Peterson's song, "I Hear Music," is a joyful celebration of the beauty and wonder of the world around us. The singer is attuned to the many different sounds that make up the fabric of everyday life, from the rustling of the morning breeze to the perking of the coffee on the stove. These sounds are all "mighty fine music" that remind the singer of the richness and complexity of existence.
In the second stanza, the singer highlights the particular beauty of a singing sparrow and the comforting familiarity of the milkman's routine visit. These moments of simple pleasure are elevated to the level of art by the singer's attentive ear. Even the act of a loved one calling on the phone is transformed into "my favorite melody."
The final stanza cements the song's message of hope and inspiration. The singer sings that any time they feel like the world has let them down, they can simply remember the beauty and joy of the music around them and find the strength to carry on. This "crazy song" is a reminder that life is full of wonder and beauty if we take the time to listen.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear music, mighty fine music
I hear beautiful music that makes me feel alive and happy
The murmur of a morning breeze up there
The gentle sound of the wind blowing softly in the morning
The rattle of the milkman on the stair
The clanking sound of the milkman's bottles as he climbs up the stairs
Sure that's music, mighty fine music
Those everyday sounds are also music to my ears, beautiful and joyful
The singing of a sparrow in the sky
The sweet, melodious chirping of a sparrow flying above
The perking of the coffee right nearby
The bubbling and steaming noise of coffee being brewed nearby
That's my favorite melody
These sounds combined make my favorite musical tune
You, my angel, phoning me
The sound of my loved one's voice on the phone is like music to my ears
And anytime I think my world is wrong
Whenever I feel like everything is going wrong in my life
I get me out of bed and sing this song
I motivate myself to get up from bed and sing this uplifting song
I hear music, mighty fine music
I hear beautiful music that makes me feel alive and happy
And anytime I think my world is wrong
Whenever I feel like everything is going wrong in my life
I get me out of bed and sing this crazy song
I motivate myself to get up from bed and sing this lively and crazy song
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BURTON LANE, FRANK LOESSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind