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 Should Care
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Should I confess I love you?
Should I recite beneath the pale moonlight?
And swear by the stars above you?
Could I repeat the sweetest story told?
Could I entreat, would it be too bold?
Should I confess I love you?
Could I repeat that sweetest story told?
Could I entreat, would it be too bold?
Should I reveal 'xactly how I feel?
Should I confess I love you?
And swear by stars above you?
Should I confess I love you?
In Oscar Peterson's song Should I, the lyrics are centered around the internal struggle of confessing love or keeping feelings hidden. The first verse, "Should I reveal exactly how I feel? Should I confess I love you? Should I recite beneath the pale moonlight? And swear by the stars above you?" invokes the image of a classic romantic setting. The use of the moon and stars as witnesses to love declarations is a common thread in romantic poetry and literature. The second verse, "Could I repeat the sweetest story told? Could I entreat, would it be too bold?" shows the hesitation and uncertainty that often comes with revealing one's feelings. Despite the risk of rejection, the singer seems compelled to share their true feelings with the subject of the song. The repetition of the chorus highlights the inner turmoil of whether or not to take the risk of confessing love.
Line by Line Meaning
Should I reveal exactly how I feel?
Am I supposed to express my innermost emotions frankly?
Should I confess I love you?
Is it appropriate to admit that I am in love with you?
Should I recite beneath the pale moonlight?
Is it fitting to recite my feelings for you under the soft moonlight?
And swear by the stars above you?
Should I take an oath to the stars above you about my love for you?
Could I repeat the sweetest story told?
Is it acceptable to tell you the sweetest story again?
Could I entreat, would it be too bold?
Is it bold of me to ask you for love, or would you graciously grant it to me?
Should I reveal 'xactly how I feel?
Am I supposed to express my innermost emotions frankly?
Should I confess I love you?
Is it appropriate to admit that I am in love with you?
And swear by stars above you?
Should I take an oath to the stars above you about my love for you?
Should I confess I love you?
Is it appropriate to admit that I am in love with you?
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Nacio Brown, Arthur Freed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind