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.
Lulu's Back In Town
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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Where'd she put my razor blade?
She mislaid it, I'm afraid,
It's gotta be foun'!
Ask her when she cleaned my room
What she did with my perfume;
I just can't lose it,
I've gotta use it,
Gotta get my old tuxedo pressed,
Gotta sew a button on my vest,
'Cause tonight I've gotta look my best,
Lulu's back in town.
Gotta get a half a buck somewhere,
Gotta shine my shoes and slick my hair,
Gotta get myself a boutonniere,
Lulu's back in town.
You can tell all my pets,
All my Harlem coquettes;
Mister Otis regrets
That he won't be aroun'.
You can tell the mailman not to call,
I ain't comin' home until the fall,
And I might not get back home at all,
Lulu's back in town.
You can bet I've got it bad,
Best complaint I've ever had;
We'll be stepping out tonight,
An' struttin', an' how.
We're in for the swellest time,
Finish up without a dime;
Look here, you fellers,
I'll make you jealous,
My Lulu, she's a wow.
Gotta get my old tuxedo pressed,
Gotta sew a button on my vest,
'Cause tonight I've gotta look my best,
Lulu's back in town.
Gotta get a half a buck somewhere,
Gotta shine my shoes and slick my hair,
Gotta get myself a boutonniere,
Lulu's back in town.
You can tell all my pets,
All my blondes and brunettes;
Mister Otis regrets
That he won't be aroun'.
You can tell the mailman not to call,
I ain't comin' home until the fall,
And I might not get back home at all,
Lulu's back in town.
The lyrics to Oscar Peterson’s song “Lulu’s Back in Town” describes a man’s excitement and anticipation for the arrival of his love interest Lulu. The man is frantic about preparing for Lulu’s arrival, from searching for his razor blade and perfume, to getting his tuxedo pressed and his shoes shined. He proclaims that he’s “got it bad” for Lulu, and that he won’t be returning home for a while. The lyrics are playful and witty, conveying the man’s eagerness and affection for Lulu.
The lyrics also make references to the man’s previous relationships, specifically with his “Harlem coquettes” and “blondes and brunettes.” He tells them all to “tell the mailman not to call” because he won’t be coming home for a while. The lyrics are humorous and lighthearted, highlighting the excitement and anticipation of romantic attraction.
Overall, “Lulu’s Back in Town” is a fun and playful song about the anticipation of love and romance. The lyrics convey the eagerness and excitement one feels when anticipating the arrival of a loved one, and the humor and wit make it a joyous and upbeat tune.
Line by Line Meaning
Where's that careless chambermaid?
I cannot find my razor and needs to know where the housekeeper may have placed it.
Where'd she put my razor blade?
I cannot locate my razor blade and hopes the chambermaid did not throw it away.
She mislaid it, I'm afraid,
I am uncertain about the status of my razor blade, and the housekeeper may have lost it.
It's gotta be foun'!
My razor blade is important to me, and I need to find it immediately.
Ask her when she cleaned my room
I will ask the chambermaid about the whereabouts of my perfume when she was tidying my room.
What she did with my perfume;
I am looking for my perfume, and it appears to have been misplaced, possibly by the housekeeper.
I just can't lose it,
It is essential that I locate my perfume as it is a vital part of preparing to see Lulu.
I've gotta use it,
I need to apply my perfume before my date with Lulu.
'Cause Lulu's back in town.
Lulu has returned, and I need to look my best to impress her.
Gotta get my old tuxedo pressed,
I have to take out my old tuxedo from storage and get it pressed.
Gotta sew a button on my vest,
One of the buttons on my vest has fallen off, and I need to sew it back on.
'Cause tonight I've gotta look my best,
I need to look as good as possible tonight because Lulu's back in town.
Gotta get a half a buck somewhere,
I need to find fifty cents to afford a boutonniere.
Gotta shine my shoes and slick my hair,
I need to shine my shoes and style my hair to look impeccable for Lulu.
Gotta get myself a boutonniere,
I need to buy a boutonniere for my tuxedo.
You can tell all my pets,
You can let all my significant others know.
All my Harlem coquettes;
All the women I have been seeing in Harlem, I will tell them.
Mister Otis regrets
I regret to inform Mr. Otis.
That he won't be aroun'.
That he will not be able to see me because I will be with Lulu.
You can tell the mailman not to call,
Inform the mailman that they need not deliver my mail.
I ain't comin' home until the fall,
I will not come back until autumn.
And I might not get back home at all,
There is a possibility that I will not come back home.
Lulu's back in town.
Lulu's presence in town is the reason for my enthusiasm, and I am excited to spend time with her.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL DUBIN, HARRY WARREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind