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.
The Song Is Ended
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A moment of bliss we spent
Our hearts were filled with a song of romance
As into the night we went
And sang to our hearts' content
The song is ended
But the melody lingers on
But the melody lingers on
The night was splendid
And the melody seemed to say
"Summer will pass away
Take your happiness while you may"
There 'neath the light of the moon
We sang a love song that ended too soon
The moon descended
And I found with the break of dawn
You and the song had gone
But the melody lingers on
The Song Is Ended is a melancholic love ballad that vividly describes the memories of the singer's fleeting romantic encounter as he reminiscences about a heavenly dance with his beloved one. Through the use of literary devices, the song portrays the profound feeling of nostalgia that grips the singer's mind as he feels the remnants of the melody from the love song they shared. The first verse sets the tone for the whole song, and it paints a vivid picture of the singer's encounter with his love interest. The second stanza is a reflection of what happened at the end of the romantic encounter. The third stanza bestows hope for the future, urging the singer not to squander the present moment.
In the chorus, Peterson sings about the dichotomy between the song's end and the melody that seems to persist. The verse conveys that even though his love interest is gone, the melody remains firmly planted in his heart. The song touches a raw nerve in the listener, who can relate to the feeling of longing and nostalgia for past experiences, no matter how brief they are.
The Song Is Ended was written in 1927 by Irving Berlin, and its melody has become a classic American standard. Numerous artists, including Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, and Ella Fitzgerald, have covered the song. Its emotional depth has continued to resonate with music enthusiasts for decades.
Line by Line Meaning
My thoughts go back to a heavenly dance
I am reminiscing about a previous dance, one that was heavenly.
A moment of bliss we spent
For one brief moment, we both experienced pure joy and happiness.
Our hearts were filled with a song of romance
During our dance, we both felt a deep sense of romantic love that filled our hearts.
As into the night we went
After our dance was over, we continued our evening together, venturing out into the night.
And sang to our hearts' content
We sang freely and without reservation, letting our hearts guide the melody.
The song is ended
Unfortunately, the song we shared together has come to an end.
But the melody lingers on
Even though the song is over, its melody continues to echo in my mind and heart.
You and the song are gone
You have departed and, with you, the song that we shared together.
But the melody lingers on
Despite your absence, the melody of our shared song continues to play in my mind.
The night was splendid
Our shared evening was wonderful and beautiful.
And the melody seemed to say
During our evening together, the melody of our song seemed to speak to me.
"Summer will pass away
The melody reminded me that, eventually, this lovely summer evening and all that it entails would come to an end.
Take your happiness while you may"
It was a reminder to seize the moment and enjoy the happiness of the present, while it is still available.
There 'neath the light of the moon
During that magical evening, we were bathed in the light of the moon.
We sang a love song that ended too soon
Together, we sang a beautiful love song, one that we both wish could have lasted longer.
The moon descended
The night, which had been filled with the light of the moon, began to come to an end.
And I found with the break of dawn
As the night ended and morning arrived, I realized that you had already left.
You and the song had gone
You had left, taking with you the song that we had shared together.
But the melody lingers on
Despite your absence, the melody of our shared song continues to play in my mind and heart.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind