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.
There's A Small Hotel
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somewhere alone with you
It could be oh, so gay, Junior
You need a laugh
Or two
A certain place I know, Frankie
Where funny people can have fun
Darling
Before you can count up
One, two, three.
For there's a small hotel
With a wishing well
I wish that we were there together
There's a bridal suite
One room bright and neat
Complete for us to
Share together
Looking through the window
You can see a distant steeple
Not a sign of people who
Wants people?
When the steeple bell says,
"Good night, sleep well,"
We'll thank the small hotel
Together
We'll creep into our little shell
And we will thank the small hotel together
The Oscar Peterson Trio's song "There's a Small Hotel" is about finding respite in a small, remote place with a loved one. The lyrics convey a sense of escape from the chaos and noise of the city into a place where odd and funny people can have fun. The two characters in the song, Junior and Frankie, are seeking refuge from their busy lives and want to find a quiet place where they can laugh and enjoy each other's company. The song describes a small hotel that represents the perfect place for the two to go.
The lyrics paint a picture of a cozy getaway with a wishing well nearby and a bridal suite that's complete and bright for the couple to share. When they look out of the window, they can see a faraway steeple, which implies that they are in a secluded location where they can be left alone. The song ends with the couple settling into their "little shell" and thanking the small hotel for giving them a peaceful escape.
Overall, the song conveys a sentiment of longing for a private and peaceful space where the couple can share some time and laughter together. The words paint a vivid picture of a romantic retreat filled with charm and beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd like to get away, Junior
I want to escape from everything, Junior.
Somewhere alone with you
I want to be in a secluded place with you, just us two.
It could be oh, so gay, Junior
It could be very joyful and cheerful, Junior.
You need a laugh, Or two
You need to lighten up and laugh a bit, maybe even twice.
A certain place I know, Frankie
I know of a certain place, Frankie.
Where funny people can have fun
A place where humorous people can enjoy themselves.
That's where the two will go, Darling
That's where we will go, my love.
Before you can count up, One, two, three.
We'll get there really quickly.
For there's a small hotel, With a wishing well
There's a small hotel with a wishing well nearby.
I wish that we were there together
I wish that we were there together.
There's a bridal suite, One room bright and neat
There's a bridal suite with a single clean, bright room.
Complete for us to, Share together
It's perfect for us to share together.
Looking through the window, You can see a distant steeple
If you look out the window, you can see a far-off church tower.
Not a sign of people who, Wants people?
No evidence of people who want other people around?
When the steeple bell says, 'Good night, sleep well,'
When the church bell chimes 'Good night, sleep well,'
We'll thank the small hotel, Together
We'll express our gratitude to the small hotel together.
We'll creep into our little shell
We'll retreat to our cozy space.
And we will thank the small hotel together
And we'll say thanks to the small hotel together.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., IMAGEM MUSIC INC
Written by: LORENZ HART, RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind