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.
The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
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When I take you out in the surrey
When I take you out in the surrey with the fringe on top
Watch the fringe and see how it flutters
I will ride those high-steppin' strutters
Nosy pokes will peek through their shutters
And their eyes will pop
The wheels are yeller the upholstery brown
The dash board's genuine leather
With in-sin glass curtains you can roll right down
In case there's a change in the weather
Two bright side lights winkin' and blinkin'
Ain't no fingering what I'm thinkin'
You'd be fingering if you're thinkin' that I'd care to swap
For the shiny little surrey with the fringe on top
In "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top," the singer uses a fancy carriage as a metaphor for his love interest. The carriage, with its yellow wheels, brown upholstery and high-stepping horses with colorful fringe, represents the thrill that comes with being with someone he loves. He urges his love interest to come with him in this carriage and watch how the fringe flutters in the wind. He also warns her that their outing in the surrey will draw attention and have people peeping through their windows.
The singer is so enamored with his love interest that he feels the surrey with the fringe on top is no match for her beauty. He scoffs at the idea that anyone would trade his love interest for the shiny little surrey. The song is a classic show tune from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Oklahoma!" and is often performed as a romantic duet.
Line by Line Meaning
Chicks and geese and ducks better scurry
Other animals will move out of the way
When I take you out in the surrey
When we drive around in the vehicle
When I take you out in the surrey with the fringe on top
When we drive around in this specific type of vehicle
Watch the fringe and see how it flutters
Observe the decorative hanging fabric move in the breeze
I will ride those high-steppin' strutters
I will control the horses with grace and ease
Nosy pokes will peek through their shutters
People will stop and stare when they see us
And their eyes will pop
They will be surprised or amazed
The wheels are yeller the upholstery brown
The wheels of the vehicle are yellow and the seats are brown
The dash board's genuine leather
The front of the vehicle is covered in real leather
With in-sin glass curtains you can roll right down
There are curtains made of a certain type of glass that can be opened
In case there's a change in the weather
This feature is helpful if the weather suddenly changes
Two bright side lights winkin' and blinkin'
The vehicle has two bright headlights
Ain't no fingering what I'm thinkin'
It's impossible to know what I'm thinking
You'd be fingering if you're thinkin' that I'd care to swap
You would be mistaken to think I would trade this vehicle for another one
For the shiny little surrey with the fringe on top
This vehicle is special and unique because of its fringe decoration
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind