Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer.
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.

It Happened in Monterey
Oscar Peterson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It happened in Monterey, a long time ago
I met her in Monterey, in old Mexico
Stars and steel guitars
And luscious lips, as red as wine
Broke somebody's heart
And I'm afraid that it was mine
It happened in Monterey
Without thinking twice

I left her and threw away the key to paradise
My indiscreet heart, longs for the sweetheart
That I left in old Monterey

It happened in Monterey, a long time ago
I met her in Monterey, in old Mexico
Stars, guitars
Lips, red as wine
Broke somebody's heart
And I'm afraid that it was mine
It happened in Monterey
And without thinking twice
I left her and I threw away the key to paradise

My indiscreet heart, how it longs for the sweetheart
That I left in old Monterey

Overall Meaning

This song, "It Happened in Monterey," is a melancholy tune sung by an individual who has left behind a great love affair in the city of Monterey, Mexico. The singer is indicating that they are attempting to find comfort in their imagination and memories of their former love, who they had kissed, laughed, and spent time with along the Rio Grande. Monterey evokes, for the singer, both the agony and ecstasy of their love, and they are presently consumed by the latter. Despite trying to pretend that they are doing better, the singer demonstrates that they are in reality in pain and unable to move on through their references to tears in sherry glasses, the sound of the cello that used to bring the sweetheart to life for them, and their longing for what might have been. The lyricist seems to be trying to portray the way that lost love may be so significant that it remains in the hearts of those who experience it long after the relationship has ended.

The first verse of the song establishes the singer as heartbroken but unable to let go of the memory of the star-crossed lover they left behind. The reference to consoling oneself "somewhere along the Rio Grande" is a coping mechanism, an attempt to move away from the lost love and find comfort somewhere different. The memories of kissing that person firmly attached along the Rio Grande and the singer seems incapable of pulling themselves away from the comfort that the memory of this act provides. However, this is reframed somewhat when the author claims "my indiscreet heart longs for the sweetheart I left in old Monterey." Despite attempting to find solace along the Rio Grande, the singer's mind and heart are reserved for the love in Monterey.

Line by Line Meaning

In my imagination, I'm finding consolation
I am seeking comfort in my own thoughts and imagination.

Somewhere along the Rio Grande
My mind takes me to a place along the river Rio Grande.

Sadly I'm reminiscing, madly again I'm kissing
I am remembering and longing for a passionate kiss I shared with someone.

Someone along the Rio Grande
There was someone who captured my heart while I was near Rio Grande.

It happened in Monterey, a long time ago
There was an event that occurred in Monterey, which seems distant in time.

I met her in Monterey, in old Mexico
I met this person in Monterey, which was once a part of Mexico.

Stars and steel guitars
The atmosphere was romantic with stars shining and steel guitars playing music.

And luscious lips, as red as wine
The person's lips were so attractive, with a bright red colour resembling wine.

Broke somebody's heart
Sadly, someone's heart was shattered on this occasion.

And I'm afraid that it was mine
I fear that the broken heart belongs to me.

Without thinking twice
Regrettably, I acted impulsively and without consideration.

I left her and threw away the key to paradise
I parted ways with someone who brought me great happiness, and now I cannot regain that joy.

My indiscreet heart, longs for the sweetheart That I left in old Monterey
My impulsive heart aches for the person I left behind in Monterey, and I wish to see them again.

Making believe I'm merry
I pretend to be happy, putting up a facade.

In ev'ry glass of sherry
Whenever I drink sherry, I am reminded of my love.

I see the sparkle of her eye
In my mind, I can see the twinkle in her eye.

And when I hear the cello
The sound of a cello triggers something in me, and I am immediately transported back to a romantic memory.

Tender and sweet and mellow
The sound of the cello is beautiful, soft and gentle like a romantic memory.

I hear the music of her sigh
I can hear my love sighing, and the sound brings back memories.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Billy Rose, Mabel Wayne

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS