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.

Now's the Time
Oscar Peterson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It begins to tell
'Round midnight, midnight
I do pretty well, till after sundown
Suppertime I'm feelin' sad
But it really gets bad
'Round midnight

Memories always start 'round midnight

Haven't got the heart to stand those memories
When my heart is still with you
And ol' midnight knows it, too
When a quarrel we had needs mending
Does it mean that our love is ending
Darlin' I need you, lately I find
You're out of my heart
And I'm out of my mind

Let our hearts take wings'
'Round midnight, midnight
Let the angels sing
For your returning
Till our love is safe and sound
And old midnight comes around
Feelin' sad

Really gets bad
Round, Round, Round Midnight

Overall Meaning

Oscar Peterson's "Round Midnight" is a mournful love song that tells the story of a man who is lost without his lover. The lyrics start by painting a picture of a man who is doing well until sundown, which is when he starts feeling sad. As the night continues and midnight approaches, memories of his love start to flood his mind. He tries to fight them off, but they persist, leading him to think about whether a recent quarrel means the end of their relationship.

The chorus of "Round Midnight" is the most powerful part of the song. It's a plea for his lover to return to him, to let their hearts take flight, and to be reunited once again. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation, with the singer feeling like he's losing his mind without his significant other. The line "Let the angels sing for your returning" is especially poignant, as it is a beautiful metaphor for the idea that love can transcend time and space.

Overall, "Round Midnight" is a beautiful jazz standard that continues to resonate with listeners today. It speaks to the universal experience of love and loss, and serves as a touching tribute to the power of a truly great love.

Line by Line Meaning

It begins to tell
The story begins

'Round midnight, midnight
Late at night, around the time of midnight

I do pretty well, till after sundown
I'm okay until the sun sets

Suppertime I'm feelin' sad
I start feeling sad around dinnertime

But it really gets bad
But my sadness becomes worse

'Round midnight
Around midnight, the sadness becomes unbearable

Memories always start 'round midnight
My memories begin to resurface around midnight

Haven't got the heart to stand those memories
I don't have the emotional strength to deal with those memories

When my heart is still with you
When my heart still belongs to you

And ol' midnight knows it, too
Midnight is aware of my heart's longing

When a quarrel we had needs mending
When we need to fix a past argument