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.
Manha De Carnaval / If
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Honey, though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can't say anything uptight
It's better not to talk at all, is my advice
We're parting, you'll go your way, I'll go mine
I have just this to do
Give a little kiss and hope that it brings
Makes no difference how Jerry carries on (but I'll make it, baby!)
Please don't talk about me when I'm gone
Please don't talk about me, honey, when I'm gone
Though our friendship ceases from now on
And if you can't say anything real nice
You better not talk at all, is Jerry's advice
We're parting, you'll go your way, I'll go mine
I have just this to do
Here's a little kiss, I hope it brings
Lots and lots of love to you
Makes no difference how I carry on
Please don't talk about me
Please don't talk about me
Please don't talk about me
Please don't talk about me
Please don't talk about me
Please don't talk about me, honey
Please don't talk about me when I'm gone
The lyrics to Oscar Peterson's song Manha De Carnaval talk about the termination of a friendship and the hurtful impact of people speaking negatively about someone behind their back. The singer implores their former friend not to talk about them once they have parted ways. They suggest that if the person can't say anything positive, it is better not to speak at all. The singer hopes that their final kiss will impart lots of love to their friend. They also mention that it doesn't matter how they (or Jerry) carry on, but they request their friend not to talk badly about them when they are gone.
The song is about breakups and the end of friendships. The lyrics convey the emotional pain associated with these kinds of situations. The singer does not want the negative emotions to persist, and wishes for love to take its place.
Line by Line Meaning
Please don't talk about me when I'm gone
If you can't say something kind about someone who has passed or who is leaving, it's best not to speak at all
Honey, though our friendship ceases from now on
Even though we are no longer friends, let's not speak poorly of each other
And if you can't say anything uptight
If you can't say anything positive, it's best not to speak at all
It's better not to talk at all, is my advice
Jerry advises that saying nothing is better than saying something negative
We're parting, you'll go your way, I'll go mine
We are separating and going our separate ways
I have just this to do
I have just one thing to do
Give a little kiss and hope that it brings
Give a farewell kiss with the hope that it will bring love and positivity
Lots of love to you
Wishing the other person lots of love
Makes no difference how Jerry carries on (but I'll make it, baby!)
It doesn't matter how Jerry is doing, but the artist is optimistic and will make it
Please don't talk about me, honey, when I'm gone
Reiteration of the first line in a slightly different way
And if you can't say anything real nice
If you can't say anything positive, it's best not to speak at all
You better not talk at all, is Jerry's advice
Jerry advises that saying nothing is better than saying something negative
Here's a little kiss, I hope it brings
Giving a farewell kiss with good intentions
Lots and lots of love to you
Wishing the other person lots and lots of love
Please don't talk about me
Reiteration of the first line
Please don't talk about me
Reiteration of the first line
Please don't talk about me
Reiteration of the first line
Please don't talk about me
Reiteration of the first line
Please don't talk about me
Reiteration of the first line
Please don't talk about me, honey
Reiteration of the first line in a slightly different way
Please don't talk about me when I'm gone
Final reiteration of the first line
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BEE PALMER, SIDNEY CLARE, SAM STEPT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind