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 Tender Trap
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And suddenly your sighing sighs
You're thinking nothing's wrong
You string along, boy, then snap!
Those eyes, those sighs, they're part of the tender trap
You're hand in hand beneath the trees
And soon there's music in the breeze
Those trees, that breeze, they're part of the tender trap
Some starry night, when her kisses make you tingle
She'll hold you tight, and you'll hate yourself for being single
And all at once it seems so nice
The folks are throwing shoes and rice
You hurry to a spot, that's just a dot on the map
You're hooked, you're cooked, you're caught in the tender trap
Some starry night, when her kisses make you tingle
She'll hold you tight, and you'll hate yourself for being single
And all at once it seems so nice
The folks are throwing shoes and rice
You hurry to a spot that's just a dot on the map
And then you wonder how it all came about
It's too late now there's no gettin' out
You fell in love, and love is the tender trap
"The Tender Trap" by Oscar Peterson is a classic song about falling in love and getting trapped in a relationship. The song suggests that there is something almost magical about falling in love, and that it can happen suddenly and without warning. The lyrics tell the story of someone who sees a pair of attractive eyes and is drawn in by them, only to realize later that they are now caught in a trap. They are suddenly in a relationship that they did not expect and cannot get out of.
The song describes how being in love can make people act in ways they never thought possible. They may act "kind of smart" or do things they wouldn't normally do, such as rushing to a spot that is "just a dot on the map." The line "those trees, that breeze, they're part of the tender trap" suggests that the environment can contribute to the feeling of being in love.
The lyrics also allude to the pressure that society puts on people to couple up and get married. The line "the folks are throwing shoes and rice" is a reference to the traditional custom of throwing rice at a wedding. The lyrics suggest that people may rush into relationships because they feel like they should, rather than because they truly want to.
Overall, "The Tender Trap" is a cautionary tale about falling in love and getting trapped in a relationship that may not be what you really want. It suggests that people should be careful about rushing into relationships and consider whether they are truly ready for the commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
You see a pair of laughing eyes
When you notice someone's eyes full of happiness and laughs.
And suddenly your sighing sighs
An immediate response to a positive feeling that makes you sigh.
You're thinking nothing's wrong
Not feeling anything out of the ordinary, thinking everything is alright.
You string along, boy, then snap!
You proceed with an action without thinking and then it suddenly ends.
Those eyes, those sighs, they're part of the tender trap
The way you feel emotionally connected to something intangible can lure you into a trap.
You're hand in hand beneath the trees
Walking hand in hand under trees.
And soon there's music in the breeze
The sounds of the outdoors create a sonorous feeling/environment.
You're acting kind of smart, until your heart just goes wap!
You're feeling confident until it is disrupted by an unexpected 'wap' of your heart.
Those trees, that breeze, they're part of the tender trap
The sounds of nature, typically seen as calming or relaxing, can be a trap for emotions.
Some starry night, when her kisses make you tingle
A romantic moment that makes you feel alive or excited.
She'll hold you tight, and you'll hate yourself for being single
The idea that someone can make you feel so validated that you regret being without them prior.
And all at once it seems so nice
Sudden realization that something is pleasant or enjoyable.
The folks are throwing shoes and rice
When others are celebrating the happiness that you feel with the person you love.
You hurry to a spot, that's just a dot on the map
Going to a place that doesn't matter on a map because it holds significance to you and your lover.
You're hooked, you're cooked, you're caught in the tender trap
Being trapped or ensnared in a way that seems pleasant and enjoyable, but ultimately leads to negative consequences.
And then you wonder how it all came about
Questioning or reflecting over how and when the situation developed.
It's too late now there's no gettin' out
Realizing that you can't go back or undo what has already happened.
You fell in love, and love is the tender trap
Love can feel entrancing, compelling us to make decisions that are not always in our best interest.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JIMMY VAN HEUSEN, SAMMY CAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind