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.
My Foolish Heart
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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Beware my foolish heart
How white the ever constant moon
Take care my foolish heart
There's a line between love and fascination
That's hard to see, how many names such as this
For they both have the very same sensation
Her lips are much too close to mine
Beware my foolish heart
But should our eager lips combine
Then let the fire start
For this time it isn't fascination
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
It's love, this time it's love
My foolish heart
The lyrics of the song My Foolish Heart by Oscar Peterson and Roy Hargrove revolve around the theme of caution that one should practice when in love. The song begins with a comparison of the night to a beautiful melody and then warns to be careful of one's heart. The following lines explain the dilemma of distinguishing between love and infatuation since both give similar sensations, especially when lost in a magical moment of a kiss. Then the lyrics describe the physical proximity of the lover's lips and reminds the listener to be cautious since it is easy to forget oneself in such a situation. Finally, the lyrics conclude with the idea that this time it isn't just infatuation, but true love, and the listener can allow themselves to be swept away by the passionate fire in their hearts.
The song was based on the music composed by Victor Young and the lyrics written by Ned Washington. It was first introduced in the 1949 movie of the same name, My Foolish Heart. Since then, the song has been covered by various artists and has become a popular jazz standard. The song has also been featured in many movies and TV shows, such as The Bridges of Madison County and Mad Men.
Line by Line Meaning
The night is like a lovely tune
The beauty of the night is mesmerizing, like listening to a perfect melody
Beware my foolish heart
Be cautious, don't fall too quickly in love and risk getting hurt
How white the ever constant moon
The moon is always present and shining, its brightness is remarkable
Take care my foolish heart
Be careful, don't let your heart get carried away by fleeting emotions
There's a line between love and fascination
It's challenging to differentiate between being infatuated and being in love
That's hard to see, how many names such as this
It's difficult to accurately name the feeling of being caught up in the moment
For they both have the very same sensation
Both infatuation and love share a similar feeling of being under a spell
When you're locked in the magic of a kiss
Being consumed by the moment of a kiss is like being under a magical spell
Her lips are much too close to mine
The temptation to kiss her is strong
But should our eager lips combine
If we give in to temptation and kiss
Then let the fire start
Let passion ignite and the intensity of romantic feelings increase
For this time it isn't fascination
This is not just a fleeting infatuation
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
It's not an illusion, but a true feeling that will not disappear
It's love, this time it's love
It's a genuine and long-lasting love
My foolish heart
My heart may seem foolish, but it's genuine and full of love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ned Washington, Victor Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind