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.
Take the "a" Train
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem
If you miss the "A" train
You`ll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem
Hurry, get on, now it`s coming
Listen to those rails a-thrumming
All aboard, get on the "A" train
Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem
The lyrics to Oscar Peterson's "Take the 'A' Train" encourage listeners to take the fastest and most direct route to the Sugar Hill neighborhood in Harlem: the A train. The song suggests that missing this train will result in a longer and less efficient trip. The urgency of the song is reflected in the lyrics, particularly in the refrain "hurry, get on, now it's coming." The line "listen to those rails a-thrumming" further emphasizes the idea of movement and speed, conveying the excitement of approaching a destination.
Beyond its literal meaning, "Take the 'A' Train" is also significant from a cultural perspective. The song was written by Billy Strayhorn in 1939 as a tribute to the famous subway line that runs from downtown Manhattan to Harlem. At the time, Harlem was a center of African American culture and nightlife, and the A train played a crucial role in connecting residents of Harlem to the rest of the city. The song thus celebrates both the physical and cultural connections facilitated by the train.
Line by Line Meaning
You must take the "A" train
In order to go to Sugar Hill, one must take the train labeled "A"
To go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem
Sugar Hill is located in the northern Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem
If you miss the "A" train
If one is not able to catch the train labeled "A"
You`ll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem
The train labeled "A" is the fastest mode of transportation to travel to Harlem
Hurry, get on, now it`s coming
Board the train quickly as it will arrive soon
Listen to those rails a-thrumming
Hear the sound of the train tracks vibrating as the train approaches
All aboard, get on the "A" train
Everyone should board the train labeled "A"
Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem
By taking the train labeled "A," you will soon arrive at Sugar Hill, located in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILLY STRAYHORN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind