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.
Misty
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree
And I feel like I'm clinging to a cloud
I can't understand
I get misty, holding your hand
Walk my way
And a thousand violins begin to play
That music I hear
I get misty the moment you're near
You can say that you're leading me on
But it's just what I want you to do
Don't you realize how hopelessly I'm lost
That's why I'm following you
On my own
Would I wander through this wonderland alone
Never knowing my right foot from my left
My hat from my glove
I get misty, and too much in love
I'm too misty, and too much in love
The lyrics of Misty paint a picture of a person completely enraptured with their love interest. Describing themselves as "helpless as a kitten up a tree" and "clinging to a cloud," they convey a sense of surrender to their feelings of love and adoration. The mere presence of their love interest causes them to become misty and overcome with emotion. The music of the world seems to revolve around the two of them, with the sound of a thousand violins playing as they walk towards each other. The singer admits to following their love interest, lost and unable to navigate the world without them. The lyrics convey a sense of deep love and infatuation, with the singer unable to stay away from their loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at me
Please pay attention to me
I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree
I feel vulnerable and in need of your help
And I feel like I'm clinging to a cloud
I am overcome with emotion and lost in thought
I can't understand
I am confused
I get misty, holding your hand
I am so in love with you that I become emotional when I touch you
Walk my way
Come towards me
And a thousand violins begin to play
My heart fills with joy and happiness at the prospect of being with you
Or it might be the sound of your hello
Even the sound of your voice makes my heart skip a beat
That music I hear
I feel a strong connection with you
I get misty the moment you're near
My emotions become overwhelming when I am close to you
You can say that you're leading me on
You may seem like you are playing with my emotions
But it's just what I want you to do
I am okay with it because I am so in love with you
Don't you realize how hopelessly I'm lost
I am completely lost in love with you and cannot think of anything or anyone else
That's why I'm following you
My love for you has made me completely devoted to you
On my own
Without you
Would I wander through this wonderland alone
Life would be empty and meaningless without you
Never knowing my right foot from my left
I would be lost without your guidance
My hat from my glove
I would not even know what belongs to me without you
I get misty, and too much in love
My love for you is so strong that it sometimes makes me feel emotional and overwhelmed
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Downtown Music Publishing, Spirit Music Group
Written by: ERROLL GARNER, JOHNNY BURKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jose Valenzuela
I'm so glad Adam told us about this masterpiece
Hugo
yep
Enzo Waltz
SO GLAD, those chords made something with my heart
Camilo Sapag
Yes that D/Eb
Sonny O'Brien
Who??
Yoshibro26
@Enzo Waltz same
cliffwhite2812
Isn't it wonderful that good folks can preserve rare and brilliant performances on YouTube for us all to enjoy?
FIELDING MELISH
Absolutely.
Grant Vance
The indistinguishable circular breath at 0:51 stole the show for me.
Nicholas Canion Jr.
Sounds like a fellow wind instrument player recognized this