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.
Ill Wind
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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Let me rest today
You're blowin' me no good (no good)
Go, ill wind, go away
Skies are oh-so gray
Around my neighborhood, and that's no good
Ain't that a shame
It's so hard to keep up with troubles that creep up
From out of nowhere, when love's to blame
So, ill wind, blow away
Let me rest today
You're blowin' me no good (no good)
You're only misleadin' the sunshine I'm needin'
Ain't that a shame
It's so hard to keep up with troubles that creep up
From out of nowhere, when love's to blame
So, ill wind, blow away
Let me rest today
You're blowin' me no good (no good)
Blow, ill wind, blow
Ill Wind by Oscar Peterson is an introspective song that reflects the singer's emotional state. The lyrics are metaphors that compare the singer's current struggles with a stormy, ill wind that he wants to blow away. Through the song, the singer expresses his desire to find solace from his troubles and reflect on his life. The lyrics in the first stanza suggest that the ill wind is causing him to perhaps feel anxious, overwhelmed, or lost. He wants the wind to blow away and let him rest. In the second stanza, the singer reflects on the gray skies in his neighborhood, mentioning how he's being misled from the sunshine he needs. His troubles are creeping up from nowhere, and he's attributing them to love. The singer is pleading with the ill wind to go away, regardless of whether it can be the source of a refreshing breeze.
To further understand the meaning of the song, it's important to examine the symbolism of the wind and the weather within the lyrics. Peterson uses the wind to represent external factors that affect a person's emotional state. In this case, the wind stands for everything that can cause stress, anxiety, and emotional discomfort in a person's life. This song could also be a metaphor for how unpredictable and uncontrollable relationships can be, as the wind is uncontrollable and moves in varying unpredictable patterns. The singer is aware of this, which is why he's calling for the ill wind to blow away, so he can look now at his relationship through a clear head. Through Ill Wind, one can appreciate Peterson's beautiful piano arrangement and vocal performance, creating a beautiful recording that speaks to the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
Blow, ill wind, blow away
Wind that brings nothing but misfortune, go away and leave me alone.
Let me rest today
Allow me to have some peace and quiet, and not bother me with any more problems.
You're blowin' me no good (no good)
Your presence is doing me harm instead of any good. You are causing me trouble and sorrow.
Go, ill wind, go away
Please, just leave and don't come back. Take your troubles with you.
Skies are oh-so gray
The weather is bleak and depressing. It reflects the state of my mind and my life.
Around my neighborhood, and that's no good
The bad weather is affecting everyone and everything around me. It is unpleasant and unwelcome.
You're only misleadin' the sunshine I'm needin'
Your negative influence is blocking the positive energy that I need in my life. You are robbing me of happiness and joy.
Ain't that a shame
It's truly sad and regrettable that something as uncontrollable as the weather can affect us so much.
It's so hard to keep up with troubles that creep up
It's exhausting and overwhelming to deal with problems that seem to arise unexpectedly and without warning.
From out of nowhere, when love's to blame
Most of my troubles seem to stem from issues in my personal relationships. Love can bring great joy, but it can also cause great pain.
So, ill wind, blow away
I'm pleading with the wind to just go away and let me be.
You're blowin' me no good (no good)
The wind's presence is still causing me harm and trouble. I need it to leave me alone to find some peace.
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind