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.
That Old Black Magic
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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Old black magic that you weave so well
Those icy fingers up and down my spine
The same old witch craft when your eyes meet mine
Same old tingle that I feel inside
Then the elevator starts it ride
Down and down I go
Like a leaf caught in a tide
I should stay away but what can I do
I hear your name and I'm a flame
Flame, flame of desire
Only your kiss can put out the fire
Oh you're the lover I have waiting for
Your the mate that fate had me created for
And every time your lips meet mine
Down and down I go
Round and round I go
In a spin, lovin' the spin I'm in
Under the old black magic called love
In a spin lovin' the spin I'm in
Under the old black magic called love
In a spin lovin' the spin I'm in
Under the old black magic called love
I should stay away but what can I do
I hear your name and I'm a flame
Flame, flame of desire
Only your kiss can put out the fire
Oh you are the lover I have waited for
Your the mate that fate had me created for
And every time your lips meet mine
Down and down I go
Round and round I go
In a spin, lovin' the spin I'm in
Under the old black magic called love
The lyrics of Oscar Peterson's song 'That Old Black Magic' describe the power of love and the intense feeling of being under someone's spell. The phrase 'old black magic' refers to the irresistible power that love has over an individual, just like a curse or a spell. The lyrics describe the physical sensations that the singer feels when he is around the person he loves. The opening two lines of the song - "Old black magic has me in its spell / Old black magic that you weave so well" - are a testament to this, as the singer acknowledges the power that the beloved has over him. The line "Those icy fingers up and down my spine" reinforces the idea that the singer is completely under the beloved's control.
The next lines, "The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine / Same old tingle that I feel inside" describe the familiar feeling that the singer experiences every time he sees the person he is in love with. The phrase "Then the elevator starts its ride" is a metaphor for the singer's emotions, as he feels himself being pulled down by the power of love. The lines "Down and down I go / Round and round I go / Like a leaf caught in a tide" describe how the singer feels lost in love, adrift and powerless.
The final lines of the song - "In a spin lovin' the spin I'm in / Under the old black magic called love" - reflect the singer's acceptance of his powerlessness, acknowledging that he is under love's spell and unable to break free. The repeating phrases "Down and down I go / Round and round I go" reinforce the idea that the singer is trapped within love's hold, unable to resist its power.
Line by Line Meaning
Old black magic has me in its spell
I am completely entranced by the power of this mysterious and enchanting force known as black magic
Old black magic that you weave so well
You possess a remarkable talent for creating and controlling the effects of black magic
Those icy fingers up and down my spine
I feel a chill of excitement and anticipation, as if the magic is physically touching me
The same old witch craft when your eyes meet mine
Every time we make eye contact, I sense the same familiar magic taking hold of me
Same old tingle that I feel inside
I am experiencing the same electrifying sensation that I always do when I am under the effects of this magic
Then the elevator starts it ride
I feel like I am being lifted up to a higher level of consciousness, as if ascending in an elevator
Down and down I go
I am descending deeper and deeper into the euphoric effects of black magic
Round and round I go
I am spinning around in a dizzying, disorienting state of bliss
Like a leaf caught in a tide
I am being carried away by the powerful and irresistible force of black magic, like a leaf in a current
I should stay away but what can I do
Although I know that I should avoid the potentially dangerous effects of black magic, I cannot resist its lure
I hear your name and I'm a flame
Just hearing your name ignites a passionate fire within me, fueled by the power of black magic
Flame, flame of desire
My desire for you burns like a fierce flame, fueled by the magic that surrounds us
Only your kiss can put out the fire
Only your physical touch can satisfy my desire and quell the effects of black magic
Oh you're the lover I have waiting for
You are the object of my desires and the one I have been longing for
Your the mate that fate had me created for
It feels as though fate herself has brought us together, as if we were meant to be together
In a spin, lovin' the spin I'm in
I am caught up in a whirlwind of emotions, but I am enjoying every moment of it
Under the old black magic called love
All of these intense feelings and sensations are the result of the power of black magic, specifically the type of magic associated with love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind