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 Was Doin' All Right
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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Nothing but rainbows in my sky
I was doing all right
Till you came by.
Had no cause to complain
Life was as sweet as apple pie
Never noticed the rain
Till you came by.
But now whenever you're away
Can't sleep nights and suffer all the day
I just sit and wonder
If love isn't one big blunder.
But when you hold me tight
Tingling all through, I feel somehow
I was doing all right
But I'm doing better than ever now.
But now whenever you're away
Can't sleep nights and suffer all the day
I just sit and wonder
If love isn't one big blunder.
But when you hold me tight
Tinglin' all through, I feel somehow
I was doing all right
But I'm doing better
Better than ever now.
In the song "I Was Doin' All Right" by Oscar Peterson, the singer expresses a sense of contentment and happiness in their life before someone came into their life and changed everything. The lyrics suggest that the singer's life was filled with positivity and joy represented by "rainbows in my sky" and "life as sweet as apple pie." They were unaware of any hardships or challenges until this person entered their life. However, their perspective shifts when this person is absent, causing great discomfort and suffering. The singer begins to question the concept of love, wondering if it is just a big mistake or a blunder.
Despite these doubts, the song takes a turn when the person they are addressing holds them tight. It is in this embrace that the singer experiences a tingling sensation throughout their body, symbolizing the strong physical and emotional connection they have with this person. This transformative moment makes them realize that they are not just doing all right; they are doing better than ever before. The song suggests that love has the power to fundamentally change and improve one's life, and the singer acknowledges the transformative impact it has had on them.
Overall, "I Was Doin' All Right" explores the emotional terrain of love, how it can bring both joy and doubt, and ultimately how it can lead to a state of contentment and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
I was doing all right
I was content and satisfied with my life
Nothing but rainbows in my sky
Everything was optimistic and colorful in my life
I was doing all right
I was still in a good place emotionally
Till you came by.
Until you entered my life
Had no cause to complain
There was nothing to be dissatisfied or upset about
Life was as sweet as apple pie
Life was delightful and pleasurable
Never noticed the rain
I was oblivious to any negative aspects of life
Till you came by.
Until you appeared in my life and uncovered those negative aspects
But now whenever you're away
Whenever you're not present beside me
Can't sleep nights and suffer all the day
I experience sleeplessness at night and endure hardships throughout the day
I just sit and wonder
I contemplate and question
If love isn't one big blunder.
If love itself is a major mistake or misstep
But when you hold me tight
When you embrace me firmly
Tingling all through, I feel somehow
I sense a tingling sensation throughout my body, and it affects me deeply
I was doing all right
I was previously content and satisfied with my life
But I'm doing better than ever now.
But now I am feeling even happier and more fulfilled than before
But now whenever you're away
Whenever you're not present beside me
Can't sleep nights and suffer all the day
I struggle to sleep during nights and experience difficulties throughout the day
I just sit and wonder
I simply ponder and contemplate
If love isn't one big blunder.
If love itself is not a significant mistake or error
But when you hold me tight
But when you securely embrace me
Tingling all through, I feel somehow
I experience a tingling sensation throughout my body, and it affects me in some indescribable way
I was doing all right
I was previously content and satisfied with my life
But I'm doing better
But now I am feeling even more content and satisfied
Better than ever now.
Happier and more fulfilled than I have ever been before.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind