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.

Long Ago
Oscar Peterson Lyrics

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Long ago and far away
I dreamed a dream one day
And now that dream is here beside me

Long the skies were overcast
But now the clouds have passed
You're here at last

Chills run up and down my spine
Aladdin's lamp is mine
The dream I dreamed was not denied me

Just one look and then I knew
That all I longed for long ago was you

Long ago and far away
I dreamed a dream one day
And now that dream is here beside me

Long the skies were overcast
But now the clouds have passed
You're here at last

Chills run up and down my spine
Aladdin's lamp is mine
The dream I dreamed was not denied me

Just one look and then I knew
That all I longed for long ago was you

Just one look and then I knew

That all I longed for long ago
Was you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Oscar Peterson's song "Long Ago" speak to the fulfillment of a long-held dream. The song describes a dream that the singer had long ago and how it has now come true with the person beside them. The beginning of the song talks about the dream itself and how it was something that was only in the singer's imagination. However, as the song progresses, the singer reveals that what they dreamed of was having the person who is now beside them, showing that love is the dream that they had longed for.

The lyrics create an expansive mood with the description of the "overcast skies" and "clouds" that have now passed, symbolizing the end of a challenging time and the beginning of a bright future. The line "Aladdin's lamp is mine" refers to the magical and mythological items that feature in stories of the Middle East, and means that the singer has found something rare and precious that they never expected to discover, also indicating that their dream has finally come true.

Overall, "Long Ago" is a sweet love song, which through its lyrics about the fulfillment of a dream that takes place after longs years of waiting, is a celebration of love, patience, and hope.

Line by Line Meaning

Long ago and far away
In a distant time and place

I dreamed a dream one day
I imagined a desire that seemed unrealistic

And now that dream is here beside me
That desire became a reality and is now present in my life

Long the skies were overcast
For a long time, life was difficult and gloomy

But now the clouds have passed
The challenges have been overcome and life is brighter

You're here at last
After waiting for so long, you have finally arrived

Chills run up and down my spine
I am filled with joy and excitement

Aladdin's lamp is mine
I feel as if I have been granted a magical wish

The dream I dreamed was not denied me
My desire was fulfilled, despite any obstacles

Just one look and then I knew
Instantaneously, I understood

That all I longed for long ago was you
My deepest desire all along was to have you in my life

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IRA GERSHWIN, JEROME KERN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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